An Act Prohibiting Certain Bear Hunting Practices Transmitted to the Clerk of the 121st Maine Legislature by the Secretary of State on March 17,2004 and ordered printed.
Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 1938
Committee: Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Amends: 12 MRSA §7077, 12 MRSA §7077-A, 12 MRSA §7104-A, 12 MRSA §7110, 12 MRSA §7451, 12 MRSA §7452, 12 MRSA §7458, 12 MRSA §7504, 12 MRSA §7861, 12 MRSA §7901-A, 12 MRSA §10902, 12 MRSA §11151, 12 MRSA §11218, 12 MRSA §11251, 12 MRSA §11303, 12 MRSA §11304, 12 MRSA §11351, 12 MRSA §12260-A, 12 MRSA §12404

Legislative Document 
~o. 1938 
I.B.5 
House of Representati Yes, March 18. 200-1-
An Act Prohibiting Certain Bear Hunting Practices 
Transmitted to the Clerk of the 121st Maine Legislature by the Secretary of State on March 
17,2004 and ordered printed. 
Reference to the Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife suggested and ordered 
printed. 
~7r/;U~d 1J7. 7l1dC;:f.Jw./~ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
PART A 
Sec. A-I. 12 MRSA §7077~ sub-§I-A, V, as enacted by PL 1993, 
c. 136, §1, is amended to read: 
F. 
Hunting 
9~--~~a~~~B~ bear after having killed 
one, 
exceeding the bag limit on bear or buying or selling bear in 
violation of section 7452, subsection 3, 4 or 9: 
Sec. A-2. 12 MRSA §7077-A, sub-§6 is enacted to read: 
6. 
Unsportsmanlike practices regarding hunting or trapping 
bear. 
A person convicted of 
a 
violation of 
section 
7451, 
subsection 3-A: 
section 7452, 
subsection 1; or section 7452, 
subsection 2-A is not eligible to obtain any license issued by 
the department for 5 years from the date of conviction in the 
case 
of 
a 
first offense 
and 
permanently 
from 
the 
date 
of 
conviction in the case of a 
2nd or subsequent offense. 
Any 
license in effect at the time of conviction is revoked upon 
conviction 
and 
must 
be 
immediately 
surrendered 
to 
the 
commissioner. 
Sec. A-3. 12 MRSA §7104-A, sub-§§l and 2, as enacted by PL 
1993, c. 216, §1, are amended to read: 
1. Gate fees. 
Gate. fees or other access fees that are 
unrelated to the taking of game: or 
2. Guidinq fees. 
Fees charged by licensed guides or other 
fees that are unrelated to access to landf-9~~ 
Sec. A-4. 12 MRSA §7104-A, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 
216, §1, is repealed. 
Sec. A-5. 12 MRSA §7110, sub-§I, as repealed and replaced by 
PL 1989, c. 878, Pt. A, §34, is amended to read: 
1. 
Permit required. 
A permit is required to hunt for bear 
from 
the first 
Monday 
preceding 
September 
1st 
to 
~Re--aay 
~Fee9a~B~-~~-9~eB-~-~~~-seaseB-~-aeeF November 30th. 
~R~S 
see~i9B-QgeS-B9~-a~~ly-~9-~~a~~iB~-t9~-eea~T 
Sec. A-6. 12 MRSA §7451, sub-§I, llA, as a:r,ended by PL 1993, c. 
167, §1, is further amended to read: 
A. 
There is an open season on hunting bear from the first 
Page l-LR2838(1) 
Monday preceding September 1st to November 30th annually. 
~Re-~~~--maYr-~~~--~-5e€~4eB--~~r-s~Bsee~ieR 
r - -udopt- -1'~;J,e s - ~-oM-b-i-t-i-nq- - ~Re - -use--e I; - -ba-i-t:-- ~e - -hunt--B;J,ael£ 
Beal'-e~l'iR~-aRy-pel'~ieR-e€-~Re-epeR-Beal'-R~R~iR~-seaseRT 
Sec. A-7. 12 MRSA §7451, sub-§I, ,8, as repealed and replaced 
by PL 1981, c. 224, §1, is repealed. 
Sec. A-S. 12 MRSA §7451, sub-§I, ,C, as amended by PL 1989, c. 
493, §29, is repealed. 
Sec. A-9. 12 MRSA §7451, sub-§I, ,n, as amended by PL 1989, c. 
913, Pt. A, §7, is further amended to read: 
D. 
