Without a veto, Maryland’s new legislation mandating an increase in the amount of financial restitution for poaching deer became law without Gov. Larry Hogan’s signature.
The recently passed legislation will see restitution charges based upon the size of the antlers on the animals head. Penalties for shooting a doe or antlerless buck will vary between $300-$500 and 40 hours of community service while a buck scoring more than 150 points on the Boone and Crockett antler scale could cost poachers between $5,000 and $10,000 paired with 80 hours of community service.
The newly introduce restitution amounts will be in addition to all existing fines of up to $1,500 in the state of Maryland for the illegal shooting of any deer.
