Farm Bureau and Horse Council Urge Safe Hunting and Riding Practices

September 2, 2014

For Immediate Release

Contact: Matt Teffeau or Jane Seigler

410-922-3426 – 301-502-8929

Farm Bureau and Horse Council Urge Safe Hunting and Riding Practices

The White Tail Deer hunting season will soon be underway. Maryland Farm Bureau and Maryland Horse Council leaders encourage their members and the public to be conscious of their surroundings and respectful of others during this traditional and recreational season.

Landowners, sportsmen, equestrians, farmers, and others commonly spend more time outdoors during this time of year. Respecting landowners’ private property rights and preventing trespassing while hunting or riding will avoid possible negative interaction among participants.

“Maryland farmers continue to face a growing problem of crop damage inflicted by wildlife, especially deer,” said Maryland Farm Bureau President Chuck Fry. “We encourage Maryland sportsmen to take full advantage of this year’s hunting season.  We also encourage the community to respect the rights of landowners and be considerate of other outdoor recreation while hunting.”

Maryland Horse Council President, Jane Seigler, said:

“Maryland horse farmers, like all Maryland farmers, struggle with the effects of deer damage on our farms. We applaud all truly effective methods to control the deer population. We encourage all Maryland equestrians to:

•       Be informed - learn the dates and details of the hunting seasons in the areas where you ride, so equestrians and hunters can avoid interfering with each other;

•       Stay in touch with the landowners where you ride, to find out if permission has been given to hunters so you can avoid interference, and so you can be the landowner’s eyes and ears for unauthorized use;

•       NEVER ride on land unless you have the owner’s permission, and ALWAYS stay off planted cropland.”

Maryland sportsmen and equestrians have many common interests and continue to be good stewards on the land. “We encourage all outdoor groups to respect private property and to always practice safe measures during hunting seasons,” Fry said.

The mission of the Maryland Farm Bureau is to promote and protect Maryland agriculture and rural life. MFB is a private, non-profit membership organization that is financed by voluntary membership dues. Its strength comes from the active participation of over 37,000 member families that belong to the state’s 23 county Farm Bureaus.

Established in 1985, the Maryland Horse Council seeks to unify, inform, and represent Maryland’s diverse equestrian community. As a volunteer-based, non-profit, membership organization, financed by membership dues, donations and sponsorships, the Horse Council represents and serves over 28,000 people with 81,000 horses on 16,040 properties that comprise 587,000 acres of Maryland farmland. (2010 Maryland Horse Census)

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