The commissioner may shorten the open seaseRS season on 
bear as established in pal'a~l'apRS paragraph AT--B-~ad--G in 
any part of the State provided that: 
(1) 
The demarcation of the areas with a 
shortened 
season follows recognizable physical boundaries such as 
rivers and railroad rights-of-way; and 
(2) 
The 
decision 
is 
made 
and 
published prior 
to 
February 1st of any year. 
Sec. A-I0. 12 MRSA §7451, sub-§I, 1JE, as enacted by PL 1981, 
c. 224, §1, is amended to read: 
E. 
The commissioner may terminate the open season on bear 
as established in paragraph AT--B--and-G at any time in any 
part of the StateT if~ in Ris the commissioner's opinion, an 
immediate 
emergency 
action is 
necessary 
due 
to 
adverse 
weather conditions or severe hunting el'-~l'appiR~ pressure. 
Sec. A-H. 12 MRSA §7451, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2003, c. 
333, §11, is repealed. 
Sec. A-12. 12 MRSA §7451, sub-§3-A is enacted to read: 
3-A. 
Placing of be~r bait prohibited. 
Bait, including, but 
not limited to, 
doughnuts 
and other pastries. 
grease. 
meat, 
fruits, 
vegetables, 
honey 
and 
any 
other 
food 
known 
to 
be 
attractive to bear, may not be used to hunt or attract bear. 
Such use of bait is unlawful unless: 
A. 
The bait is used by state or federal employees. acting 
in their official capacity, to attract a specific offending 
animal 
for 
purposes 
of 
protecting 
livestock, 
domestic 
animals. 
threatened 
or 
endangered 
wildlife. 
public 
or 
private property or public safety: 
B. 
The bait is used in conjunction with the operation of a 
feeding station for bear in order to prevent damage 
to 
commercial timberland, as long as the t~lit is used by owners 
or operators of that land, or their employees, pursuant to a 
permit granted by the department, but in no event for the 
purpose of killing bear; or 
C. 
The bait is used by the department or pursuant to a 
permit granted by the department to an accredited university 
for scientific or research purposes, but in no event for the 
purpose of killing bear. 
Sec. A·13. 12 MRSA §7452, sub·§I, as enacted by PL 1979, c. 
420, §l, is repealed and the following enacted in its place: 
1. 
Unlawfully 
hunting 
or 
pursuing 
bear 
with 
dogs; 
hounding. 
The following provisions govern hunting or pursuing 
bear with dogs, also known as hounding. 
A. 
It is unlawful to use a dog or dogs to hunt or pursue 
bear, except as provided in paragraph B. 
B. 
The use of a dog or dogs to hunt or pursue bear is 
lawful in the following circumstances: 
(1) 
The dog or dogs are used by state or federal 
employees to pursue a specific offending animal when 
the employees, or their designees, are acting in their 
official capacity for purposes of protecting livestock, 
domestic animals, 
threatened or endangered wildlife, 
public or private property or public safety; or 
(2) 
The dog or dogs are used by the department or 
pursuant to a permit granted by the department to an 
accredited 
university 
for 
scientific 
or 
research 
purposes, but in no event for the purpose of killing 
~ 
Sec. A·14. 12 MRSA §7452, sub.§I.A, as amended by PL 1989, c. 
493, §30, is repealed. 
Sec. A·15. 12 MRSA §7452, sub·§I.B, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 
696, §10, is amended to read: 
I-B. 
Illegal harvest of bear. 
A person 
is--~~ilty--9f 
i**e~a**y--ba£" .... -e-6-t.,i-mJ--bei=H:--if may not, without the permission of 
the person conducting the hunt that-pers9R-~ills, kill or w9~REl.S 
~ 
a bear that is treed or held at bay by another pers9R~s-El.9~ 
9~-Qe~S person. 
Sec. A-16. 12 MRSA §7452, sub-§l-C, as enacted by PL 1989, c. 
493, §3l, is amended to read: 
I-C. 
Illeqal baitinq of bear. 
A person is guilty of 
illegally baiting bear if that person places bear bait in any 
manner waiea that does not conform to section 7451, subsection 
~ 
3-A. 
Sec. A-17. 12 MRSA §7452, sub-§l-D, as enacted by PL 1989, c. 
913, Pt. B, §7, is repealed. 
Sec. A-IS. 12 MRSA §7452, sub-§2, as amended by PL 1979, c. 
