Hunters in Howard County could face increased safety restrictions under new proposal by County Executive Ken Ulman who was outspokenly alarmed this month when a hunter’s stray bullet shattered the window of a Clarksville day care center.
Howard police said the shot was fired from well beyond the 150-yard buffer zone required by state law.
But Ulman’s proposal, which he plans to introduce at the County Council meeting Monday, would double the safety zone to 300 yards across the county, while maintaining the 150-yard limit for hunters who pose less of a risk while shooting down from elevated stands or using shotguns that contain only shot.
“The 150-yard zone hadn’t been looked at in a while, and technology has brought about some more powerful weapons,” Ulman said in a phone interview.
“We feel this is a reasonable approach to strengthening safety.”
Four of the five council members are co-sponsors of the proposal that also would prohibit hunting on properties smaller than 10 acres and ban firing a gun toward any building or camp designed for people within the gun’s maximum range, or within 100 yards from a public road.
“People should be able to go about their daily lives without the fear of a stray hunting bullet. I believe that this legislation creates a better balance between the safety and security of our residents and those who hunt in the county,” said Council Chairwoman Mary Kay Sigaty, who co-sponsored the bill.
The only dissenting council member, Courtney Watson, said she first wants to hear from the public on the issue.
“Because it’s an area regulated by the state and the county, I want a little more information before I make a decision,” she said.
Ulman said he’s encountered little opposition to the proposal other than a few hunters who are concerned about creating too large of a buffer that would greatly limit where they can hunt.
“We looked at those concerns, but we really do have to put safety first,” Ulman said.
The council will hold a public hearing Jan. 21 before voting on the legislation in February.
The push for new legislation was supported by Felicia Minnix, director of Kid’s Time Out day care center on Clarksville Square Drive where six children and three adults huddled into a bathroom Dec. 10 after hearing gunshots and glass shattering.
“Although this shooting was accidental, I think it surprised a lot of people that this hunter was beyond the distance required by law and still managed to strike the day care center’s window,” Ulman said.
Richard Vernon Hoenes Jr., 41, of Ellicott City, was shooting at a deer when his stray bullet traveled about 277 yards across a field and through woods before striking the window.
Howard police ruled the incident accidental, but Department of Natural Resources police charged Hoenes with negligent hunting, saying he violated hunter safety codes by failing to consider what was beyond his target.
