Turkey hunting is not allowed on Sundays, on private or public lands in Maryland.  Also all spring turkey hunting ends at noon.  As a practical matter, I bird extensively (7 days a week) in areas where spring turkey hunting takes place, and like most things, a little common sense goes a long way.  Turkey hunting requires extreme stealth. If you are birding in an area with turkey hunters (e.g., pick-up trucks with National Wild Turkey Federation window stickers), just stick to the trails and don't try to chase down callining gobblers or hens. Give the birds and those who love to persue them a little space.  It isn't real complicated. I'm still trying to get an invite from some of my friends, as it could well be an "ultimate" birding experience.  But that's me.

Maryland has a rather complex set of laws for deer hunting on Sundays during the bow and firearms seasons (with a number of additions in the legislative session that just ended). The current (2007-08) ones are detailed on the hunting guide on-line.

Mark Hoffman
Director, Finance and Administrative Services
Department of Natural Resources  

 -----Original Message-----
From: 	George M. Jett [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent:	Thursday, April 10, 2008 09:07 PM Eastern Standard Time
To:	
Subject:	Re: [MDOSPREY] Fw: [MDOSPREY] Warning -- Spring Turkey Hunting Season

Jim
I think the MD DNR Sunday hunting prohibition applies only to state lands. 
Maybe Mark Hoffman, a DNR employee on the listserve, can help by providing a 
full disclosure statement.
George

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jim and Ann Nelson" <>
To: <>
Sent: Thursday, April 10, 2008 7:18 PM
Subject: [MDOSPREY] Fw: [MDOSPREY] Warning -- Spring Turkey Hunting Season


> Bob Mumford wrote me and indicated that virtually no hunting is allowed in 
> Maryland on Sundays.  I had thought that as well, but before sending my 
> message, I had scoured the DNR website for discussion of this issue to no 
> avail.  After receiving Bob's message, I searched for "Sunday Hunting" and 
> picked up the following buried in the proposed DNR 2008-2009 season 
> regulations: "DNR has supported a repeal of Maryland's Sunday hunting 
> laws. However, current Maryland law prohibits DNR from amending Sunday 
> hunting restrictions through the regulatory process and without approval 
> from the Maryland Legislature".  So I guess we are still safe to go afield 
> on Sundays.
>
> Jim Nelson
> Bethesda, MD
>
> --------------------------------------------------
> From: "Jim and Ann Nelson" <>
> Sent: Thursday, April 10, 2008 6:35 PM
> To: <>
> Subject: [MDOSPREY] Warning -- Spring Turkey Hunting Season
>
>> My neighbor mentioned today that he had gone out scouting Turkey habitat 
>> to prepare for the Maryland Spring Turkey hunt.  I checked the MD Dept. 
>> of Natural Resources website.  The Spring Turkey season starts on 
>> Saturday, April 12, with the youth hunt.  The season for adults starts on 
>> Friday, April 18, and continues until May 23.  The hunting hours for the 
>> Spring hunt are from one hour before sunrise until noon each day (as far 
>> as I can determine, the hunt is seven days a week).  Since these hours 
>> are also prime birding hours, be sure to consider whether your birding 
>> destination are also lands where Turkey may be hunted before you go out.
>>
>> Jim Nelson
>> Bethesda, MD
>>
>
>