An Act To Restore Hunting Rights in the Katahdin Lake Region
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 0055
Committee: Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Sponsors: DAVIS, THOMAS, CELLI, CLARK, CRAFTS, FREDETTE, GIFFORD, LONG, WOOD, TRAHAN

Legislative Document 
No. 55 
H.P. 48 
House of Representatives, January 11, 2011 
An Act To Restore Hunting Rights in the Katahdin Lake Region 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reference to the Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife suggested and ordered 
printed. 
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative DAVIS of Sangerville. 
Cosponsored by Senator THOMAS of Somerset and 
Representatives: CELLI of Brewer, CLARK of Millinocket, CRAFTS of Lisbon, FREDETTE 
of Newport, GIFFORD of Lincoln, LONG of Sherman, WOOD of Sabattus, Senator: 
TRAHAN of Lincoln. 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, hunting was a traditional use on the lands surrounding Katahdin Lake 
until the transfer of these lands for inclusion in Baxter State Park; and 
Whereas, these lands have been closed to hunting for 4 years; and 
Whereas, the season for hunting game begins before the expiration of the 90-day 
period; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore, 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  Baxter State Park Authority to allow hunting on certain lands.  
The Baxter State Park Authority shall allow hunting on an approximately 4,040-acre 
parcel of land located in the northwestern quadrant of Township 3, Range 8, W.E.L.S. 
and commonly referred to as "the Katahdin Lake parcel."  On December 13, 2006, 
Gardner Land Company, Inc. of the Town of Lincoln transferred the Katahdin Lake 
parcel by a quitclaim deed with covenant to the Baxter State Park Authority for inclusion 
in Baxter State Park.   The boundaries of the Katahdin Lake parcel are found in Exhibit A 
of the deed recorded on December 13, 2006 with the Penobscot County Registry of 
Deeds in Book 10761, Page 286. 
Sec. 2.  Adoption of rules; revision to policies.  The Baxter State Park 
Authority shall revise any rules adopted under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 12, 
section 903 or any policies adopted by the authority that prohibit hunting on the Katahdin 
Lake parcel pursuant to section 1.  Any necessary revisions must be in effect no later than 
October 1, 2011.  The general laws of the State pertaining to hunting and trapping apply 
to the Katahdin Lake parcel, except that the Baxter State Park Authority may adopt rules 
that prohibit moose hunting, the baiting of animals for hunting purposes and hunting with 
dogs.  Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 
5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. 
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This bill directs the Baxter State Park Authority to allow hunting on the 
approximately 4,040-acre parcel surrounding Katahdin Lake that was transferred to the 
authority for inclusion in the park in December 2006.  It allows the authority to place 
restrictions on certain types of hunting through rulemaking.