CUMBERLAND — Bills have been introduced into the Senate and House at Maryland’s General Assembly that would allow bowhunters in far Western Maryland to carry handguns for protection from bears.
A similar effort a year ago failed.
Senate Bill 204 and House Bill 584 would apply to the Wildlife & Heritage Service’s deer hunting Region A that includes Garrett, Allegany and the western portion of Washington counties.
“There is an ever increasing number of bears here and hunters are frequently having confrontations,” said Mike Griffith, vice president of the Allegany-Garrett Sportsmen’s Association, on Friday.
“Hunters aren’t going to shoot bears just because they have a handgun with them. Hunters in the early muzzleloader and rifle seasons have firearms and run into bears and don’t shoot them.”
Griffith said carrying a handgun would allow hunters to protect themselves should an encounter go bad.
“Walking in to your stand in the dark you can’t see to the left or the right and you could get in between a sow and cubs,” Griffith said. “The shooting of a bear would be a last resort, a self preservation.”
A number of other states allow bowhunters to carry firearms.
Scopes and barrels longer than six inches would not be allowed on the handguns, according to the bill. It would be illegal, as well, to use the handgun to finish off a deer that had been wounded by an arrow.
A year ago, handgun carry was opposed by the Maryland Natural Resources Police, who testified that it is safer for archers to use bear spray for defense.
There have been instances in the past when bowhunters used their archery equipment to kill a threatening bear and have not been charged by NRP.
Delegate Kevin Kelly, who filed the House bill along with Delegates LeRoy Myers and Wendell Beitzel, said hunters need something other than rocks and a loud voice if bears are coming at them.
“And if you try to climb a tree the bears are so fast and so good at climbing that they will be above you waiting for you,” he added. “We’re going to do the best we can to pass this bill.”
Griffith said he hopes legislators can separate these two bills from the bills that are geared to restricting ownership of certain guns and accessories.
“One issue is about hunter safety and the other about gun control,” he said, referring to Senate Bill 281 that would eliminate the sale of certain semi-automatic rifles and restrict the number of rounds allowed in a clip.
Griffith said he thinks the bowhunter carry legislation has a better chance to be successful this year.
Peter Jayne, the WHS associate director for game management, said Friday afternoon that the DNR has decided not to take a position on the the bowhunter carry bills.
Contact Michael A. Sawyers at msawyers@times-news.com.
Local News
Bill would allow bowhunters to carry sidearm for bear protection
Similar legislation failed last year
- Local News
-
-
Parking attendants
-
Grim: ‘I want to see things through’
Mayor Brian Grim made it official Tuesday when he filed the required paperwork to seek a second term as mayor of Cumberland.
-
Canal Place authority pursuing plan to develop branding, marketing strategy
The Canal Place Preservation and Development Authority voted Tuesday to pursue a plan of action to develop a branding and marketing strategy for the tourism hub and surrounding Canal Place Heritage Area.
-
U.S., Taliban to start talks on ending 12-year conflict
The Taliban and the U.S. said Tuesday they will hold talks on finding a political solution to ending nearly 12 years of war in Afghanistan, as the international coalition formally handed over control of the country’s security to the Afghan army and police.
-
Commissioners postpone Southern Middle funding discussion
The Garrett County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday postponed a discussion about funding for a renovation project at Southern Middle School, pending a future meeting with school board members.
-
Republican Bongino sets sights on 6th district U.S. House seat
He doesn’t live in Maryland’s Sixth Congressional District. Neither does the incumbent.
But what makes Republican Dan Bongino’s run for the 6th district U.S. House seat interesting is that unlike Democratic Rep. John Delaney, who lives just outside the district in Potomac, Bongino lives almost 40 miles away from the closest point to the district, all the way in Anne Arundel County. -
W.Va. House elects Miley as new speaker
West Virginia’s House of Delegates elected Tim Miley as its new speaker Tuesday — though only after one of his fellow Democrats crossed party lines to vote for the GOP nominee.
-
N.Y. man hurt in fall from Gunter Hotel
A 53-year-old New York man was found unconscious on Main Street late Monday after he apparently fell from the third-floor balcony area of the Gunter Hotel, according to the Frostburg Police Department.
-
Enter here
-
Keyser ordinance raises fire protection fee
The Keyser council approved an ordinance that increases the fire protection fee during a recent council meeting. Councilman Herman Judy opposed the increase.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Raw: Arizona Wildfire Scorches 8 Square Miles
Unusual Heat Wave Bakes Alaska
Hoffa Mystery Still Fascinates After 4 Decades
Raw: 1 Dead in Shooting at Mo. Apartment Complex
Raw: Huge Fire Near Yosemite National Park
3 Charged in Ohio With Enslaving Mom, Daughter
Obama Seeks G-8 Support on Syria
Military Plans to Put Women in Combat Jobs
Civil Rights Groups Sue NYPD Over Muslim Spying
RAW: NSA Director Says 50 Plots Foiled
NYC 911 Call Lasts for 8 Hours
Raw: First Lady, Daughters Enjoy Irish Sights
Obama: US Has Helped Syrian Rebels
California Cops Cruise on Stand-up Paddle Patrol
Transgender Candidate Running in NYC
Obama: NSA Secret Data Gathering 'Transparent'
Man Who Disrupted Flight Ranted About CIA
Feds: 7-Eleven Stores Exploited Immigrants
G8 Leaders Huddle on Syria
Raw: Obama, Putin Meet at G8
