An Act To Enhance the Wise Use and Sound Management of Maine's Wildlife Resources
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 0728
Committee Amendment CA_A_H158 (House)
Amends: 12 MRSA §10260, 12 MRSA §11109, 12 MRSA §11151-A, 12 MRSA §11224, 12 MRSA §11225, 12 MRSA §12260-A

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ,A " to H.P. 549, L.O. 728, Bill, "An Act To 
Enhance the Wise Use and Sound Management of Maine's Wildlife Resources" 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the 
summary and inserting the foHowing: 
'Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §10260 is enacted to read: 
§l0260. Black Bear Research Fund 
The Black Bear Research Fund, referred to in this section as "the fund," is established 
within the department as a nonlapsing fund to be used by the commissioner to fund or 
assist in funding studies related to the management of black bears. Revenue from the 
nonresident late season bear hunting permit under section 11151-A and the bear trapping 
permit under 12260-A must be deposited in the fund. The commissioner may accept and 
deposit into the fund monetary gifts, donations or other contributions from public or 
private sources for the purposes specified in this section. The fund must be held separate 
and apart from all other money, funds and accounts. 
Sec.2. 12 MRSA §11109, sub-§3, ,., as amended by PL 2005, c. 12, Pt. III, §4, 
is further amended to read: 
I. 
A nonresident big game hunting license, which permits hunting of all legal 
species including deer and bear subject to the permit requirements in chapter 915, 
subchapter 3, is $102. 
Sec.3. 12 MRSA §11109, sub-§3,~, as amended by PL 2005, c. 12, Pt. III, §4, 
is further amended to read: 
L. 
An alien big game hunting license, which permits hunting of all legal species 
including deer and bear subject to the permit requirements in chapter 915, subchapter 
.2, is $127. 
Sec. 4. 12 MRSA §11151-A is enacted to read: 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 549, L.D. 728 
.. 
§11151-A. Nonresident late season bear hunting permit 
1. Permit required. Except as otherwise authorized pursuant to this Part or for a 
nonresident who holds a valid bear hunting permit under section 11151, a nonresident 
may not hunt for bear during the regular firearm season on deer under section 11401 
without a valid permit issued pursuant to this section. 
Each day a person violates this subsection, that person commits a Class E crime for which 
a minimum fine of $50 and an amount equal to twice the applicable license fee must be 
imposed. 
2. 
Eligibility; nonresident late season bear hunting permit. 
A person who 
possesses a valid nonresident license to hunt big game may obtain a permit to hunt for 
bear from the commissioner or the commissioner's authorized agent. 
3. Issuance; permit fee. The commissioner, through the commissioner's authorized 
agent, shall issue a nonresident late season bear hunting permit to an eligible person. The 
annual fee for each permit issued is $40. 
Sec. 5. 12 MRSA §11224 is enacted to read: 
§11224. Waste of game 
1. Prohibition. A person may not waste a wild bird or wild animal that has been 
wounded or killed by that person while hunting. For purposes of this section, "waste" 
means to intentionally leave a wounded or killed animal in the field or forest without 
making a reasonable effort to retrieve and render it for consumption or use. 
2. Penalty. A person who violates this section commits a Class E crime. 
Sec. 6. 12 MRSA §11225 is enacted to read: 
§11225. Retrieval of wounded or killed big game after hours 
Notwithstanding section 11109, subsection 3. paragraph N or section 11206, a person 
licensed to guide hunters under section 12853 whose client during a guided hunt wounds 
or kills a bear, deer or moose may track and dispatch that animal outside of legal hunting 
hours. 
Sec. 7. 12 MRSA §12260-A is enacted to read: 
§12260-A. Bear trapping permit 
I. Permit required. Except as otherwise authorized pursuant to this Part a person 
may not trap for bear without a valid bear trapping permit during the open bear trapping 
season under section 12260, subsection l. 
Each day a person violates this subsection, that person commits a Class E crime for which 
a minimum fine of $50 and an amount equal to twice the applicable license fee must be 
imposed. 
2. Eligibility; trapping license required. A person who possesses a valid trapping 
license may obtain a permit to trap bear from the commissioner or the commissioner's 
authorized agent. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT A " 
to H.P. 549, L.D. 728 
3. Issuance; permit fee. The commissioner, through the commissioner's authorized 
agent, shall issue a bear trapping permit to an eligible person. The annual fee for each 
permit issued is $27 for residents and $67 for nonresidents. 
Sec. 8. Effective date. Those sections of this Act that enact the Maine Revised 
Statutes, Title 12, sections 10260, 11151-A and 12260-A and that amend section 11109, 
subsection 3, paragraph I and section 11109, subsection 3, paragraph L take effect 
January 1, 2008.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill and does the following: 
1. It establishes the Black Bear Research Fund to fund research regarding the 
management of black bear; 
2. It requires nonresident hunters to obtain a nonresident late season bear hunting 
permit to hunt bear during the regular firearm season on deer if that person does not 
possess a regular season bear hunting permit. The fee for the permit is $40; 
3. It creates a new bear trapping permit. The fee for the permit is $27 for residents 
and $67 for nonresidents; 
4. It prohibits the intentional waste of wounded or killed game animals; 
5. It authorizes a guide to dispatch a client's wounded or killed bear, deer or moose 
after legal hunting hours; and 
6. It provides an effective date of January 1,2008 for those provisions regarding the 
Black Bear Research Fund and bear hunting and trapping. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 04/25/07 
~ac 
LD728 
LR 1678(02) 
An Act To Enhance the Wise Use and Sound Management of Maine's Wildlife Resources 
Revenue 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment A " 
Committee: Inland Fisheries and Wildlife 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Minor revenue increase - General Fund 
2007-08 
2008-09 
Projections 
2009-10 
Other Special Revenue Funds 
$3,415 
$34,150 
$34,150 
Correctional and Judicial Impact Statements 
Establishes new Class E crimes. Sentences for Class E crimes must be served in a county jail. 
The collection of additional fines may also increase General Fund revenue by minor amounts. 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Projections 
2010-11 
$34,1)0 
Changing certain aspects of allowable hunting activities and required licensure will have the net effect of increasing 
dedicated revenue collected by the Department ofInland Fisheries and Wildlife; the estimated increases are $3,415 in 
fiscal year 2007-08 and $34,150 in each fiscal year thereafter. 
LR1678(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1