Legislation to allow waterfowl hunting on Sundays introduced into the state’s House and Senate chambers
BISMARCK, NORTH DAKOTA — Delta Waterfowl expressed support and appreciation Friday to members of the House Environment and Transportation Committee in Maryland for the introduction of House Bill 1063, which would authorize the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to allow Sunday hunting for migratory game birds. The bill will now go before the Natural Resources and Open Space subcommittee where Delta hopes for a favorable report before heading to the House Floor. Senate Bill SB0643 has been referred to committee on Education, Energy and the Environment.
In 2025, Delta was asked to participate in a series of stakeholder meetings over the course of the year discussing the topic of Sunday hunting in Maryland. The newly introduced legislation is a direct result of those meetings with members of the General Assembly, DNR, and the outdoor community. Alongside other conservation partners, Delta has led the charge to repeal the archaic Sunday hunting prohibition by testifying in favor of HB1063 and working with lawmakers to find a common-sense solution for waterfowl hunters.
“We’re grateful to Chairman Marc Korman and Delegate Regina Boyce for their leadership on this effort and to the other members of the Maryland General Assembly who have supported this legislation. The bipartisan and bicameral coalition of legislators sponsoring this bill is a great sign for waterfowl hunters in the Old-Line State,” said Cyrus Baird, Delta’s vice president of government affairs, after his testimony.
Sunday hunting has broad support across North America. Waterfowl hunting on Sundays is legal in 43 states and counting. Nearly 75 percent of Maryland waterfowl hunters surveyed by DNR support changing the law. Delta was proud to help lead the efforts to repeal the prohibition in neighboring Delaware and Pennsylvania in the past two years.
“We look forward to continued conversation with lawmakers and hunters across the state, and we will be testifying in support of this legislation on the Senate side as well,” Baird added.
All states with Sunday waterfowl hunting prohibitions lie within the Atlantic Flyway, where Delta has been a leading voice in the repeal of these laws over the past decade.
To voice your support for Sunday waterfowl hunting in Maryland, visit Delta’s Duck Hunters Action Alert System to contact your Maryland elected officials.
Delta Waterfowl is The Duck Hunters OrganizationTM, a leading conservation group founded in 1911 that uses science-based solutions to produce ducks, conserve prairie wetlands, and secure the future of waterfowl hunting in North America. Visit our website.
For more information, contact Cyrus Baird.
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