Maryland Natural Resources Police officers were busy this spring, taking action on a variety of criminal and natural resource law violations from March through May. Charges ranged from illegal hunting and fishing to weapons offenses and illegal dumping. Officers also conducted several successful search and rescue operations during the same period.
Two Cited For Gillnetting Striped Bass On Patapsco River
On May 25, NRP officers patrolling the Middle Branch section of the Patapsco River spotted individuals dropping gill nets from a recreational boat and moved in to stop the vessel. Aboard, officers discovered the boat was lacking required safety gear, including life jackets and a sound-producing device. Two striped bass were found and confiscated since they came from a catch-and-release-only zone. Inspecting the gill nets uncovered 20 additional striped bass. A 43-year-old man from Greenbelt and a 35-year-old man from Silver Spring were each cited for illegal possession of striped bass, using gill nets to catch fish, and failing to have life jackets on board.
Pennsylvania Man Charged For Falsifying Records, Failure to Report Turkey Kills
During a routine compliance check on May 22 in Carroll County, officers encountered a 33-year-old man from Hanover, Pa., who was actively turkey hunting. The man admitted that he had purchased resident hunting licenses even though he no longer lived in Maryland, and that he had harvested turkeys in the state in both 2025 and 2026 without reporting them. He was cited for failing to report two turkey kills, making false statements to obtain a license in each of those two seasons, and failing to carry a second form of identification. A guilty verdict could result in fines totaling up to $7,500.
Coordinated Effort Rescues Two Hikers From Appalachian Trail
Also on May 22, officers were sent to the Appalachian Trail near Pen Mark Park after a father and son failed to arrive at their scheduled pick-up location. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Washington County Fire Department, and Maryland Park Service all joined the search. After roughly six hours, responders learned that another hiker had come across the missing pair, who were suffering from dehydration and hypothermia and required emergency medical attention. Officers helped bring them to EMS personnel, who transported them to a nearby medical center. Both individuals made full recoveries.
Officers Rescue Two Boaters After Vessel Sinks Near Fort Smallwood State Park
On May 12, officers on routine patrol near Fort Smallwood State Park spotted two people in life jackets floating next to a submerged boat. Officers quickly responded by patrol vessel and pulled two adult males from the water. The men said their boat had capsized after being struck by a wake from a passing vessel and that they had been in the water for around 30 minutes. After being brought ashore, both were evaluated by EMS and released.
Two Charged After Illegal Turkey Hunt In Patapsco Valley State Park
On May 11, officers patrolling the Mercer/Norbeck area of Patapsco Valley State Park in Woodbine spotted two men dressed in camouflage and armed, appearing to be hunting turkeys in an area closed to that activity. The Mercer/Norbeck area is only open to public hunting during white-tailed deer season, which begins with archery on September 11. Officers intercepted the hunters and recovered a loaded 20-gauge pump-action shotgun with TSS shells — ammunition commonly associated with turkey hunting. Neither man could produce a hunting license, and both claimed not to know the area was off-limits for turkey hunting. A 19-year-old from Finksburg and a 20-year-old from Hanover, Pa., were both cited for hunting in a prohibited area, violating the public hunting permit, failing to provide a hunting license, and failing to carry identification. The 20-year-old also faced a charge of possessing a weapon in a state park, and the shotgun was seized. Each could face up to $4,000 in fines if convicted.
White Marsh Man Charged With Illegal Firearm Possession At Indian Springs WMA
On May 10, officers on routine patrol of the Indian Springs Wildlife Management Area near Blair’s Valley Road in Clear Spring noticed an unoccupied truck in a designated parking area. They then made contact with two individuals returning from turkey hunting, both carrying shotguns. A check of their hunting licenses revealed that one of the men — a 47-year-old from White Marsh — was legally barred from possessing firearms due to a prior disqualifying conviction. Two 12-gauge shotguns and six rounds of ammunition were seized. The man was subsequently charged with possessing a rifle with a felony conviction, possessing firearms while disqualified, and illegally possessing ammunition. A conviction on all charges could bring up to 19 years in prison and/or up to $2,000 in fines.
