HP0304, LD 424, item 1, An Act To Extend the Big Game Season in Coastal Wildlife Management Areas

An Act To Extend the Big Game Season in Coastal Wildlife Management Areas

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §10105, sub-§18 is enacted to read:

18. Commissioner's authority to allow hunting on Sunday. The commissioner may allow hunting on a Sunday in an area or region the commissioner determines appropriate for the purposes of enhancing wildlife resource management or enhancing or promoting the hunting experience.

Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §10501, sub-§9, as amended by PL 2003, c. 511, §1 and affected by §3 and c. 614, §§9 and 10, is further amended to read:

9. Possession of hunting equipment on Sunday. Possession of hunting equipment in the fields or forests or on the waters or ice in the State on Sunday when hunting is prohibited is prima facie evidence of a violation of section 11205, unless:

A. The hunting equipment is carried, securely wrapped, in a complete cover;

B. The hunting equipment is fastened in a case; or

C. The hunting equipment is carried in at least 2 separate pieces in such a manner that it can not be fired, unless the separate pieces are joined together. For the purpose of this subsection, a clip, magazine or cylinder of a firearm may not be considered a piece of the hunting equipment. Bows and arrows must be kept in a case or cover if broadheads or field points are kept attached to the arrows.

Sec. 3. 12 MRSA §11205, sub-§1, ¶A, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 and affected by c. 614, §9, is amended to read:

A. Hunt wild animals or wild birds on Sunday except when allowed by the commissioner under section 10105, subsection 18; or

Sec. 4. Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to allow hunting on certain Sundays in certain areas of the State. The Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife shall allow hunting on 5 Sundays during the respective hunting seasons for bear, moose, deer and wild turkey on public land and private land of 5 acres or more with the landowner's permission in wildlife management areas A, B and C.

summary

This bill authorizes the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to allow hunting on Sunday and directs the commissioner to allow hunting on 5 Sundays for the respective hunting seasons for bear, moose, deer and wild turkey in coastal wildlife management areas on public land and private land of 5 acres or more with the landowner's permission.

HP0304 LD 424	Session - 128th Maine Legislature		LR 945 Item 1
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