An Act To Simplify the Requirements for Tagging, Registering and Transporting Harvested Animals
Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 0806
Committee: Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Sponsors: BRYANT, HATCH, JACKSON
Amends: 12 MRSA §7451, 12 MRSA §7452, 12 MRSA §7457, 12 MRSA §7458, 12 MRSA §7464, 12 MRSA §7468, 12 MRSA §7469, 12 MRSA §7531, 12 MRSA §7532-A, 12 MRSA §7533, 12 MRSA §7901-A

Legislative Document 
No. 806 
S.P.285 
In Senate, February 20, 2003 
An Act To Simplify the Requirements for Tagging, Registering and 
Transporting Harvested Animals 
Reference to the Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife suggested and ordered 
printed. 
Presented by Senator BRYANT of Oxford. 
Cosponsored by Representati ve PINEAU of Jay and 
Representatives: HATCH of Skowhegan, JACKSON of Fort Kent. 
Printed on recycled paper 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §7451. sub-§2, as repealed and replaced by PL 
1989, c. 913, Pt. A, §8, is repealed. 
Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §7451. sub-§4. as amended by PL 1997, c. 463, 
§l, is repealed. 
Sec. 3. 12 MRSA §7452, sub-§5-A, as enacted by PL 1989, c. 
913, Pt. A, §9, is repealed. 
Sec. 4. 12 MRSA §7452, sub-§6. as amended by PL 1997, c. 282, 
§l, is repealed. 
Sec. 5. 12 MRSA §7452. sub-§7, as amended by PL 1989, c. 493, 
§32, is repealed. 
Sec. 6. 12 MRSA §7452, sub-§10, as enacted by PL 1979, c. 543, 
§40, is repealed. 
Sec. 7. 12 MRSA §7452, sub-§II, as amended by PL 1995, c. 455, 
§27, is repealed. 
Sec. 8. 12 MRSA §7452, sub-§12, as amended by PL 1999, c. 322, 
§1, is further amended to read: 
12. 
Illeqal possession of gift bear. 
A person is--EJ-tl..,i·H.y 
may not, except as provided in section 7531, 
aBe-Re~wi~Rs~aBeiBg 
~Re-~e¥.,i£.,ieR£-~-~~-~~r-eE-.,i~~€~a~-~S6e66i~~~-a-gi~~ 
.eea~--i.f--t-ha-t--~e~seB possesses any part or parts of a bear given 
to that person and: 
A. 
Each part is not plainly labeled with the 
name 
and 
address of the person who registered the bear; 
B. 
Each part is not plainly labeled with the 
name 
and 
address of the person to whom it was given; or 
c. 
Each part is not plainly labeled with the 
name 
and 
address of the party transporting the part or parts, if a 
3rd party transports a part or parts. 
Sec. 9. 12 MRS A §7452, sub-§13, as amended by PL 1999, c. 322, 
§2, is repealed. 
Sec. 10. 12 MRSA §7452. sub-§14, as amended by PL 1999, c. 
322, §3, is repealed. 
Sec. 11. 12 MRSA §7452, sub-§15, as amended by PL 1999, c. 
322, §§4 to 7, is further amended to read: 
Page l-LR0385(l) 
15. 
Exceptions. 
The following exceptions apply: 
A. 
Notwithstanding subsection 2, a person may use a cable· 
trap with a closing diameter of not less than 2 1/2 inches 
to trap bear in the State during the open season on bear; and 
A-±T--Ne~w4~R6~aReiR~-£~~~~~~£-~-~~~~r-&-~~F&eH-eR 
a-~~~~~~-iH-aR-~~~-~WH&h~~-aRe-~~~~~-a 
~em~etaty-~a~€-~--~~-may-kee~-~~~i&t~~-~&F-a~ 
~aa~-~em~e£a£y-~la~e-~-~~~-~~-~~-~~~-~-~~e~ee-1 
eays-~~-~~~-~~-~~t&eB-leave6-~~~r-wh~h&~F-eemes 
~itS~T 
B. 
