13.45.140 Hunting.
(a)
(1) Bow. Allowed one-half hour before sunrise to sunset, conditions permitting. Dates are determined by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
(2) Gun. Managed hunts only. WSSC in conjunction with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources will determine dates, times, and locations of managed hunts.
(3) A WSSC use permit is required for all persons that are 16 years of age or older. Minors under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a person at least 18 years of age who holds a valid use permit. A use permit is only valid when used by the person to whom it is issued, and must be carried at all times when using WSSC property.
(4) WSSC property boundaries are designated in most areas by trees marked with blue paint. In addition, signs stating “No Trespassing” are posted at intervals. Maps of designated bow hunting areas are available at the Brighton Dam Visitors’ Information Center and online at www.wsscwater.com. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources and WSSC officers have enforcement authority on WSSC property.
(b) Bow Hunting. Bow hunting is allowed on WSSC property in designated areas from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. Designated bow hunting areas will be determined by WSSC, and are subject to change, based on deer management goals. Bow hunting season dates are determined by WSSC in coordination with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, with hunting hours specified in the Maryland State hunting regulations. The game laws of the State of Maryland regarding safety precautions, species, bag limit and possession limit apply in every respect, except that WSSC reserves the right to further regulate, or eliminate entirely, hunting on WSSC property.
Mandatory use of a safety harness is required for all hunters using a tree stand. All bow hunters must possess, and present if requested, the following: a valid Maryland hunting license, a Maryland bow stamp, and a WSSC watershed use permit.
(c) Gun Hunting. There will be no open access gun hunting on WSSC property. Gun hunting is only allowed as part of WSSC’s managed hunts. Hunters may apply to take part in WSSC’s managed hunts as they become available, and limited numbers of permits will be granted on a lottery basis. To participate in a WSSC managed hunt, hunters must possess, and present if requested, a valid State of Maryland hunting license, current shooter qualification certification, proof of a hunter safety training certificate, and WSSC watershed use permit. WSSC reserves the right to conduct limited participation hunts for disabled veterans, employees, retirees, and minors less than 18 years of age.
Mandatory use of a safety harness is required for all hunters using a tree stand. All deer harvested in managed hunts on WSSC property will be checked in at Brighton Dam on the day of the harvest. For information regarding WSSC’s managed hunts, please check online at www.wsscwater.com or call the Brighton Dam Visitors’ Information Center.
(d) Hunters must obtain permission from private landowners to access their property to retrieve any animal that was wounded on WSSC watershed but subsequently died on private property.
(e) Hunting Prohibitions.
(1) Hunting of small game (including night hunting of raccoon and opossum), waterfowl, turkey and fox hunting is not permitted.
(2) Use of dogs for hunting.
(3) Rifles and traps will not be used.
(4) Hunters cannot use boats to gain access to hunting areas. Hunters must not hunt from boats.
(5) Tree stands are only allowed if they are portable; they must be removed daily, after use.
(6) Use of screw-in tree steps. (REG-WWM-PR-2301-001)