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HOLLYWOOD, MD — Maryland resident hunters can apply for a 2016-2017 waterfowl blind site license Aug. 2.
Opening-day applicants will be entered into a lottery for a chance to select their sites. Each blind site license is assigned to a designated location in Maryland waters, where hunters can anchor their boats to hunt waterfowl.
According to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources website, applications will begin being accepted at these three locations within Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties starting at 7:30 a.m. Anyone arriving after 8 a.m. will not be eligible for the lottery starting approximately 8:30 a.m. that morning.
In Calvert County, applications will be accepted at the Natural Resources Regional Service Center on 6904 Hallowing Lane, Prince Frederick. Preview maps will be available at the same location.
In Charles County, you can drop off your application at the Myrtle Grove Wildlife Management Area on 5625 Myrtle Grove Road in La Plata. Preview maps will be available at Charles County La Plata Branch Public Library.
In St. Mary’s County, applications may be filed at the Russell Conference Room of the Joseph D. Carter Building at 23110 Leonard Hall Drive in Leonardtown. Preview maps available at St. Mary’s County Leonardtown Branch Library.
Once selected, applicants have eight minutes to choose their blind sites, with a max of two sites per day. Selections will end at 4:30 p.m.
On Aug. 3, the lottery will be held at all listed department service centers and offices from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The service centers listed will operate during normal business hours Aug. 4 and afterwards.
Community members interested in the lottery must present a 2015-2016 or 2016-2017 Maryland resident hunting license in order to participate in the process. Landowners or individuals with written permission of a given landowner who desire to license their own property are exempt from this requirement.
Applicants must also present their driver’s license or other photo identification to verify residency, with individuals under 16 exempt from this requirement. The 2016-2017 Maryland hunting license is now available at any qualified agent, online, or by calling 855-855-3906.
The department stated that on August 3 and thereafter, licenses for Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties will be issued at the Natural Resources Regional Service Center on 6904 Hallowing Lane in Prince Frederick.
Landowners who would like to license their property should bring a copy of the property information and a tax map or other legible map showing the exact location of the shoreline to be licensed.
For more information about the process, visit the Maryland Department of Natural Resources website for more information.
Contact Jacqui Atkielski at j.atkielski@thebaynet.com.