Notwithstanding subsection 
9, 
the head, 
teeth, 
gall 
bladder, claws and hide of any bear may be soldfi 
GT--~~~~&~aG~~-~~~-lG7--a-~~-may--law~Hlly 
Fessess-aR-~£~€~~£~€~€~-~-~~~~~~~h-~ha~~~F-1G9T 
sHeeaa~~et-±Vf 
Q-±T---Ne~w4~R6~aRe4R~--~~~~--~~,--~~~--Ar--~aat 
FreyisieR--ee~&--~~-~~-~~-~--1€~a~~y--£e~46~e£ee--iB 
aeeetaaRee-wi~a-~ais-sHeeaaF~etf-aBa 
GT--~~~~~~-&H~&~e~ieH-14~-~Y-ReR£e6ieeR~-~-aa6 
lega±ly-~~~~~-aaG-£eg46~e£e4-~-eear-~-h&~-~Re-~--eF 
i~s-Fa£~£-~~~~~~-~he-eeHRaa£ie6-~-~~~~~-9y 
a-~£aR6~e£~a~4eR-~~7-~~~~~-eaFF~F&r-Wae£aeF 
et-~--lieeRsea-~-MaiBeT-~~--~taRS~er~ea-~-e~aer-~~-a 
MaiBe-14€eR6ee-~~a££pe~~a~4~£-~~7-~~~~-eF-i~&-~ar~6 
6aall-.£>e--a<H:~ie-d--~y-a-~-e-&:i~--\:-~F-t-a-1::-i-Gn--Fermi£ 
waiea-may-ee-ee~aiBee-ey-~ae-lieeB6ee-~tem-aBy-~ame-waraeR ... 
Sec. 12. 12 MRSA §7457. sub-§2. as amended by PL 1989, c. 493, 
§35, is repealed. 
Sec. 13. 12 MRS A §7457. sub-§3, as amended by PL 1997, c. 463, 
§2, is repealed. 
Sec. 14. 12 MRSA §7458. sub-§4. as amended by PL 1981, c. 414, 
§33, is repealed. 
Sec. 15. 12 MRSA §7458. sub-§4-A. as amended by PL 1997, c. 
282, §2, is repealed. 
§L 
.Sec.16. 12 MRSA §7458. sub-§5, as enacted by PL 1979, c. 420, 
is repealed. 
Sec. 17. 12 MRSA §7458. sub-§6, as amended by PL 1995, c. 455, 
§32, is repealed. 
Sec. 18. 12 MRSA §7458. sub-§7, as enacted by PL 1979, c. 420, 
§1, is repealed. 
Sec. 19. 12 MRSA §7458. sub-§8, as repealed and replaced by PL 
1993, c. 438, §31, is amended to read: 
8. 
Illegal possession of gift deer. 
Netwi£R££ant1.,i-fltJ--tae 
ptevisieBs--ef--&~~~~&--~~r-~-~~-.,i~--~~.,il~77--eH€ep£--as 
pteviaea-.,i£-~~~-~~r-~aFa~Fapa-f7-~--~~~~-~&&e&&~B-9f 
a-~.,i.f~--de-ei:"--.i,..f.-t-aat 11 person pessesses may not possess a part 'Ji 
parts of a deer given to that person unless each separate part is 
plainly labeled with the following: 
A. 
The registration seal number; and 
B. 
The name and address of the person who registered the 
deer. 
Sec. 20. 12 MRSA §7458, sub-§II, as amended by PL 1999, c. 
322, §8, is repealed. 
Sec. 21. 12 MRS A §7458. sub-§12, as amended by PL 1999, c. 
322, §9, is repealed. 
Sec. 22. 12 MRSA §7458, sub-§15, as amended by PL 1999, c. 
588, §2, is further amended to read: 
15. 
Exceptions. 