Cumberland Man Charged For Hunting Turkeys Over Bait In Oldtown
On May 10 in Allegany County, officers surveilling a suspected baited property on private land observed two people calling turkeys near a pop-up blind. The area had previously been flagged for baiting. A 67-year-old man from Cumberland admitted to both hunting turkeys and placing the bait on the property. He was cited for hunting turkeys with the aid of bait and for helping a juvenile hunter commit the same offense. If found guilty, he could face up to $3,000 in fines.
Boonsboro Man Charged After Dumping Garbage In Greenbrier State Park
On May 9, officers responded to a complaint about household trash bags found near a parking area at Greenbrier State Park in Washington County. Twelve bags of household garbage were discovered, and one contained an address to a Smithsburg residence. Officers visited that address and learned the homeowner had paid a local 18-year-old to haul away the trash. The young man instead dumped it near the Mountain Laurel Road parking lot at the park. The 18-year-old from Boonsboro was issued a criminal citation for dumping more than 100 pounds of trash, which carries a maximum penalty of $12,500 and/or one year in jail.
Virginia Man Caught Running Unlicensed Tree Cutting Business in Harford County
On May 8, officers received a tip about potentially unlicensed tree-cutting operators going door to door for business in Joppa. Arriving on scene, officers found workers trimming branches on a tree more than 20 feet tall — work that requires a licensed tree expert certification through the Maryland Forest Service. The business had no tree expert license number displayed and was not listed in the DNR’s tree service database. The owner and operator, a 58-year-old from Danville, Va., was cited for running a tree expert business without a license. Because it was a second offense, he faces up to $1,000 in fines or one year in prison.
Delaware Man Caught Baiting Turkeys in Dorchester County
On April 29, officers conducting surveillance of a suspected baited property in Dorchester County found several hunters near a field edge in an elevated blind. The group was hunting close to an area baited with grain and seeds and admitted to shooting at a turkey. A 51-year-old man from Dagsboro, Delaware, was cited for failure to provide a hunting license, hunting turkeys over bait, and aiding and abetting the same offense. A 12-gauge Beretta autoloading shotgun was seized as evidence. If convicted, the man faces up to $4,500 in fines.
New Jersey Man Busted After Hunting Turkeys Near Corn Feeders in Princess Anne
On April 25, officers surveilling a suspected baited property in Somerset County spotted a person hunting from an elevated blind near an active corn feeder. Additional feeders programmed to dispense whole kernel corn were also found on the property, along with clear signs of turkey activity. A 58-year-old man from Rutherford, N.J., was cited for hunting turkeys over bait, which carries a maximum fine of $1,500.
Illegal Turkey Hunt at Morgan Run NEA Results In Seized Turkey, Citations
On April 19, officers reviewing turkey harvest check-ins from Opening Day of Maryland’s spring turkey season noticed a turkey had been checked in from Morgan Run Natural Environment Area — a location only open to deer hunting during Maryland’s fall season. Officers tracked down the person who submitted the check-in, a 21-year-old man from Westminster, and informed him that turkey hunting there is prohibited under the Maryland public hunting permit. The turkey was retrieved from a nearby taxidermist, and the man was issued one citation for violating the public hunting permit, punishable by a maximum $1,000 fine.
Opening Day Surveillance Catches Multiple Turkey Baiting Violations Statewide
On April 18 — Opening Day of Maryland’s spring turkey hunting season — NRP officers conducted surveillance on suspected baited properties across the state. Among the violations found:
In Somerset County, two hunters in ground blinds were found near feeders, bird seed, game cameras, and turkey decoys. A 44-year-old man from Lansdowne and a 39-year-old man from Glen Burnie were each cited for hunting turkeys with the aid of bait, punishable by up to $1,500 in fines.
Also in Somerset County in Princess Anne, an individual in a pop-up tent blind was found near a feeder, cellular trail cameras, and grain while actively calling turkeys. A 56-year-old man from Pasadena was cited for hunting turkeys with the aid of bait, also punishable by up to $1,500 in fines.
