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I just emailed MD DNR to see why we can't hunt on Sundays, but yet we can fish, or basically do anything else on Sundays. I've heard as many different reasons for it as there are people to offer opinions, and finally got tired of it. I doubt I'll get any straight answer, but I'm curious to know what their justification is for it. If it has anything to do with Pilgrims, I'm going to scream. Or burn a witch. Either way.

assateague wrote:I just emailed MD DNR to see why we can't hunt on Sundays, but yet we can fish, or basically do anything else on Sundays. I've heard as many different reasons for it as there are people to offer opinions, and finally got tired of it. I doubt I'll get any straight answer, but I'm curious to know what their justification is for it. If it has anything to do with Pilgrims, I'm going to scream. Or burn a witch. Either way.

I'm interested in hearing what they have to say, do any other states have rules like this?

That would be awful to really only be able to hunt 1 day a week if you have to work during the week. I think Virginia has a no hunting on sunday law as well

I think Maine and PA are, also. Like I said, I'm curious what the justification is (if they even give me one).

Looks like a east coast thing.

http://www.ncsl.org/issues-research/env ... tutes.aspx

Mass has the same law. I was told people didn't want to hear gun shots while at church. Was also told if people could hunt they wouldn't go to church and the church would lose money.

So much for sepperation of church and state!

no hunting on sundays here, except private land bow hunting

They will probably write you back and say thats a good point, we are now going to make a law saying NO FISHING ON SUNDAYS and were going to name it after you. Thanks.

FlintRiverFowler wrote:They will probably write you back and say thats a good point, we are now going to make a law saying NO FISHING ON SUNDAYS and were going to name it after you. Thanks.

I'd ask them to make me a shirt that says "I'm the reason why you can't fish on Sundays". Maybe then I'd have enough of a "cause" to demonstrate to the state police to grant me a CCW. Although people routinely get turned down despite several documented threats to their lives.

Its an old blue law that really only can still be found in the original 13. Total BS. It keeps getting killed in committee here in VA due to a couple special interest groups and the committee members special interests. One of them owns a game preserve where it is legal to hunt on Sunday. Open Sunday hunting would cut into his pocket. I go anyway while the gw's are in church.


At one time Assa VA and MD didnt allow fishing on Sundays. Heck we still have stores that close on Wednesday.

capt1972 wrote:Mass has the same law. I was told people didn't want to hear gun shots while at church. Was also told if people could hunt they wouldn't go to church and the church would lose money.

So much for sepperation of church and state!

My bow doesn't make a sound. And if it's that "give wildlife a day to rest" crap, I would argue back that we now have unlimited doe killings, because there are so many of them.

Baysider wrote:Its an old blue law that really only can still be found in the original 13. Total BS. It keeps getting killed in committee here in VA due to a couple special interest groups and the committee members special interests. One of them owns a game preserve where it is legal to hunt on Sunday. Open Sunday hunting would cut into his pocket. I go anyway while the gw's are in church.


At one time Assa VA and MD didnt allow fishing on Sundays. Heck we still have stores that close on Wednesday.

There are some here that I still remember going into, and they had certain sections roped off on Sundays, like the clothing and cosmetic portions of the store. I know it's a blue law carry over, but was hoping that they had some reason aside from religion, since that's really not much for them to hang their hat on. I go to church at 11:00, which gives me plenty of time before and after to hunt, if I was allowed. Here, Sunday hunting is something the antis use as a weapon to restrict it any way they can. I find it amusing that liberals will use religion when it benefits them, while pissing all over it every chance they get.

ASSA you get so upset every time you say "DNR". We should make it stand for some thing positive to cheer you up.



How about a new Republican slogan: Do Not Re-nig ?

You just have no clue how bad the DNR is here. I've met great DNR guys in other states, so I understand that not everywhere else is like here, but damn, these guys are toolboxes.

I have never run into a Warden here in the U.P. went hunting down in GA for the first time since I moved away last year and met one the first day out.

AT I wish I had your number. I'd text you pictures from every Sunday hunt this season

Redbeard wrote:AT I wish I had your number. I'd text you pictures from every Sunday hunt this season

How much is it worth to you?

A limit of sprig?

With Charlie holding both

Flightstopper wrote:With Charlie holding both

dammit I scotched doubled on two drake sprig!

