An Act To Restore the White-tailed Deer Population and Improve Maine's Wildlife Economy and Heritage
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 1569
Committee Amendment CA_A_S256 (Senate)
Amends: 5 MRSA §6207, 12 MRSA §5012, 12 MRSA §10109, 12 MRSA §10263

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A " to S.P. 502, L.D. 1569, Bill, "An Act To 
Restore the White-tailed Deer Population and Improve Maine's Wildlife Economy and 
Heritage" 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting the 
following: 
'Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §6207, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2001, c. 466, §2, is further 
amended to read: 
3. Priorities. Whenever possible, the Land for Maine's Future Fund and the Public 
Access to Maine Waters Fund must be used for land acquisition projects when matching 
funds are available from cooperating entities, provided that as long as the proposed 
acquisition meets all other criteria set forth in this chapter. For acquisitions funded by the 
Land for Maine's Future Fund, the board shall give priority to projects that conserve lands 
with multiple outstanding resource or recreation values or a single exceptional value, 
conserve and protect deer wintering areas, provide geographic representation and build 
upon or connect existing holdings. 
When acquiring land or interest in land, the board shall examine public vehic~lar access 
rights to the land and, whenever possible and appropriate, acquire guaranteed public 
vehicular access as part of the acquisition. 
Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §5012, as amended by PL 2009, c. 213, Pt. L, §§ 1 to 3, is 
further amended by adding at the end a new paragraph to read: 
Prior to final negotiations and legislative and administrative review of the sale of 
state-designated lands or an interest in designated lands that contain significant deer 
wintering habitat, the commissioner shall report to the joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over conservation matters and the joint standing 
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over inland fisheries and wildlife matters 
regarding the proposed sale. For purposes of this section, "designated lands" has the 
same meaning as in section 598-A. 
Sec. 3. 12 MRSA §lOl07-A is enacted to read: 
Page I - 12SLR02S6(02)-1 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A" to S.P. 502, L.D. 1569 
§10107-A. Deer population goals and 5-year benchmark report 
The department shall establish 5-year benchmarks for managing the deer population 
in each wildlife management district and report annually to the joint standing committee 
of the Legislature having jurisdiction over inland fisheries and wildlife matters. The 
annual report must include, but is not limited to: 
L Updates. Updates on meeting each 5-year benchmark; 
2. Annual goals. Annual goals for wildlife management districts, funding needed to 
meet the goals and the progress toward meeting the goals; 
3. Deer mortality. Data on deer mortality, including, but not limited to, predation 
on deer; 
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4. Efforts. An assessment of the efforts of animal depredation control agents; 
5. Annual flights. The number of flights made annually by agents of the department 
to assess the deer population; and 
6. 
Work with others. 
The department's efforts to work with interest groups 
regarding predator control. 
Sec. 4. 12 MRSA §10109, sub-§5 is enacted to read: 
5. 
Transfer of property containing deer wintering habitat. 
Prior to final 
negotiations and legislative and administrative review of the sale of state-designated 
lands or an interest in designated lands that contain significant deer wintering habitat, the 
commissioner shall report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having 
jurisdiction over conservation matters and the joint standing committee of the Legislature 
having jurisdiction over inland fisheries and wildlife matters regarding the proposed sale. 
For purposes of this section, "designated lands" has the same meaning as in section 
598-A. 
Sec. 5. 12 MRSA §10263 is enacted to read: 
§10263. Predator Control and Deer Habitat Fund 
The Predator Control and Deer Habitat 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 predator control . and to enhance deer habitat. 
The 
commissioner shall establish on the department's online licensing system checkoff 
options that allow a person to donate money for predator control or deer habitat 
enhancement. The checkoff options must be prominently displayed and contain web 
links to information about how the checkoff revenues have been and will be used. 
Revenues from the checkoffs must be deposited in the fund and used for purposes 
indicated by the checkoffs. 
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. The department shall report annually to the joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over inland fisheries and wildlife matters on the fund and 
its utilization. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A "to S.P. 502, L.D. 1569 
Sec. 6. Funding deer management efforts; report. The D~partment of Inland 
Fisheries and Wildlife shall report to the Joint Standing Committee on Inland Fisheries 
and Wildlife no later than February 1, 2012 on the department's efforts to secure revenue 
to enhance the department's efforts in protecting and expanding the State's deer 
population. 
Sec. 7. 
Predator control and deer protection on public lands. 
The 
Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, in cooperation with the Department of 
Conservation, shall develop and implement a plan for all state-owned lands to control 
predation on deer and a plan to protect, manage and enhance deer wintering areas. The 
Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and the Department of Conservation shall 
jointly report on the 2 plans to the Joint Standing Committee on Inland Fisheries and 
Wildlife no later than February 1,2012. 
