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Ch. 416 2005 LAWS OF MARYLAND
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(2) HUNTERS HAVE BEEN AND CONTINUE TO BE AMONG THE FOREMOST
SUPPORTERS OF SOUND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION PRACTICES
IN THE UNITED STATES;
(3) HUNTERS AND HUNTING ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDE DIRECT
ASSISTANCE TO WILDLIFE MANAGERS AND ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS OF FEDERAL,
STATE, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS;
(4) FEES FOR HUNTING LICENSES, PERMITS, AND STAMPS, AND TAXES
ON GOODS USED BY HUNTERS, HAVE GENERATED BILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR
WILDLIFE CONSERVATION, RESEARCH, AND MANAGEMENT;
(5) HUNTING IS AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF EFFECTIVE WILDLIFE
MANAGEMENT, AS IT IS AN IMPORTANT TOOL FOR REDUCING CONFLICTS BETWEEN
PEOPLE AND WILDLIFE AND PROVIDES INCENTIVES FOR THE CONSERVATION OF
WILDLIFE, HABITATS, AND ECOSYSTEMS ON WHICH WILDLIFE DEPENDS; AND
(6) HUNTING IS AN ENVIRONMENTALLY ACCEPTABLE ACTIVITY THAT
OCCURS AND CAN BE PROVIDED FOR ON STATE PUBLIC LANDS WITHOUT ADVERSE
EFFECTS ON OTHER USES OF THE LANDS.
(B) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL:
(1) KEEP LAND MANAGED BY THE DEPARTMENT OPEN FOR HUNTING
UNLESS THE DEPARTMENT DETERMINES THAT THE LAND MUST BE CLOSED FOR
REASONS OF PUBLIC SAFETY, FISH OR WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT, OR HOMELAND
SECURITY, OR AS OTHERWISE REQUIRED BY LAW;
(2) MANAGE LAND UNDER ITS AUTHORITY TO SUPPORT, PROMOTE, AND
ENHANCE HUNTING OPPORTUNITIES TO THE EXTENT AUTHORIZED UNDER STATE
LAW; AND
(3) MANAGE LAND UNDER ITS AUTHORITY TO PREVENT, TO THE
GREATEST PRACTICAL EXTENT, ANY NET LOSS OF ACREAGE AVAILABLE FOR
HUNTING OPPORTUNITIES ON LAND MANAGED BY THE DEPARTMENT.
(C) BY OCTOBER 1, 2006, AND EACH YEAR THEREAFTER, THE DEPARTMENT
SHALL SUBMIT TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 2-1246 OF THE
STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, A REPORT DESCRIBING THE LAND MANAGED BY THE
DEPARTMENT THAT:
(1) THE DEPARTMENT CLOSED TO HUNTING DURING THE PREVIOUS
YEAR AND THE REASONS FOR THE CLOSURES; AND
(2) TO COMPLY WITH SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION, THE
DEPARTMENT OPENED TO HUNTING DURING THE PREVIOUS YEAR TO COMPENSATE
FOR THE ACREAGE CLOSED AS DESCRIBED UNDER ITEM (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION.
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect
October 1, 2005.
Approved May 10, 2005.
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