An Act To Clarify Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Laws for Youth (~
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 0132
Committee: Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Sponsors: BRYANT, GERZOFSKY, BOLAND, CAREY, SHAW, WHEELER, WILLETTE
Amends: 12 MRSA §11108-A, 12 MRSA §12201, 12 MRSA §12501, 12 MRSA §12503, 12 MRSA §12612

Legislative Document 
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No. 132 
S.P.51 
January 15,2009 
An Act To Clarify Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Laws for Youth 
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Submitted by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife pursuant to Joint Rule 204. 
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Reference to the Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife suggested and ordered 
printed. 
Presented by Senator BRYANT of Oxford. 
Cosponsored by Representative BRYANT of Windham and 
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JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate '. 
Senator: GERZOFSKY of Cumberland, Representatives: BOLAND of Sanford, CAREY of 
Lewiston, SHAW of Standish, WHEELER of Kittery, WILLETTE of Presque Isle. 
Printed on r'l!cydcd p<tflcr 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §11108-A, sub-§7 is enacted to read: 
7. Parent or guardian; iuni~r hu~ters.: A person violates this subsection if that 
person is the adult supervisor, parent or guardian of a holder of a valid junior hunting 
license and that junior hunter violates anyprovision ofthis Part pertaining to hunting. 
A. A person who violates this subsection commits a civil violation for which a fine 
.. of not less than $100 nor more than $500 maybe adiudged. '. 
B. A person who violates this subsection after having been adjudicated as having 
committed 3 or more civil violations under this Part within the previous 5-year period 
commits a Class E crime. 
Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §12201, sub-§2, ~C, as enacted by PL2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 
and affected by c. 614, §9, is amended to read: 
C. 
A resident under 10 years of age may trap all legal species, except bear, without 
a license. 
Sec. 3. 12 MRS A §12201, sub-§7, ~A, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 
and affected by c. 614, §9, is amended to read: 
A. 
A person under 10 years of age may not trap' urilessthat person is accompan ied 
at all times while trapping by a parent or guardian or by an adult at least 18 years of 
age approved by a parent or guardian. A person under 10 years of age may not trap 
bear. 
Sec. 4. 12 lVIRSA §12201, sub,..§9 is enacted to read: 
9. Parent or guardian; junior trappers. A person violates this subsection if that 
person is the adult supervisor, parent or guardian of a holder of a valid junior trapping 
license and that junior trapper violates any provision of this Part pertaining to trapping. 
A. A person who violates this subsection commits a civil violation for which a fine 
of not less than $100 nor more than $500 may be adjudged. 
B .. A- person who violates this subsection after having been adjudicated as having 
committed 3 or more civil violations under this Part within the previous 5-year period 
commits a Class E crime. 
Sec. 5. 12 MRSA §12501, sub-§2, ,0, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 
and affected by c. 614, §9, is amended to read: 
B. 
A nonresident fishing license to a nonresident R 1Q. years Of age or older. 
Sec. 6. 12 MRSA §12501, sub-§5, as enacted by pt 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2and 
affected by c. 614, §9, is repealed.. 
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Sec. 7. 12 MRSA §12501, sub-§6, ~, as amended by PL 2005, c. 12, Pt. III, 
§24, is repealed. 
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Sec. 8. 12 MRSA §12503,sub-§1, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, PtA, §2 and 
affected by c. 614, §9, is amended to read: 
1. Resident and nonresident under 16. A resident and nonresident under 16 years 
of age and a nonresident under 12 years of age may fish without a license. 
Sec. 9. 12 MRSA §12612 is enacted to read: 
§12612. Parent or guardian; violation by minor 
A person violates this section if that person is the adult supervisor, parent or guardian 
of a minor under 16 years of age and that minor violates any provision of this Part 
pertaining to fishing. 
1. Civil violation. A person who violates this section commits a civil violation for 
which a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $500 may be adjudged. 
2. Class E crime. A person who violates this section after having been adjudicated 
as having committed 3 or more civil violations under this PaIi within the previous 5-year 
period commits a Class E crime. 
SUMMARY 
This bill provides penalties for adult supervisors, parents and guardians of minors 
who violate the laws governing fishing, hunting and trapping. 
This bill conforms the age requirement for licensure of nonresident anglers to that of 
resident anglers in accordance with an effort by the Department of Inland Fisheries and 
Wildlife to make fishing laws more consistent. 
The bill amends the statute that allows children under 10 years of age to trap, under 
supervision, without a license to prohibit them from trapping bear. This is a safety 
concern of the Department ofInland Fisheries and Wildlife.