An Act To Make Technical Corrections to Maine's Fish and Wildlife Laws
Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 1743
Sponsors: DUNLAP, BRYANT, CARR, CLARK, COLWELL, JACKSON, PATRICK, RICHARDSON, WATSON, WOTTON
Amends: 12 MRSA §11404, 12 MRSA §1, 12 MRSA §12553, 12 MRSA §13058

Legislative Document 
No. 1743 
H.P.1265 
House of Representatives, December 22,2003 
An Act To Make Technical Corrections to Maine's Fish and Wildlife 
Laws 
Submitted by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife pursuant to Joint Rule 204. 
Received by the Clerk of the House on December 17, 2003. Referred to the Committee on 
Inland Fisheries· and Wildlife pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to Joint 
Rule 401. 
Presented by Representative DUNLAP of Old Town. 
Cosponsored by Senator BRYANT of Oxford and 
17/~ 
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MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Representatives: CARR of Lincoln, CLARK of Millinocket, Speaker COLWELL of Gardiner, 
JACKSON of Fort Kent, PATRICK of Rumford, RICHARDSON of Greenville, WATSON of 
Bath, WOTTON of Littleton. 
Printed on recycled paper 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §11404, sub-§I, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, 
Pt. A, §2 and affected by Pt. D, §7, is amended to read: 
1. 
Muzzle-loading-only open season on deer. 
There is a 
special muzzle-loading open season on deer immediately following 
the regular deer hunting season established under section 11401, 
subsection 1, paragraph A for the purpose of hunting deer only 
with 
muzzle-loading 
firearms 
as 
defined 
in 
section 
10001, 
subsection 42 and that are 40 caliber or greater and capable of 
firing only a single charge. 
The commissioner may terminate this 
open season at any time in an area if, in the commissioner's 
opinion, 
an 
immediate 
emergency action is necessary 
due 
to 
adverse 
weather 
conditions 
or 
severe 
hunting pressure. 
The 
length of the special muzzle-loading season is as follows. 
A. 
The commissioner shall establish by rule the length of 
the special muzzle-loading season. 
The 
commissioner 
may 
establish seasons of different lengths in different regions 
of the State. 
The season may extend for no more than 12 
hunting days in any part of the State. 
Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §1l451, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, 
§2 and affected by Pt. D, §7, is repealed. 
Sec. 3. 12 MRSA §12553, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, 
Pt. A, §2 and affected by Pt. D, §7, is amended to read: 
2. 
Sale 
of 
bait 
or 
baitfish 
in 
polystyrene 
foam 
containers. 
A Effective January 1, 2005, a person who sells bait 
or baitfish may not provide or sell the bait or baitfish ln 
containers that are composed in whole or in part of polystyrene 
foam plastic. 
A person who violates this subsection commits a civil violation 
for which a forfeiture of not less than $100 nor more than $500 
may be adjudged. 
Sec. 4. 12 MRSA §13058, sub-§I, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, 
Pt. A, §2 and affected by Pt. D, §7, is amended to read: 
1. 
Prohibition. 
A person may not operate a motorboat or 
personal watercraft on the inland waters of the State unless a 
valid lake and river protection sticker issued annually under 
subsection 3 is affixed to both sides of the bow above the water 
line and approximately 3 inches behind the validation sticker 
required under section 13056. 
Page l-LR2625(1) 
SUMMARY 
This bill makes the following changes to the laws governing 
inland fisheries and wildlife. 
1. 
hunting 
greater 
It restricts the muzzle-loading open season 
with a 
muzzle-loading firearm that is 40 
and capable of firing only a single charge. 
on deer to 
caliber or 
2. 
It repeals the provision that authorizes hunting deer 
with unconventional weapons. 
3. 
It specifies that the requirement that bait or baitfish 
be 
sold 
in 
biodegradable 
containers 
takes 
effect 
beginning 
January 1, 2005. 
4. 
It clarifies that 
a 
new 
lake 
and river protection 
sticker must be obtained annually in order to be valid.