ROBERT L. EHRLICH, JR., Governor                             Ch. 170

Secretary. The provisions of this subsection shall be applicable to deer killed by
collision with a motor vehicle at any time whether during the open season for killing
deer or during the legally closed season.

(g) A person may not hunt a deer while the deer is taking refuge in or
swimming through the waters of the State.

[(i)] (H) Upon written request from a federal facility for a variance from the
established deer hunting season, the Department shall review the request and may:

(1)     Approve the request;

(2)     Deny the request; or

(3)     Approve the request with conditions.

(I) IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 2-1246 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE,
THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ANNUALLY REPORT AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO
THE LEGISLATIVE POLICY COMMITTEE, THE SENATE EDUCATION, HEALTH, AND
ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, AND THE HOUSE ENVIRONMENTAL
MATTERS COMMITTEE ON;

(1) FOR EACH DEER MANAGEMENT REGION AND, AS APPROPRIATE,
EACH ZONE WITHIN A REGION, THE STATUS OF THE DEER POPULATION;

(2) THE IMPACT AND ANTICIPATED IMPACT OF MANAGEMENT
STRATEGIES ON THE POPULATION OF DEER IN EACH DEER MANAGEMENT REGION
OF THE STATE;

(3) LAW ENFORCEMENT ISSUES; AND

(4)      CITIZEN RESPONSE TO THE INCREASED HARVEST MEASURES.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Department of
Natural Resources shall report and make recommendations to the Legislative Policy
Committee, the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee,
and the House Environmental Matters Committee on or before December 31, 2005
January 15, 2004, in accordance with § 2-1246 of the State Government Article, on:

(a)     the status of the deer population for each deer management region and, as
appropriate, each zone within the region;

(b)     the impact and anticipated impact of management strategies on the
population of deer in each deer management region of the State;

(c)     law enforcement issues; and

(d)     citizen response to the increased harvest measures.

SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That it is the intent of the
General Assembly that, in addition to the provisions of this Act, the Department of
Natural Resources consider implementation of other deer management options
already authorized under State law, including extending the deer firearms season and
using nonlethal management options where hunting is not allowed or feasible.

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