Olly wrote:I have never run into a Warden here in the U.P. went hunting down in GA for the first time since I moved away last year and met one the first day out.

you probably wouldnt have met one if we hadnt been hunting the only WMA thats closed on monday to waterfowl hunters.... on a monday! next time we hunt a wma we'll read the manual closer

Flightstopper wrote:

Redbeard wrote:AT I wish I had your number. I'd text you pictures from every Sunday hunt this season

How much is it worth to you?

And I used to bitch about not being able to buy beer on Sunday. Glad we got that law taken care of, nothing like a cold one after knocking down a bunch of geese in the morning. The church that my step sister attends changes its time of service during hunting season to later in the morning or mid day.

Bufflehead wrote:no hunting on sundays here, except private land bow hunting

I'd imagine that limited right came about the same way we dont have SH all together. The deer hound guys in this state fight it tooth and nail. They say that it will be the end of deer hounds in VA. Of course running 100 mph on back roads, shooting deer out of back yards and from the road, tresspassing, etc has nothing to do with it. Its a big debate here between houndsmen and other hunters. I ran hounds for years and support all hunting no matter what the method if its legal. I think they need to get their heads out of the sand.

I actually got a response, which says, basically, nothing. "Wed don't set the law, the MD General Assembly does". Yes, I know that. What I was asking was "why". I thought perhaps DNR would know more about the why than I do, but apparently I was wrong. I especially like the line "there is no law against fishing on Sundays, so that's why it's legal." Noshit. Here's the email, for what it's worth, with the names redacted to protect the not-so-knowledgeable:



Greetings, Jim.

Thanks for taking the time to ask DNR about the Sunday hunting laws. I hope I can explain all of this to you successfully, I’ll admit up front that it is a little confusing.

First, Sunday hunting is set by a Maryland law (statute), which is §10-410. Laws are made or changed in Maryland by the General Assembly, not DNR. I have provided a link to learn more about the General Assembly below. As you will see, the General Assembly is made up of the elected Delegates and State Senators from around the state. They meet for 90 days every winter to review new laws or change existing ones. This process is complex and quite formal.

The current law addressing deer hunting on Sundays in Maryland is a result of members of the General Assembly passing legislation to allow hunting in certain counties on certain dates. Although DNR has supported this legislation in the past, we can’t add counties to Sunday hunting, or increase the days of Sunday hunting in a particular county if the General Assembly doesn’t allow it first.

If you wish to add your County to the ones with Sunday hunting, or increase the number of days of Sunday hunting, then I suggest you contact the Delegates and State Senators for your County. The link below for the General Assembly has information on how you can contact your elected officials.

Just for clarification, most hunting seasons, dates and bag limits are set by Maryland regulation. Regulations are much easier to change than laws are. The Wildlife and Heritage Service reviews all the hunting regulations every two years and makes changes as part of an extensive public process where folks like you have an opportunity to comment. Our goal is to have hunting regulations that support the long term conservation of the species involved and fit the needs of as many hunters as possible. However, as noted above, the issue of hunting on Sundays is not a regulation, it is a law, and thus is not in the immediate control of DNR.

I need to add that there is no law or statute prohibiting fishing on Sundays, so it is legal to do so.

For more information on the General Assembly, see: http://mlis.state.md.us/#gena

I hope this helps!

XXXXX X. XXXXXX
Wildlife and Heritage Service
XXXXXXX@dnr.state.md.us

In Googling around, I did see that last month a group in PA sued the state to allow Sunday hunting, claiming that they can't use religion as a factor in the decision making regarding hunting. Since they can't use religion anywhere else, they claim the state must be consistent, which makes perfect sense to me, but apparently nobody in a position to make such a change thinks so.

I don't think their response was too out of the question. Maybe a misguided answer but I'm sure they usually get the question of "why can't I" versus "what was the reason". Plus to me it sounds like the DNR individual was trying to let you know who exactly to contact to get that stupid law changed.

They did not answer your question correctly however.

PA and VA have had bills fail every year for about 8 years now. However, both states have been gaining support each year from hunters and non hunters.

Baysider wrote:PA and VA have had bills fail every year for about 8 years now. However, both states have been gaining support each year from hunters and non hunters.

We slowly add a Sunday here and there, but always on private land. I just can't for the life of me understand why it's such a big deal.

Goldfish wrote:I don't think their response was too out of the question. Maybe a misguided answer but I'm sure they usually get the question of "why can't I" versus "what was the reason". Plus to me it sounds like the DNR individual was trying to let you know who exactly to contact to get that stupid law changed.

They did not answer your question correctly however.

I do agree. Let me see if I can find the email I sent them.