543, §38, is repealed. 
Sec. A-19. 12 MRSA §7452, sub-§2-A is enacted to read: 
2-A. 
Unlawful hunting of bear with trap. 
The following 
provisions govern the hunting of bear with a trap. 
A. 
It is unlawful to use or set a trap to hunt or capture 
bear, except as provided in paragraph B. 
B. 
The use of a trap to hunt or capture bear is lawful in 
the following circumstances, 
provided any use of 
a 
trap 
pursuant to this paragraph is undertaken in the most humane 
manner practicable: 
(1) 
The trap is used by state or federal employees, 
acting in their official capacity, to hunt or capture a 
specific offending animal for purposes of protecting 
livestock, domestic animals, threatened or endangered 
wildlife, public or private property or public safety; 
or 
(2) 
The trap is used by the department or pursuant to 
a 
permit granted by the department to an accredited 
university for scientific or research purposes, but in 
no event for the purpose of killing bear. 
Sec. A-20. 12 MRSA §7452, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 1979, c. 
420, §l, is amended to read: 
3. 
Huntinq bear after havinq killed one. 
A person is 
guilty of hunting 9F-~£aFFiB~ bear after hav,ing killed one if ae 
that person hunts 9F--t.-£aFs bear after ae-£as having killed or 
registered one during any open season. 
Sec. A-21. 12 MRSA §7452, sub-§5, as ame'nded by PL 2003, c. 
333, §13, is further amended to read: 
5. 
Hunting bear near 
dumps. 
The 
commissioner, 
or 
the 
commissioner's agent, shall establish a line of demarcation at 
least 500 yards from sites permitted or licensed for the disposal 
of solid waste. 
A person may not hunt, 
~Fa~T molest or harass a 
bear 9F-£eJea6e-B~~-~~-~~~r~~~-H~a~i~-eeaF within this 
area. 
The commissioner, or the commissioner's agent, is exempt 
from this prohibition for the purpose of live trapping nuisance 
bears pursuant to subsection 2-A. 
Sec. A-22. 12 MRSA §7452, sub-§15, ~A, as amended by PL 2003, 
c. 331, §10, is repealed. 
Sec. A-23. 12 MRSA §7458, sub-§15, ~H, as enacted by PL 1993, 
c. 156, §2, is amended to read: 
H. 
Subsection 9, paragraph B does not apply to hunting from 
an observation stand or blind overlooking: 
(1) 
Standing crops; 
(2) 
Foods that have been left as 
agricultural 
operations 
or 
as 
a 
occurrence; or 
a result of normal 
result of 
natural 
(3) 
Bear bait that has been placed at a bear hunting 
stand 
or 
blind 
in 
accordance 
with 
section 
7451, 
subsection 6 3-A. 
Sec. A-24. 12 MRSA §7504, sub-§8, as enacted by PL 1981, c. 
563, §3, is amended to read: 
.. 
8. 
Raccoons and bears. 
A. 
The commissioner may suspend the game 1aws relating to 
raccoons and bears in such restricted localities and for 
such 
periods 
of 
time 
as 
he 
the 
commissioner 
finds 
it 
advisable to relieve excessive damage being done by them to 
. sweet corn or other crops. 
Nothing in this paragraph is 
intended to limit or create an exception to section 7451, 
subsection 3-A; section 7452, subsection 1; or section 7452, 
subsection 2-A. 
B. 
The 
commissioner 
may 
suspend 
subsection 
for 
the 
purpose only of allowing dogs to be used in hunting and 
killing raccoons aaQ-eeaF6, providing the dogs are under the 
personal supervision of the owner at all times, 
for such 
periods of time as the commissioner finds it advisable. 
Sec. A-25. 12 MRSA §7861, sub-§I, ~C, as enacted by PL 1989, 
c. 913, Pt. A, §18, is repealed. 
Sec. A-26. 12 MRS A §7901-A, sub-§6, 1fC, 
as 
replaced by PL 2003, c. 331, §36 and c. 333, §24, 
repealing and replacing subparagraph (1) to read: 
repealed 
and 
is amended by 
(1) 
Hunting bear near a site per~itted or licensed for 
the disposal of solid waste as described in section 
7452, subsection 5; 
Sec. A-27. 12 MRSA §7901-A, sub-§7, 1fC, as enacted by PL 200l, 
c. 421, Pt. B, §88 and affected by Pt. C, §1, is amended to read: 
read: 
C. 
