Agency Email Shows Concern About State Hunter Safety Rules

CUMBERLAND, Md. (AP) -- The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is reviewing hunting regulations after a Natural Resources Police officer declared that hunters on private game preserves were wrongly exempted from a hunter education requirement.

The Cumberland Times-News reported Tuesday on the email it obtained through the Public Information Act.

Capt. Rob Kersey sent the message to the agency's wildlife chief Oct. 12, two days after hunting guide Marvin Coppage was accidentally shot and killed by a juvenile hunter at the Schraeder's Outdoors game preserve on the Eastern Shore.

The state hunting guide says game preserve clients need not have passed a hunter safety course. Kersey wrote that the exemption is only for nonresidents hunting wild waterfowl.

The agency says it will announce draft rule changes by Feb. 3.

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