Police charged a man with hunting over bait and installing a permanent tree stand in Doncaster Demonstration State Forest in Charles County. On Dec. 5, police investigated an area where they had located a bait pile close to a permanent tree stand a day earlier.
While there, they observed Grant Wessinger, 24, actively hunting in the tree stand and not wearing the appropriate daylight fluorescent orange or pink clothing. According to police, Wessinger did not have a photo ID, which is required while hunting in Maryland. Wessinger later admitted to police that he placed the tree stand and bait about two weeks ago.
As a result, he was charged with hunting over a baited area, failing to wear appropriate attire during firearms season, hunting on a Sunday where it’s not permitted, and illegally using a permanent tree stand. He faces up to $5,000 in fines.