DNR Announces Dates, Times And Procedures For Blind Site Licensing
Applicants should note changes to licensing process
ANNAPOLIS — The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Wildlife and Heritage Service announced today the schedule of dates and times to apply for blind site licenses for Maryland waters. The initial phase of licensing will take place on Tuesday, August 3, and Wednesday, August 4, at locations in each county where licensing is legal. On August 5 and thereafter, licensing will take place at DNR Regional Service Centers located throughout the state. A complete list of licensing locations can be found at the end of this release.
Potential applicants should arrive at the licensing locations on August 3 and 4 between 7:30 and 8:00 am to be processed. Individuals arriving after 8:00 am will not be eligible for the drawing and will have to wait until all lottery applicants have completed their selection. The licensing process has three significant changes from prior years:
1) Due to the passage of legislation, SB 59, (http://www.gov.state.md.us/billsignings/2004/April272004.html), a 2003-2004 or 2004-2005 Maryland resident hunting license must be presented in order to participate in the lottery drawing and licensing process (except for landowners, or persons with the permission of a landowner, who desire to license their own property). If an applicant no longer has their 2003-2004 hunting license, 2004-2005 licenses will be available for sale by July 23 and can be purchased at any DNR sport license agent. APPLICANTS WHO DO NOT PHYSICALLY POSSESS THE REQUIRED LICENSE WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE LOTTERY.
2) Applicants (of driving age) must also present their Maryland driving license or other photo identification to prove residency and that they in fact are the individual holding the hunting license.
3) Lottery numbers will be non-transferable.
These changes have been made to make the licensing process fair and stop the abuses of that have plagued the system in the recent past. At each location, a lottery will be held at approximately 8:30 a.m. on August 3, to determine the processing order of applicants for that day. Also, applicants will be limited to a maximum of 10 minutes to select their blind sites. Landowners wishing to license their own property should bring with them a copy of the property account information available through the website of the Department of Assessment and Taxation, at www.dat.state.md.us and a tax map or survey of their property.
On August 3, licensing will end at 4:30 pm. On August 4, licensing will end at noon at all locations. Licensing will resume on August 5 at the DNR Regional Service Centers listed below.
The full list of licensing locations for August 3 and 4 follows. (Note the new locations for Caroline and Anne Arundel counties). Preview maps of shoreline licensed by riparian landowners will be available on July 21 at locations as listed below. The maps will also be available on-line; check DNR’s MERLIN web site at http://atlas.mdmerlin.net/blinds/.
COUNTY LOCATIONS FOR BLIND SITE LICENSING AND PREVIEW MAPS
Anne Arundel County. (NEW LOCATION) Licensing location: Broadneck High School Auditorium, 1265 Green Holly Drive, Arnold. Preview maps available at Tawes State Office Building, E-1, 580 Taylor Ave., Annapolis.
Prince George’s County. Licensing location: County Administration Bldg. (Main Lobby, 1st Floor), 14741 Governor Oden Bowie Dr., Upper Marlboro. Preview maps available at County Administration Building, Room L-15.
On Aug. 5, 2004, and thereafter, licenses for Anne Arundel and Prince George’s counties will be issued at the Wildlife and Heritage Service office, Tawes State Office Bldg., E-1, Annapolis, MD.
Calvert County. Licensing location: DNR Regional Service Center, Rt. 231 at Hallowing Point, Prince Frederick. Preview maps available at same location.
Charles County. Licensing location: Myrtle Grove WMA Office, 5625 Myrtle Grove Road, LaPlata, MD. Preview maps available at same location, 7 am to 12:30 pm only.
St. Mary’s County. Licensing location: Joseph D. Carter Bldg., Russell Conference Room, 2nd Floor, 23110 Leonard Hall Dr., Leonardtown. Preview maps available at St. Mary’s County Memorial Library, 23250 Hollywood Road, Leonardtown.
On Aug. 5, 2004, and thereafter, licenses for Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties will be issued at the DNR Southern Regional Service Center, Rt. 231 at Hallowing Point, Prince Frederick, MD 20678.
Baltimore County. Licensing location: Natural Resources Police Facility, 3738 Gwynnbrook Ave., Owings Mills. Preview maps available at same location.
Cecil County. Licensing location: Fairhill Natural Resource Management Area, Edward L. Walls Activity Center, off entrance 3 Road, Rt. 273. Preview maps available at the Cecil County Library, 301 Newark Ave., Elkton.
Harford County. Licensing location: Fallston Volunteer Fire Department, meeting room, 2201 Carrs Mill Road, Fallston, MD (next to the Fallston High School). Preview maps available at the DNR Licensing and Registration Services, Bel Air Regional Service Center, 2 South Bond Street, Bel Air.
On Aug. 5, 2004, and thereafter, licenses for Baltimore, Cecil & Harford counties will be issued at the Bel Air Regional Service Center, 2 S. Bond St., Bel Air, MD 21014.
Caroline County. (NEW LOCATION). NOTE: Doors do not open until 8 a.m., must be on site by 8:15 a.m. Licensing location: Caroline County Public Library, 100 Market Street, Denton. Preview maps available at County Courthouse, 109 Market St., Denton.
Talbot County. Licensing location: Easton Volunteer Fire Department, 315 Aurora Park Drive, Easton. Preview maps available at the Easton Branch of Talbot County Library (across from courthouse), Easton.
Kent and Queen Anne’s Counties. Only riparian landowners may license a blind site in these counties. Landowners may license their shoreline beginning Aug. 5th if they have missed the earlier licensing period.
On Aug. 5, 2004, and thereafter, licenses for Caroline, Talbot, Kent and Queen Anne’s counties will be issued at the Centreville Regional Service Center, 120 Broadway Ave., Room 207, Centreville, MD 21617.
Dorchester County. Licensing location: LeCompte Wildlife Management Area, 4220 Steele Neck Road, Vienna, MD 21869. Preview maps available at same location, call ahead to confirm office is staffed 410-376-3236.
Somerset County. Licensing location: Wellington Wildlife Management Area, 32733 Dublin Road, Princess Anne 21853. Preview maps available at same location, call ahead to confirm office is staffed 410-543-8223.
Wicomico County. Licensing location: Salisbury Regional Wildlife Office, 201 Baptist St., #22, Salisbury, MD 2180. Preview maps available at same location.
Worcester County. Licensing location: Nassawango Fire Tower, Rt. 12, Snow Hill. Preview maps available at Shad Landing State Park @ Camp Store – Off Rt. 113.
On Aug. 5, 2004, and thereafter, licenses for Dorchester, Somerset, Wicomico & Worcester counties will be issued at the Salisbury Regional Service Center, 201 Baptist St., Suite 22, Salisbury, MD 21801.