Sec. 8. Outreach and public education. The Department of Inland Fisheries 
and Wildlife, with the assistance of sporting groups, shall continue efforts to restructure 
and increase the budget of the department's Division of Public Information and Education 
and to continue an ongoing relationship with the State's deer hunters using surveys, 
newsletters and the department's publicly accessible website to keep hunters current and 
involved in the implementation of the department's Maine Game Plan for Deer. The 
department shall report to the Joint Standing Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife 
no later than February 1, 2012. 
Sec. 9. Maine Game Plan for Deer. The Department of Inland Fisheries and 
Wildlife shall expand its Maine Game Plan for Deer to the entire State and submit that 
plan to the Joint Standing Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife no later than 
February 1,2012. 
Sec. 10. Predator control. If funding is available, the Department of Inland 
Fisheries and Wildlife shall develop and implement a program to control predation on 
deer that includes, but is not limited to: 
1. Organization of an advisory group of professional guides and trappers to help 
develop and implement the program; 
2. Utilization of both hunters and trappers for the program; 
3. Utilization of animal damage control techniques and agents trained in animal 
damage control techniques; and 
4. Increases in the funding of animal damage control efforts related to the program. 
The department shall report its progress on developing and implementing the 
program to the Joint Standing Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife no later than 
February 1,2012. 
Sec. 11. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and 
allocations are made. 
INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE, DEPARTMENT OF 
Resource Management Services - Inland Fisheries and Wildlife 0534 
Initiative: Establishes the Predator Control and Deer Habitat Fund. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A" to S.P. 502, L.D. 1569 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
All Other 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL 
2011-12 
$500 
$500 
2012-13 
$500 
$500 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill and does the following: 
1. It makes the conservation and protection of deer wintering areas a priority for 
acquisitions funded by the Land for Maine's Future Fund; 
2. It requires the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to establish 5-year 
benchmarks for managing the deer population in each wildlife management district and 
report annually to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over 
inland fisheries and wildlife matters with updates on meeting each 5-year benchmark; 
3. 
It provides that prior to final negotiations and legislative and administrative 
review for the sale of designated lands or an interest in designated lands that contain deer 
wintering habitat, the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife or the 
Commissioner of Conservation must notify the joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over inland fisheries and wildlife matters and the joint 
standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over agriculture, conservation 
and forestry matters about the intent to make such a sale; 
4. It establishes a Predator Control and Deer Habitat Fund to fund predator control 
and to enhance deer habitat. It directs the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife 
to provide checkoff options on its online licensing system to allow a person to make 
donations to the fund; 
5. It directs the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to secure revenue to 
enhance the department's efforts in protecting and expanding Maine's deer population; 
6. It directs the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, in cooperation with the 
Department of Conservation, to develop and implement a plan for all state-owned lands 
to control predation on deer and a plan to protect, manage and enhance deer wintering 
areas; 
7. 
It directs the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to develop plans to 
restructure and increase the budget of the Division of Public Information and Education 
and to create an ongoing relationship with the State's deer hunters using surveys, 
newsletters and its publicly accessible website to keep hunters current and involved in the 
implementation of the department's Maine Game Plan for Deer; 
8. It directs the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to expand its Maine 
Game Plan for Deer to the entire State; 
9. 
It directs the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to develop and 
implement a program to control predation on deer; and 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A" to S.P. 502, L.D. 1569 
10. It directs the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to report to the Joint 
Standing Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife regarding the department's efforts 
and progress made to meet the goals of controlling predation on deer as required by the 
amendment by February 1,2012. 
The amendment also establishes a reporting date of February 1, 2012 for the 
Department ofInland Fisheries and Wildlife to report to the Joint Standing Committee on 
Inland Fisheries and Wildlife concerning several provisions of the amendment. 
This amendment adds an appropriations and allocations section. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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Approved: 06/03/l1 
~ac:. 
LD 1569 
LR 256(02) 
An Act To Restore the White-tailed Deer Population and Improve Maine's Wildlife Economy and 
Heritage 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ''A'' 5 - 2 5tD 
Committee: Inland Fisheries and Wildlife 
Appropriations/Allocations 
Other Special Revenue Funds 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
FY 2011-12 
FY 2012-13 
$500 
$500 
Projections 
FY 2013-14 
$500 
Projections 
FY 2014-15 
$500 
This legislation establishes the Predator Control and Deer Habitat Fund within the Department of Inland Fisheries and 
Wildlife. The fund will receive donations from check-off options on the department's online licensing system, as well 
as other gifts and contributions. The bill includes an Other Special Revenue Funds allocation of $500 in fiscal years 
2011-12 and 2012-13 to allow the department to expend monies received into the fund. 
Additional costs to the Departments of Conservation and Inland Fisheries and Wildlife associated with implementing 
the provisions of this legislation and reporting results can be absorbed with existing staff and within existing 
budgeted resources. 
LR0256(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of I