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Public Law
124th Legislature
First Regular Session
Chapter 76
S.P. 57 - L.D. 171
An Act To Extend the Season for Training Hunting Dogs
Emergency preamble. Whereas,  acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas,  it is vital to the management of game species that adequate opportunity exist for hunters to properly train their hunting dogs; and
Whereas,  hunting dog training season begins on July 1, 2009; and
Whereas,  in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.   12 MRSA §12051, sub-§1-A  is enacted to read:
 
1-A.  Open training season 2009-2010.      Notwithstanding subsection 1, beginning July 1, 2009 and ending June 30, 2010, unless otherwise provided in this Part, a person may not:
 
 A.  Engage in activities authorized under this subsection unless that person possesses a valid hunting license issued under section 11109; and
 
 B.  Train dogs on wild birds and wild animals except as specified in this paragraph.
 
(1) A person may train dogs on foxes, rabbits and raccoons from July 1st through the following March 31st, including Sundays.
 
(2) A person may train sporting dogs on wild birds at any time, including Sundays.
 
(3) A resident may train up to 6 dogs at any one time on bear from July 1st to the first day of the open season on hunting bear, except in those portions of Washington County and Hancock County that are situated south of Route 9.
 
A person who violates this subsection commits a Class E crime.
 
This subsection is repealed on June 30, 2010.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect July 1, 2009.
 
Effective July 1, 2009.