The following crimes are Class D crimes for which the 
court shall impose a sentencing alternative involving a term 
of imprisonment not to exceed 180 days; the court also shall 
impose a fine of not less than $1,000, none of which may be 
suspended: 
(1) 
Hunting 
a 
bear 
during 
the 
closed 
season 
or 
possessing a bear taken during the closed season as 
described in section 7406, subsection 1; 
(2) 
Hunting 
er--t;.F-a-ppiH~ a bear after having killed 
one, as described in section 7452, subsection 3; and 
(3) 
Exceeding the bag limit on bears as described in 
section 7452, subsection 4. 
Sec. A-28. 12 MRSA §7901-A, sub-§7, 1f1fF and G are enacted to 
F. 
In the case of 
a 
first offense, 
the following 
are 
unsportsmanlike practices that are Class D crimes: 
(1) 
Unlawfully hunting or attracting bear using bait 
as described in section 7451, subsection 3 Ai 
(2) 
Unlawfully hunting or pursuing bear with dogs, 
also known as hounding, as described in section 7452, 
subsection Ii and 
(3) 
Unlawfully hunting or capturing bear with a trap 
as described in section 7452, subsection 2 A. 
G. 
In 
the 
case 
of 
a 
2nd 
or 
subsequent 
offense, 
the 
following are unsportsmanlike practices that are Class 
C 
crimes: 
(1) 
Unlawfully hunting or attracting bear using bait 
as described in section 7451, subsection 3 Aj 
(2) 
Unlawfully hunting or pursuing bear with dogs, 
also known as hounding, as described in section 7452, 
subsection Ij and 
(3) 
Unlawfully hunting or capturing bear with a trap 
as described in section 7452, subsection 2-A. 
PART B 
Sec. B-1. 12 MRSA §10902, sub-§6, llE, as enacted by PL 2003, 
c. 414, Pt. A, §2 and affected by Pt. D, §7, is amended to read: 
E. 
Buying or selling bearT or hunting 
et--t:-ra-F"F"iB~ bear 
after having killed one or exceeding the bag limit on bear, 
in violation of section 11217 or 11351; 
Sec. B-2. 12 MRSA §10902, sub-§9 is enacted to read: 
9. 
Mandatory hunting license revocation for unsportsmanlike 
practices 
regarding bear. 
The 
commissioner 
shall 
suspend 
a 
person's hunting license for at least 5 years if that person is 
convicted of: 
A. 
Bear baiting in violation of section 11301-A; 
B. 
Hounding in violation of section ll302-Aj or 
C. 
Illegal bear trapping in violation of section 12260-A. 
If a person is convicted of any of the violations in paragraphs A 
to C for a 2nd or subsequent time, the commissioner shall revoke 
such person's hunting license permanently. 
Sec. B-3. 12 MRSA §11151, sub-§I, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 
414, Pt. A, §2 and affected by Pt. D, §7, is amended to read: 
1. 
Permit 
required. 
Except 
as 
otherwise 
authorized 
pursuant to this Part, a person may not hunt for bear without a 
permit from the first Monday preceding September 1st to 
~Be-aay 
pteeeaiB~-~~-epeB-~~~~~-seaseB-~-aeet November 30th. 
±Bis 
seeEieB-aee6-BeE-app*Y-Ee-EtappiB~-~et-eeatT 
Each day a person violates this subsection that person commits a 
Class E crime for which a minimum of $50 and an amount equal to 
twice the applicable license fee must be imposed. 
Sec. 8·4. 12 MRSA §11218, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. 
A, §2 and affected by Pt. D, §7, is amended to read: 
§11218. 
Game fees 
A person may not charge any fee for access to land if the 
fee is contingent upon the taking of game on the land or directly 
related to the taking of game on the land unless the land is an 
authorized 
commercial 
shooting 
area 
licensed 
under 
section 
12101. 
This section does not apply to: 
1. 
Gate fees. 
Gate fees or other access fees that are 
unrelated to the taking of game; or 
2. 
Guiding fees. 
Fees charged by licensed guides or other 
fees that are unrelated to access to landf-e~~ 
JT--~-~Q£--plaeiBq-~--hai~T--~&-~~--a~e--ai~ee~±y 
~e±a~ea-Ee-Eae-p±aeia~-e€-Bea~-BaiE-ea-±aaaT 
A person who violates this section commits a Class E crime. 
Sec. 8·5. 12 MRSA §11251, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. 
