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LD 843
PUBLIC Law, Chapter 458

on - Session - 128th Maine Legislature
 
 
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An Act To Adjust the Formula for Calculating the Allocation of Moose Permits for Hunting Lodges

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

Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §11154, sub-§2,  as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 and affected by c. 614, §9, is amended to read:

2. Issuance of moose hunting permits.   In accordance with section 11552, the commissioner may issue moose hunting permits and may establish the number of moose hunting permits to be issued for each wildlife management district established by the commissioner by rule open to moose hunting. No more than 10% 8% of the moose hunting permits may be issued to nonresident and alien hunters. No more than 2% of the moose hunting permits may be issued to hunting outfitters in accordance with subsection 14.

Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §11154, sub-§14,  as enacted by PL 2013, c. 538, §24, is amended to read:

14. Permits for hunting lodges.   In any year in which the total number of moose permits available as determined by the commissioner under subsection 2 for the public chance drawing under subsection 9 exceeds 3,140, 10% of the permits exceeding 3,140 Moose hunting permits issued to hunting outfitters must be allocated through a chance drawing separate from the chance drawing under subsection 9 to hunting outfitters in accordance with this subsection. The fee for a moose hunting permit under this subsection is $1,500.
A. For the purposes of this subsection, "hunting outfitter" means a person who operates a sporting camp as defined under Title 22, section 2491, subsection 11 that is licensed under Title 22, chapter 562 and who provides package deals that include food, lodging and the services of a guide licensed under chapter 927 for the purpose of hunting.
B. A hunting outfitter may sell or transfer a permit allocated under this subsection only once, only to a hunter who is eligible under paragraph F and only under the following conditions:

(1) The sale or transfer must be part of a package deal that includes the food and lodging to be provided by the hunting outfitter to the person receiving the permit;

(2) The person receiving the permit from the hunting outfitter must be accompanied during the hunt by a guide licensed under chapter 927;

(3) The hunting outfitter must notify the department of the identity of the person receiving the permit; and

(4) The hunting permit may not be sold or transferred by the hunter.

C. A hunting outfitter may be allocated more than one permit.
D. A permit allocated under this subsection may be used only for the year, season, sex and wildlife management district for which the permit is issued.
E. Permits allocated under this subsection may not exceed 10% of the total permits issued per year for each season, sex and wildlife management district permit type.
F. An individual may hunt with a permit sold or transferred under this subsection only if that individual is otherwise eligible to obtain and hunt with a permit under subsection 5.
G. If proceeds in any year from the auction authorized under subsection 11 are less than $107,000, proceeds from the chance drawing conducted sale of moose permits to hunting outfitters pursuant to this subsection must be used to fund youth conservation education programs as provided under subsection 11 up to $107,000. The remainder must be deposited in the Moose Research and Management Fund under section 10263.

Effective 90 days following adjournment of the 128th Legislature, Second Special Session, unless otherwise indicated.


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