1. A. Permit Required.

   1. (1) A permit to operate a regulated shooting area allows the permittee to raise, release, and hunt captive-raised pheasant, bobwhite quail, chukar partridge, Hungarian partridge, turkeys and mallard ducks on the permitted regulated shooting area as provided on the permit and subject to the regulations in this chapter. Turkeys may be authorized for release only on a regulated shooting area that was permitted to release turkeys before September 1, 1992.
   2. (2) A person may not operate a regulated shooting area without a regulated shooting area permit.

2. B. Application.

   1. (1) To apply for a regulated shooting area permit, a person shall submit to the Wildlife and Heritage Service (the Service):

      1. (a) A completed application form provided by the Service;
      2. (b) A copy of a tax map on which the applicant has delineated the tract of land to be permitted, demonstrating the property meets the minimum size requirements in Regulation .04 of this chapter;
      3. (c) An application fee of $150;
      4. (d) The species the person seeks authority to raise, release, and hunt;
      5. (e) If an applicant is requesting to release mallard ducks, a statement whether the applicant desires to release and hunt flighted mallard ducks, free-flying mallard ducks, or both; and
      6. (f) If an applicant is requesting authority to release and hunt free-flying mallard ducks, the number of free-flying mallard ducks to be released and an annual habitat management plan that ensures that adequate amounts of water and food are available year-round to sustain the number of free-flying mallards ducks released.
   2. (2) The Service shall provide applicants with guidelines for habitat management plans with the permit application.
   3. (3) Permit applications may be obtained from the Wildlife and Heritage Service, Tawes State Office Building, 580 Taylor Ave., E-1, Annapolis, Maryland 21401, or by calling (410) 260-8540. Complete applications shall be mailed or delivered to: Permits Coordinator, Wildlife and Heritage Service, Tawes State Office Building, 580 Taylor Ave., E-1, Annapolis, Maryland 21401.
3. C. Conditions for Issuance. Upon receipt of the application, the Service shall review the application for its compliance with this chapter. The Service may not issue a permit to operate a regulated shooting area until it is satisfied that issuance of the permit will not be harmful or adverse to the conservation of native game species or to any public interest. The Service may inspect the property prior to issuance of the permit.
4. D. Duration. The permit shall be valid from the date of issuance until the following June 30, unless revoked by the Service. Applications to release and hunt free-flying mallard ducks shall be received by the Service before September 1 annually. Applications to release and hunt flighted mallard ducks, pheasant, bobwhite quail, chukar partridge, Hungarian partridge, and turkey may be made at any time.

Authority: Natural Resource Article, §§10-205, 10-206, 10-301, 10-404—10-409, 10-415, 10-418, 10-601.1, 10-902, 10-903, and 10-906, Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date: October 14, 2002 (29:20 Md. R. 1597)

Regulation .02D amended effective August 13, 2007 (34:16 Md. R. 1431)

Regulation .04 amended effective August 13, 2007 (34:16 Md. R. 1431)

Regulation .04A amended effective August 24, 2020 (47:17 Md. R. 796)

Regulation .05A amended as an emergency provision effective April 1, 2010 (37:9 Md. R. 672); emergency status expired effective April 30, 2010

Regulation .05A amended effective August 23, 2010 (37:17 Md. R. 1184)

Regulation .05D amended effective August 13, 2007 (34:16 Md. R. 1431)

Regulation .05E amended effective August 11, 2008 (35:16 Md. R. 1390)

Regulation .05G, H amended effective August 24, 2020 (47:17 Md. R. 796)

Regulation .06E amended and G adopted effective August 13, 2007 (34:16 Md. R. 1431)