HARRY HUGHES, Governor                                     3001

CHAPTER 641

(House Bill 650)

AN ACT concerning

Hunting - Black Bears

FOR the purpose of classifying the black bear as a forest game
mammal for certain purposes.

BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments,

Article - Natural Resources

Section 10-101(a)

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1983 Replacement Volume and 1984 Supplement)

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

Article - Natural Resources

Section 10-101(e) and 10-405(a) and (b)

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1983 Replacement Volume and 1984 Supplement)

Preamble

WHEREAS, In the last several years, landowners in Garrett
County have killed certain black bears, whose population is
increasing in numbers in Garrett, Allegany, and Washington
counties; and

WHEREAS, The Maryland Forest, Park, and Wildlife Service is
performing studies on the black bear with an eye to the intent of
bringing the black bear under much better management, with the
possibility of having a limited hunting season; and

WHEREAS, Until these studies are completed, the General
Assembly intends to give the black bear the full protection from
hunters and other others in the State; and

WHEREAS, The General Assembly also intends this Act to
reclassify the black bear as a forest game mammal in order that
the Department of Natural Resources may include the black bear on
its game list, which would prohibit the hunting of the black bear
until it is feasible to provide for an open hunting season on the
black bear; now, therefore,

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article - Natural Resources