Whereas, the spring hunting season for male pheasants will commence before the 90-day period expires for the effective date of legislation passed in the First Regular Session of the 121st Legislature; 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 §7106-B, sub-§4, śC is enacted to read:

C.__A person may not hunt a female pheasant in an area subject to the provisions of section 7472.

Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §7472 is enacted to read:

§7472.__Pheasants

The commissioner shall establish by rule a hunting season for male pheasants that disallows the taking of female pheasants in certain areas of the State.__Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.

Sec. 3. Rulemaking. Immediately upon the effective date of this Act, the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife shall implement the provisions of section 1 by creating a spring hunting season and a fall hunting season for male pheasants that disallow the taking of female pheasants in Wildlife Management District 24 as defined in the agency rules of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this Act takes effect when approved.

SUMMARY

This bill establishes a hunting season for male pheasants only and directs the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife immediately to create 2 hunting seasons, one in the