A, §2 and affected by Pt. D, §7, is amended to read: 
§1125l. Open and closed seasons 
1. 
Open season on bear; 
conanissione~~' s 
authority. 
subsection governs the open and closed seasons on bear. 
This 
A. 
There is an open season on hunting bear from the first 
Monday preceding September 1st to November 30th annually. 
±ae-~~~~~~-~,-pHFsHaa~-~e-~~~~-~~r-sHBsee~ieR 
±T-~--~H±es-~~i~i~~~-Eae-~-e€-~i~--Ee-~-B±aek 
Bea~-aH~ia~-aay-pe~EieR-e€-~ae-epea-Bea~-aHa~ia~-seaseaT 
gT---~r~-~£--aR-~-£~£B£--ea-~~-~-ae~-~~-~--iR 
eeR~HHeEieH--~~~--geaF--~~~--~~--~he--~-~~---MeHaay 
pFeeeaia~--~epEeffige~--±sE--Ee--Eae--aay--pFeeeaia~--Eae--epeR 
€i~ea~ffi-seasea-ea-aee~-p~eviaee-iR-seeEieas-±±4G±-aae-±±4G6T 
C. 
The 
bear as 
part of 
commissioner may shorten the open seaseRS season on 
established in pa~a~Fapas paragraph A aaa-g in any 
the State as long as: 
(1) 
The 
demarcation of the areas with a 
shortened 
season follows recognizable physical boundaries such as 
rivers and railroad rights-of-way; and 
(2) 
The 
decision is 
made 
and 
published prior 
to 
February 1st of any year. 
D. 
The commissioner may terminate the open season on bear 
as established in paFa'jFapR6 paragraph A aRe-I!! at any time 
in any part of the State if, in the commissioner's opinion, 
an immediate emergency action is necessary due to adverse 
weather conditions or severe hunting eF~~FappiR'3 pressure. 
Sec. B·6. 12 MRSA §§11301 and 11302, as enacted by PL 2003, 
c. 414, Pt. A, §2 and affected by Pt. D, §7, are repealed. 
Sec. B·7. 12 MRSA §§11301·A and 11302·A are enacted to read: 
§11301-A. 
Bear baiting 
1. 
Prohibition. 
Bait, 
including, 
but 
not 
limited to, 
doughnuts and other pastries, grease, meat. fruits, vegetables, 
honey and any other food known to be attractive to bear, may not 
be used to hunt or attract bear, except as provided in subsection 
h 
2. 
Exceptions. 
The use of bait to hunt or attract bear is 
lawful if: 
A. 
The bait is used by state or federal employees, acting 
in their official capacity, to attract a specific offending 
animal 
for 
purposes 
of 
protecting 
livestock, 
domestic 
animals, 
threatened 
or 
endangered 
wildlife, 
public 
or 
private property or public safety; 
B. 
The bait is used in conjunction with the operation of a 
feeding station for bear in order to prevent damage 
to 
commercial timberland, as long as the bait is used by owners 
or operators of that land, or their employees, pursuant to a 
permit granted by the department. but in no event for the 
purpose of killing bear; or 
C. 
The bait is used by the department or pursuant to a 
permit granted by the department to an accredited university 
for scientific or research purposes, but in no event for the 
purpose of killing bear. 
3. 
Penalty. 
A person who violates this section is guilty 
of the unsportsmanlike practice of bear baiting, which is a Class 
D crime for the first offense. 
A 2nd or subsequent offense is a 
Class C crime. 
§11302-A. 
Unlawfully hunting or pursuing bear with dogs: hounding 
1. 
Prohibition. 
It is unlawful to use a dog or dogs to 
hunt or pursue bear. also known as hounding. except as provided 
in subsection 2. 
2. 
Exception. 
The use of a dog or dogs to hunt or pursue 
bear is lawful in the following circumstances: 
A. 
The dog or dogs are used by state or federal employees 
to pursue a specific offending animal when the employees. or 
their designees. are acting in their official capacity for 
purposes 
of 
protecting 
livestock. 
domestic 
animals. 
threatened 
or 
endangered 
wildlife. 
public 
or 
private 
property or public safety; or 
B. 
The dog or dogs are used by the department or pursuant 
to 
a 
permit granted by the department to an accredited 
university for scientific or research purposes. but in no 
event for the purpose of killing bear. 
3. 
Penalty. 