The following exceptions apply: 
A. 
Notwithstanding subsection 3, 
the head, 
antlers, feet 
and 
hide 
of 
any 
deer 
may 
be 
sold, 
and 
the 
meat 
from 
domesticated deer may be possessed, bought and sold for use 
as food only in accordance with Title 7, chapter 202. 
8T---~~wit-h&t-aBGi~--~~~--~,-~-pe~£~£--may--±awEa±±y 
pessess-aB-~£~€~.,i~~€~€t1-~-~~~r~-w.i,..~-eaa~t-eF-+G9T 
sliseaaptet-IV..-
GT--~~it~~~-£~a£e€£ieB-~r-~~~--~Fe~isieB-~-B9~ 
app±y-~~~-aee£-~--~aF~&-ef-~--sei~-~~a£~~~€t1-~-a 
MaiBe--l.,i€€n£€e--~~~~~~~-~r--.i,..&&~~.i,..~--eemmeB 
eattietST--~-a€€e£aaB€e-~it~-~~--~F&~i&ieB&-~--eaaptetS 
1Gl-te-161T 
G-l..----Ne£wi£R££aBeiB~--~~~€€~.,i~-~~~--~r~r~--Ar--taat 
pFevisieB--aeeS--&&~-~~-~~-~--l€~ally--£e~is£e£ea--iB 
aeeeFaaBee-wita-tais-saseaaptetT 
G-6T--Ne~wi~a6~aHeiH~-~~~~~~B~-~~~-~~~~r-aay-pe~seR 
wRe--~afie6--a--~--~-~-~~--~--~r~a--eWRSr--iH 
aeee~eaHee-~i~~-~~~-~~~~7--SQBSee~ieR--~r-~-~€--e~ 
~~aRspe~~-tRat-4€€~-~~-~~~~-~~~-aam&-aaG-aeeFess-e€ 
~Re-~~~~-*i~~ee-~a€-~--is-6eeQFely-~~~~~-~Re 
aee~ ... 
tl+---A-~~-~-a--RQR~iR~-~~~-~~-~~--QHe~~aRiBea 
~eWRSRip-~-s~ayiR~-~--a-~~~~-plaee-~--lea~iR~ 
ffiay-~~~a-QHFe~46~e£ea-~--a~-~h~~-~~~~-plaee 
e€-~B£~~~~-~~--a-peF4ea-~-~~-e*eeee-~-~~~-QH~i± 
~Ra~-pe~seR-±eaves-~Re-weeaST-wRieReve~-eeffies-€i~S~T-aRe 
t6+--~-Fe~6eH-~-~€~¥€--aa-~~~~~-eeeF-~~-~Re 
weees-i~-~~-~r~-Re~i~ies-a-~~~it~~-~-ReQ~6 
a6-~~-~Re-~~~~~~~-~h€-~~-aH4-~~-ei~eQffi6~aRee6 
Reee6si~a~iR~-±eaviH~-~Re-aee~-iR-~Re-weea6T 
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 
~n 
accordance 
with 
section 
7451, 
subsection 3. 
I. 
Notwithstanding subsection 10, 
or fewer persons may 
hunt together as long as they do not use noisemaking devices. 
Sec. 23. 12 MRS A §7463-A, sub-§10. as amended by PL 200L c. 
387, §26, is repealed. 
Sec. 24. 12 MRSA ~7464. sub-~3. as amended by PL 1999, c. 790, 
Pt. A, §16, is repealed. 
Sec. 25. 12 MRS A §7464. sub-§4. as amended by PL 1981, c. 118, 
§5, is repealed. 
Sec. 26. 12 MRSA §7464. sub-§5. as repealed and replaced by PL 
1981; c. 118, §6, is repealed. 
Sec. 27. 12 MRS A §7464~ sub-§5-A, as amended by PL 1999, c. 
403, §27, is repealed. 
Sec. 28. 12 MRSA §7464. sub-§6. as amended by PL 1995, c. 455, 
§35, is repealed. 
