A measure that proponents feel will provide those with disabilities a chance to enjoy the great outdoors gained unanimous approval from the Calvert County commissioners Tuesday.
As a result of the vote, Commissioner President Earl F. “Buddy” Hance (R) has been authorized to sign a cooperative wildlife management agreement with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
In a memo to the commissioners, Karyn Molines, chief of the county government’s natural resources division, said the Bennett O. Hughes Memorial Tree Farm allows “hunting under an approved contract by the county and the fish and wildlife authorities.” The county owns the 180-acre tree farm, located off Clay Hammond Road in Prince Frederick.
The wildlife management agreement is proposed to begin in September and would allow “physically impaired hunters” to register for access to hunt from vehicles, Molines said.
According to the memo, hunting would be allowed Sept. 1 through the end of February and spring turkey season. In addition to turkey, hunters would be able to harvest deer and “small game.”
Other pact terms allow for “six hunters per day if all weapons are allowed or eight hunters if archery only and all legal weapons in the seasons that allow them. All legal species within the approved hunting dates.”
Jay Johnson, current president of the local chapter of the Chesapeake Long Beards National Wild Turkey Federation, said the agreement will provide those hunters with disabilities “an opportunity to enjoy nature.”
Johnson said in addition to outreach programs geared to youth and women, the federation’s local chapter also aids “wheelin’ sportsmen” — those hunters who have mobility issues as well as armed forces veterans and active military.
“Anything we can do we are fully on board,” Johnson said in his comments to the commissioners.
“There might be some other organizations willing to help out,” Hance said.
Other points Molines made in her memo to the board pointed out the state natural resources representatives “will take the daily reservations and issue free hunting permits to the public,” while her division will submit “a list of days when programs are scheduled or when hunting should be limited.”
Molines also said the it will cost an estimated $10,000 annually to maintain the farm’s roadways to allow for safe hunting from vehicles.
In the wildlife management agreement, state natural resources officials have agreed to provide appropriate wildlife habitat improvements, post appropriate signage, repair damage done to fences and posts by hunters and have Maryland Natural Resources Police patrol the farm when it is open to hunters. The officers will also monitor and limit the number of hunters on the property.
In answer to a question from the commissioners, no issues are expected between the use of the property for hunting and the presence of feral cat sanctuary located at the farm.
In his motion to approve the wildlife management agreement, Commissioner Todd Ireland (R) included direction to county government staff to negotiate a separate agreement with the local Long Beards chapter “to aid in maintenance and organize events on this site.”
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