A person who violates this section is guilty 
of the unsportsmanlike practice of hounding. which is a Class D 
crime for the first offense. 
A 2nd or subseguent offense is a 
Class C crime. 
Sec. B-8. 12 MRSA §11303. sub-§2, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 
414, Pt. A, §2 and affected by Pt. D, §7, is amended to read: 
2. 
Prohibition. 
A person may not hunt, 
t:ra!1T molest or 
harass a bear 
er--r-~1~-Ele'3'6--f-o-r--t:Re--pur~-ef--hunt.--i~-aear 
within the area described in subsection 1. 
The commissioner, or 
the commissioner's agent. is exempt from this prohibition for the 
purpose 
of 
live-trapping nuisance 
bears 
pursuant 
to 
section 
12260-11.. 
Sec. B-9. 12 MRSA §11304, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. 
A, §2 and affected by Pt. D, §7, is amended to read: 
§11304. 
Permission to harvest another person's bear 
A 
person may not, 
without the permission of the person 
conducting the hunt, kill or wound a bear that is treed or held 
at bay by another !1er6eB~6-Ele'3'-er-Ele'3'6 person. 
Sec. B-I0. 12 MRSA §11351. sub-§I, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 
414, Pt. A, §2 and affected by Pt. D, §7, is amended to read: 
1. 
Bunting bear after having killed one. 
A person may not 
hunt er-~ra!1 bear after that person has killed or registered one 
during any open season. 
A person who violates this subsection 
commits 
a 
Class 
D crime for which the court shall impose 
a 
sentencing alternative involving a term of imprisonment not to 
exceed 180 days; the court also shall impose a fine of not less 
than $1,000, none of which may be suspended. 
Sec. B-ll. 12 MRS A §12260. as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. 
A, §2 and affected by Pt. D, §7, is repealed. 
Sec. B-12. 12 MRSA §12260-A is enacted to read: 
§12260-A. 
Illegal trapping of bear 
1. 
Prohibition. 
It is unlawful to use or set a trap to 
hunt or capture bear, except as provided in subsection 2. 
2. 
Exception. 
The use of a trap to hunt or capture bear is 
lawful in the following circumstances, provided any use of a trap 
pursuant to this subsection is undertaken in the most humane 
manner practicable: 
A. 
The trap is used by state or federal employees, acting 
in their official capacity, to hunt or capture a specific 
offending 
animal 
for 
purposes 
of 
protecting 
livestock, 
domestic animals, threatened or endangered wildlife, public 
or private property or public safety; or 
B. 
The trap is used by the department or pursuant to a 
permit granted by the department to an accredited university 
for scientific or research purposes, but in no event for the 
purpose of killing bear. 
3. 
Penalty. 
A person who violates 
t~is section is guilty 
of the unsportsmanlike practice of illegal bear trapping, which 
is a Class D crime for the first offense. 
A 2nd or subseguent 
offense is a Class C crime. 
Sec. B-13. 12 MRSA §12404. sub-§I. ~C. as enacted by PL 2003, 
c. 414, Pt. A, §2 and affected by Pt. D, §7, is amended to read: 
C. 
The commissioner may suspend the game laws relating to 
bears in such restricted localities and for such periods of 
time 
as 
the 
commissioner 
finds it advisable 
to 
relieve 
excessive damage being done by bears to sweet corn or other 
crops. 
Nothing in this paragraph is intended to limit or 
create an exception to sections 11301-A, 11302-A and 12260-A. 
Sec. B-14. 12 MRSA §12404, sub-§I, ~D, as enacted by PL 2003, 
c. 414, Pt. A, §2 and affected by Pt. D, §7, is repealed. 
Sec. B-15. Contingent effective date. 
This Part takes effect 
only if the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 12, Part 13, as enacted 
by Public Law 2003, chapter 414, Part A, section 2, takes effect. 
SUMMARY 
This initiated bill prohibits the use of bait to hunt or 
attract bear, the use of a dog to hunt or pursue bear and the use 
or setting of a trap to hunt or capture beal except under certain 
circumstances. 
The use of bait, a dog or a trap is permitted for 
certain scientific purposes or if undertaken by state or federal 
employees to kill or capture a specific animal that threatens 
livestock, domestic animals, threatened or endangered wildlife, 
property or public safety. 
Baiting is also permitted if used in 
conjunction with the operation of a feeding station for bear by 
owners or operators of commercial timberland or their employees 
in order to prevent damage to commercial timberland.