Sec. 29. 12 MRSA §7464, sub-§7. as amended by PL 1993, c. 438, 
§34, is further amended to read: 
1. 
Illegal possession of gift moose. 
A person 
is-~~-i-±-tyT 
Re~wi~hs~aRaiR~-~~-~7--9f-~~~~~-~e55e55-ieR-~f-~-~i£~ 
mease-i~--that-~eF5eR-~esse6ses may not possess a part or parts of 
a moose unless each separate part given to that person is plainly 
labeled with the following: 
A. 
The registration seal number; and 
B. 
The name and address of the person who registered the 
moose. 
Sec. 30. 12 MRSA §7464, sub-§9, ,B, as enacted by PL 1989, c. 
493, §39, is repealed. 
Sec. 31. 12 MRSA §7468. sub-§10, as amended by PL 1985, c. 
506, Pt. A, §16, is repealed. 
Sec. 32. 12 MRSA §7469, sub-§§3, 4, 6, 7 and 8~ as enacted by PL 
1985, c. 95, §l, are repealed. 
Sec.33. 12 MRS A c. 709. sub-c. 4-B is enacted to read: 
SUBCHAPTER 4-B 
TAGGING AND REGISTRATION OF WILD 
ANIMALS AND WILD BIRDS 
§1523. 
Registration stations and agents 
1. 
Registration stations established. 
The 
commissioner 
shall adopt rules governing the establishment and closure or 
bear, deer, moose and wild turkey registration stations for the 
purpose of registering harvested bear, 
deer, 
moose 
and wild 
turkey and to allow for the collection of biological and hunting 
data. 
Rules 
adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine 
technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 
2-A. 
2. 
Agents 
designated. 
An 
agent 
designated 
by 
th~ 
commissioner must be in charge of each bear, deer, moose or wild 
turkey registration station. 
3. 
Agent duties. 
Registration agents shall: 
A. 
Register every bear, deer, moose or wild turkey legal12 
presented for registration; 
B. 
Attach a seal to each bear, deer, moose or wild turkey 
in the manner directed and with the materials furnished by 
the commissioner; and 
C. 
Collect and retain $1 for each seal from the person 
registering a bear, deer, moose or wild turkey. 
4. 
Publication 
of 
registration 
stations. 
A 
list 
of 
registration stations for bear, deer, moose or wild turkey must 
be published annually in one or more daily newspapers of the 
State. 
§7524. 
Tags and tagging 
1. Tags. 
The' commissioner shall prescribe the 
form 
and 
content of bear , 
deer , 
moose and wild turkey tags and produce 
tags that are part of hunting licenses or part of permits for 
specific animals. 
2. Tagging. 
Prior to presenting a bear, deer, moose or wild 
turkey for registration, a person may not possess or leave in the 
field or forest that bear, deer, moose or wild turkey killed by 
that person unless that animal has securely attached to ita 
plainly visible tag that conforms to the requirements established 
by the commissioner pursuant to this Part for that species. 
3. Penalty. 
A person who violates this section commits a 
civil violation for which a forfeiture of not less than $100 nor 
more than $500 may be adjudged. 
§7525. 
Registration of bear, deer, moose or wild turkey 
I. 
Prohibition. 
A person who kills a bear, deer, moose or 
wild turkey may not fail to: 
A. 
Remain wi th~_~ that animal until it is registered, except 
as provided in section 7527; 
B. 
Present that 
name at the first 
on the route taken 
animal for registration in that person' s 
open registration station for that animal 
by that person; and 
C. 
Leave the registration seal attached to the animal in 
accordance with section 7523 until that animal is processed and 
packaged for consumption. 
2. 
Penalty. 
The following penalties apply to violations of 
subsection 1: 
A. 