In Dorchester County, officers found multiple hunters on a property under surveillance, with freshly baited areas containing attractant grain near a ground blind, feeder, and trail cameras. The landowner — a 41-year-old man from Cambridge — was among those hunting and admitted to placing the bait. He received one citation for hunting turkeys over bait and three additional citations for helping others commit the same offense. If convicted, he faces up to $6,000 in fines.
In Washington County, two men were found hunting on a property where bait had been observed within the previous 10 days, making it legally off-limits for turkey hunting. A feeder, whole corn kernels, and soybeans were found on site. A 42-year-old from Greencastle, Pa., and a 37-year-old from Enola, Pa., were each cited for hunting turkeys over bait, punishable by a maximum $1,500 fine.
On private land bordering Sideling Hill Creek and Sideling Hill Wildlife Management Area in Washington County, three hunters were found at three separate baited locations. Each spot contained a combination of shelled corn, bird seed, sunflower seeds, and soybeans. One hunter admitted to placing the bait. A 55-year-old from Worton, a 67-year-old from Joppatowne, and a 23-year-old from Joppatowne were all cited for hunting turkeys over bait, each facing a maximum $1,500 fine.
Boater Rescued in Deal Island WMA After Running Aground Without Oxygen Supply
On April 17, officers responded to a distress call from a boater stranded in the Deal Island Wildlife Management Area near Fishing Creek in Somerset County. The man had run his jon boat aground and was unable to free it. NRP officers and Somerset County EMS deployed a patrol vessel and reached the individual within 45 minutes. Upon arrival, responders discovered the 72-year-old relied on supplemental oxygen and had run out of his supply. Maryland State Police Aviation was called in to assist with transport, and the man was flown to TidalHealth Peninsula Regional in Salisbury for precautionary evaluation.
Frederick Man Cited For Baiting Turkeys During Youth Hunt
On April 11, officers surveilling a suspected baited property in Frederick County found a group hunting from a ground blind about 10 yards from a recently discovered bait pile. Two turkey decoys were positioned in front of the blind, and leftover corn kernels from the illegal bait were found nearby. A 23-year-old man from Frederick was cited for hunting turkeys over bait, punishable by up to $1,500 in fines. Two juveniles were present with him at the time.
After-Hours Fishing At Gunpowder Falls State Park Results In Multiple Charges
On March 26, officers on routine patrol of Gunpowder Falls State Park in Harford County came across a group using lights to fish in a trout closure area after hours. The individuals were illegally fishing in closed waters, trespassing on park property after closing time, and had been drinking alcohol in a prohibited area. A 39-year-old man from Baltimore was charged with possession of alcohol in a state park and was also arrested on an unrelated active warrant. A 32-year-old and another 39-year-old, both from Baltimore, were cited for fishing in a put-and-take trout stream during the closed season, which carries a maximum fine of $1,000.
Virginia Man Cited After Abandoning Sunken Boat in Potomac River
On March 17, officers were alerted to an abandoned vessel sitting in about three feet of water in the Potomac River in Charles County, near Marshall Hall. Using the boat’s expired Maryland registration, officers tracked down the owner, who said the boat had been intentionally run aground while en route to Colonial Beach for removal. After 30 days with no action taken to move the vessel, it was officially deemed abandoned and subject to the state’s Abandoned Boat Removal process. On May 10, a 44-year-old man from Colonial Beach, Va., was cited for abandoning a boat in state waters, punishable by up to $1,000 in fines and/or six months in jail, plus the cost of removing the vessel.
Two Anglers Caught Exceeding Daily Trout Limit on Patapsco River
On March 14, officers patrolling Patapsco Valley State Park near the Daniels Dam area observed a group fishing for trout and storing their catch in a nearby vehicle. Two men in the group — a 20-year-old from Millersville and a 28-year-old from Brooklyn — admitted to catching and keeping a combined 10 trout. The daily limit in that stretch of the Patapsco River is two fish per person per day. Both were cited for exceeding the creel limit, punishable by up to $1,000 for a first offense. The seized trout were donated to Frisky’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Center.
