Maryland Natural Resources Section 10-423

      (a)      Any penalty imposed under this section does not apply to an individual who kills or wounds a black bear in defense of the individual's own life, the lives of other individuals, or the lives of animals on the individual's property.

      (b)      If the Secretary adopts any regulation, including an emergency regulation, under § 10-205 of this title or § 10-405 of this subtitle to prohibit the hunting, possessing, selling, purchasing, shipping, carrying, transporting, or exporting of black bears, a person who violates the regulation is subject to the following penalties:

            (1)      For a first offense, a fine not exceeding $1,500, imprisonment not exceeding 6 months, or both and suspension of the person's hunting license and right to hunt any bird or game animal for a period of time not exceeding 2 years; and

            (2)      For a second or subsequent offense, a fine not exceeding $2,000, imprisonment not exceeding 1 year, or both and suspension of the person's hunting license and right to hunt any bird or game animal for a period of time not exceeding 4 years.