A person who violates subsection 1 with respect to bear, 
deer or moose commits a Class D crime for which the court 
shall impose a sentencillg alternative of not less than 3 
days for the first offense, none of which may be suspended, 
and of not less than 10 days for each succeeding offense, 
none of which may be suspended; the court also shall impose 
a 
fine of not 
less 
than $1,000, 
none 
of which 
may 
be 
suspended; and 
B. 
A person who violates subsection 1 with respect to wild 
turkey commits a Class 
E crime for which the court shall 
impose a fine of not less than $500, none of which may be 
suspended. 
§1526. 
Condition of animal presented for registration 
1. 
Requirement. 
A person may not present a bear, deer, 
moose or wild turkey for registration unless it is presented in 
its entirety, except that: 
A. 
The viscera and rib cage of the animal may be removed In 
a manner that still allows the determination of the sex of 
the animal; and 
B. 
A moose may be dismembered for ease of transportation, 
and the lower legs, head and hide of a moose may be removed. 
If the head of the moose is not brought to the registration 
station, a canine tooth or the lower jaw must be presented 
at the time of registration. 
z. 
Disposal of moose parts not presented for rggistration. 
A person may not place the parts of moose not presented for 
registration where they are visible to a person traveling on a 
public or private way. 
3. 
Penalty. 
A person who violates this section commits a 
Class E crime. 
§1521. 
Time limits for registering bear, deer, moose or wild 
turkey 
1. 
Time limits. 
A person may not keep an unregistered 
bear, deer, moose or wild turkey at home or any place of storage 
for more than 18 hours. 
This subsection does not apply to an 
animal that is kept in an official registration station for that 
animal or at the office of a game warden. 
A person may leave in 
the 
woods 
an 
unregistered 
harvested 
animal 
if 
that 
person 
notifies a game warden within 18 hours as to the location of that 
animal and the circumstances necessitating leaving that animal in 
the woods. 
2. 
Penalty. 
The following penalties apply to violations of 
subsection 1: 
A. 
A person who violates subsection 1 with respect to bear, 
deer or moose commits a Class D crime for which the court 
shall impose a sentencing alternative of not less than 3 
days for the first offense, none of which may be suspended, 
and of not less than 10 days for each succeeding offense, 
none of which may be suspended; the court also shall impose 
a 
fine 
of not less 
than $1,000, 
none 
of which 
may 
be 
suspended; and 
B. 
A person who violates subsection 1 with respect to wild 
turkey commits a Class E crime for which the court shall 
impose a fine of not less than $500, none of which may be 
suspended. 
§1528. 
False registration of bear, deer, moose or wild turkey 
I. 
Prohibition. 
A person may not present for registration 
or allow to be registered in that person' s 
name a bear, deer, 
moose or wild turkey that that person did not lawfully kill. 
2. 
Penalty. 
The following penalties apply to violations of 
subsection 1: 
A. 
A person who violates subsection 1 with respect to bear, 
deer or moose commits a Class D crime for which the court 
shall impose 
a sentencing alternative of not less than 3 
days for the first offense, none of which may be suspended, 
and of not less than 10 days for each succeeding offense, 
none of which may be suspended: the court also shall impose 
a 
fine of 
not less 
than $1,000, 
none 
of which 
may 
be 
suspended: and 
B. 
A person who vioJates subsection 1 with respect to 
a 
wild turkey commits 
a 
Class 
E 
crime for which the court 
shall impose a fine of not less than $500, none of which may 
be suspended. 
§1529. 
Possessing unregistered bear, deer, moose or wild turkey 
1. 
Prohibition. 
A person may not possess a bear, deer, 
moose or wild turkey that has not been legally registered as 
provided in this subchapter, unless that animal is possessed in 
accordance with subchapter 4. 
2. 
Penalty. 
The following penalties apply to violations of 
subsection 1: 
A. 
