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Frederick and Washington counties seek expansion of allowance to carry sidearms for bear protection during archery deer season
Summary
Senate Bill 449 would allow archery hunters in Frederick and the remainder of Washington County to carry a sidearm for bear protection while deer hunting, aligning those counties with existing Region A rules. Sponsor said bear populations have increased eastward and cited local incidents, while lawmakers asked about the prevalence of black bears,
Senator (presenting for Frederick County senators) told the House Environment and Transportation Committee on March 26 that Senate Bill 449 would allow archery hunters in Frederick County and the remainder of Washington County to carry a sidearm for personal protection against bears while deer hunting, bringing those areas into parity with western Region A counties where such carry is already permitted.
The sponsor described Maryland’s DNR hunting zones (Region A and Region B) and explained that Frederick and Washington counties have seen increased bear populations and occurrences. He cited two local bear‑attack incidents in Frederick County in 2016 and 2020 and argued that, while bear spray can be effective, environmental conditions such as rain or wind can limit its reliability. “The law allowing archery hunters to carry a sidearm for bear protection is a sound rule based on logical policy to protect these hunters in the areas with significant bear populations,” the sponsor said.
The bill, the sponsor said, has local letters of support from Frederick and Washington counties and the sportsmen’s caucus; an amendment makes the sponsor language reflect the Frederick County senators rather than the full delegation. Committee members asked whether the measure specifically referred to black bears (Maryland’s species) and whether it would change protections in other jurisdictions. The sponsor said the species in Maryland is the black bear and that the bill would not create new hunting rules elsewhere; rather, it would adjust the county‑level allowances consistent with where bear populations have expanded.
No formal committee vote on SB 449 is recorded in the transcript. The sponsor requested a favorable report and said he welcomed questions; the committee did not record opposition testimony in the provided segment.
