Jay,

Here's a response I just sent to another MDOsprey user who asked more
or less the same questions you did.  I hope this helps!

"The point is to protect night-hunting/day-roosting owls from
harassment.  Owls are enormously sought after by many birders, some of
whom will go out of their way to get a photograph or a good look at a
roosting owl.  An owl that is flushed during daylight hours is subject
to enormous amounts of harassment from crows and potential predation
by large buteos.  The other reason, of course, is to protect owls who
may be nesting or who may be considering nesting.
 
"Short-eared Owls and Snowy Owls are open-country birds that hunt
during daylight hours or at dusk and dawn.  These birds are well able
to avoid intrusive birders by simply flying away.  They are well
adapted to handling crows, etc.
 
People who mention hearing or even seeing an owl in a generic location
(like "Blackwater" or "Assateague Island") are no problem at all.  It
is the people who give explicit directions to an owl or group of owls
that I want to avoid on MDOsprey."

Best,
Norm Saunders