A person who violates subsection 1 with respect to a 
bear, deer or moose 
commits a Class D crime for which the 
court shall impose a sentencing alternative of not less than 
days 
for 
the 
first 
offense, 
none 
of 
which 
may 
be 
suspended, and of not less than 10 days for each succeeding 
offense, 
none of which may be suspended; 
the court also 
shall impose a fine of not less than $1,000, none of which 
may be suspended: 
B. 
A person who violates subsection 1 with respect to a 
wild turkey commits a Class E crime for which the court 
shall impose a fine of not less than $500, none of which may 
be suspended. 
Sec. 34. 12 MRSA §7531. as amended by PL 1999, c. 322, §14, 
is repealed and the following enacted in its place: 
§7531. 
Transportation 
A person may not transport a harvested wild animal or wild 
bird unless 
that 
animal 
has 
been lawfully harvested and 
is 
lawfully possessed by that person. 
A person who violates this section commits a civil violation 
for which a forfeiture of not less than $100 nor more than $500 
may be adjudged. 
Sec. 35. 12 MRSA §7532-A, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 322, §16, 
is repealed. 
Sec. 36. 12 MRSA §7533, as enacted by PL 1979, c. 420, §l, lS 
repealed. 
Sec. 37. 12 MRS A §7535. as enacted by PL 1979, c. 420, §l, is 
repealed. 
Sec. 38. 12 MRSA §7901-A. sub-§6; 1[C. as amended by PL 2001, 
c. 655, §18 and c. 667, Pt. B, §lO, is repealed and the following 
enacted in its place: 
C. 
Chapter 709, subchapter III violations: 
(1) 
Hunting or trapping bear near dumps as described 
in section 7452, subsection 5; 
(2) 
Leaving 
a 
bear 
as described in section 7452, 
subsection 8; 
(3) 
Hunting migratory game birds without certification 
as described in section 7456, subsection I-A; 
(4) 
Hunting waterfowl on Haley Pond as described In 
section 7456, subsection 2; 
(5) 
Hunting deer with .22 caliber rim fire cartridge 
as described in section 7458, subsection 13; 
(6) 
Use 
of 
firearm 
in the 
Town 
of 
Southport 
as 
described in section 7458, subsection 14; 
(7) 
Possessing or transporting wild hares or rabbits 
as described in section 7462, subsection 4; 
{ 8) 
Use of illegal firearms as described in section 
7464, subsection 8-A; 
( 9 ) 
Illegal hunting methods as 
des~ribeg in section 
7464, subsection 8-C; 
(10) 
Use of illegal weapons or ammunition as described 
in section 7469, subsection 11; and 
(11) 
Taking of snakes and turtles from the wild for 
commercial purposes as described in section 7471; and 
Sec. 39. 12 MRSA §7901-A. sub-§6, 1ID, as enacted by PL 2001, 
c. 421, Pt. B, §88 and affected by Pt. c, §1, is amended to read: 
D. 
Chapter 709, subchapter IV violations: 
(1) 
Failure to report an accident with deer. moose or 
bear as described in section 7505, subsection 1; 
(2) 
Removing 
a 
portion of carcass as described in 
section 7505, subsection 2; and 
(3) 
Failure to restrain or control a nuisance dog as 
described in section 7505, subsection 3, except that a 
forfeiture of not less than $500 nor more than $1,000. 
none of which may be suspended, 
may be adjudged fOl-
failure to restrain a 
nuisance 
dog as 
described In 
section 7505, subsection 3, paragraph A or Br-aBe~ 
Sec. 40. 12 MRSA §7901-A. sub-§6. ,E. as enacted by PL 200L 
c. 421, Pt. B, §88 and affected by Pt. C, §l, is repealed. 
SUMMARY 
This 
bill 
simplifies 
the 
tagging 
and 
registration 
requirements for harvested animals by providing the same tagging 
and registering requirements 
for bear, 
deer, 
moose 
and wild 
turkey. 
The bill also allows a person to transport a harvested 
animal if that animal was lawfully harvested and possessed by 
that person. 
Page ll-LR0385(1)