MD black bear hunters facing penalties for alleged violations

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The black bear hunting season is over in Western Maryland, but some folks are facing charges or citations for illegalities while hunting for bears, according to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

Natural Resource Police officers cited several people during the annual black bear hunt from Oct. 20 to 25 in Washington, Frederick, Allegany and Garrett counties, according to a DNR news release.

Hunting over bait for bears was among the violations. Baiting for white-tailed deer on private property is legal in Maryland, but baiting bears is prohibited, the release states.

“Due to the nature of the hunt, targeting bears must take place 150 yards or more from a baited location, and if hunting a location previously baited for deer, 10 days must pass after all bait has been removed. Hunters that violate the baiting law for black bears can face up to $1,500 for a first offense and up to $4,000 for a second offense,” the release states.

Among those charged during this year’s black bear hunting season were:

• A 37-year-old man from Sabillasville in Frederick County who was found illegally hunting over bait on private property in Washington County on Oct. 20. Officers allegedly saw the man hunting with a rifle about 30 yards from an area baited with a corn feeder, pumpkins, soybeans, apples and baked confectionary items. He was cited for hunting black bears with the aid of bait and faces up to a $1,500 fine if convicted.
• A 66-year-old Smithsburg man was found illegally hunting over bait on private land in Frederick County on Oct. 20. Officers allegedly saw the man hunting from a ladder stand about 20 yards from a game feeder with remnants of corn kernels. The feeder had previously been hung. The man was cited for attempting to hunt black bears with the aid of bait and faces up to a $1,500 fine if convicted.
• A 36-year-old man and a 58-year-old man, both of Frederick, were cited Oct. 21 for bear hunting with rifles while prohibited from owning firearms. Officers allegedly saw the two men return to their parked vehicle within the Indian Springs Wildlife Management Area. While they had licenses to hunt bears in Maryland, they were both found to have prior convictions that disqualified them from possessing firearms. The rifles were confiscated. Each man was charged with possession of firearms while disqualified and illegal possession of ammunition. If convicted, they each face up to four years in prison and/or up to $4,000 in fines.
• A 38-year-old Hagerstown man was allegedly found illegally hunting over bait on private land near the Indian Springs Wildlife Management Area on Oct. 23. An officer saw the man, who wasn’t wearing orange, carrying a loaded rifle while pulling a sled with two empty bags of apple-corn and two big jugs partway full of molasses near an area baited with apples. The man was cited for attempting to hunt black bears with the aid of bait and not wearing fluorescent orange. He faces up to a $1,500 fine for each charge, if convicted.

This season, 1,050 hunters were selected randomly, via lottery, to participate in the black bear hunt, the release states.

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Reporting by Julie E. Greene, The Herald-Mail / The Herald-Mail.