An Act To Strengthen Maine's Wildlife Laws I 1
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 1225
Committee Amendment CA_A_S173 (Senate)
Amends: 12 MRSA §10902, 12 MRSA §11301, 12 MRSA §11302, 12 MRSA §12051

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to S.P. 423, L.D. 1225, Bill, "An Act To 
Strengthen Maine's Wildlife Laws" 
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Amend the bill by inserting after the title the following: 
'Emergency preamble. "'hereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
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become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
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Whereas, the feeding of bear, moose and wild turkey is creating a public safety 
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hazard and having a detrimental effect on the bear, moose and wild turkey populations; 
and 
Whereas, the open season on hunting bear begins on August 26th, bait to hunt bear 
may be placed beginning July 27th and hunters may train dogs on bear beginning July 
1st; and 
Whereas, Maine guides relly on bear hunting for their individual livelihoods, and 
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communities in rural regions of tl1e State depend on bear hunting for economic activity to 
help sustain their local economies; and 
Whereas, migratory game bird hunting begins in October; and 
Whereas, the importation and possession of wildlife requires immediate study; and 
Whereas, the 90-day period will not end before the first events begin; 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,' 
Amend the bill in section 1 in subsection 39 by striking out all of paragraph B (page 
1, lines 6 and 7 in L.D.) and inserting the following: 
'B. Columbidae, or pigeons; including doves anEl wilEl pigeons, but not including 
rock doves, also known as rock pigeons;' 
COMMIT'TEE AMENDMENT 
v..O~S 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT It\. "to S.P. 423, L.D. 1225 
Amend the bill by inserting after section 2 the following: 
'Sec. 3. 12 MRSA §10902, sub-§6, ~G, as amended by PL 2011, c. 253, §16, is 
further amended to read: 
G. Buying or selling moose, unlawfully hunting moose or unlawfully possessing 
moose, in violation of section 11154, 11217, 11601, 11651-A, 11652, 12302-A, 
12304-A, 12305 or 12403; ef 
Sec. 4. 12 MRSA §10902, sub-§6, ~H, as affected by PL 2003, c. 614, §9 and 
amended by c. 655, Pt. B, §99 and affected by §422, is further amended to read: 
H. 
Buying or selling wild turkeys, unlawfully hunting wild turkeys, unlawfully 
possessing wild turkeys or using unlawful methods to hunt wild turkeys, in violation 
of section 11217, subsection I; section 11751-A; section 11801; or section 12306, 
subsection 1 • .;....Q[ 
Sec. 5. 12 MRSA §10902, sub-§6, ~ is enacted to read: 
I. Hunting bear over another person's bait without written permission of that person 
in violation of section 11301, subsection I-A. 
Sec. 6. 12 MRSA §11301, sub-§I-A is enacted to read: 
I-A. Prohibition. During the open season on hunting bear, a person may not within 
yards of a bait site established by another person in accordance with section 11227 
without the written permission of the person who established the bait site: 
A. Hunt, trap, molest or harass bear or release a dog or dogs for the purpose of 
hunting bear or training dogs to hunt bear: or 
B. Disturb the bait site through the use of chemicals or take other action intended to 
interfere with the hunting of bear at the bait site by the person who established the 
bait site. 
Sec. 7. 12 MRSA §11302, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2009, c. 390, §3, is further 
amended to read: 
2. Nonresidents hunting with dogs. A nonresident may not hunt bear with the use 
of a dog or dogs unless that nonresident employs and hunts with in the presence of a 
resident Maine guide. For purposes of this subsection, "in the presence of" means in 
visual and voice contact without the use of visual or audio enhancement devices, 
including but not limited to binoculars. citizen band radios or electronic communication 
systems. 
A. The total number of clients with a resident Maine guide may not be more than 5 
in order to satisfy the requirements of this subsection. 
This subsection does not apply to nonresidents who hold a valid Maine guide license.' 
Amend the bill by inserting after section 6 the following: 
'Sec. 7. 12 MRSA §12051, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 and 
affected by c. 614, §9, is repealed.' 
Amend the bill by adding before the summary the following: 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
~o~s 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A " 
to S.P. 423, L.D. 1225 
'Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved.' 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or 
section number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment adds an emergency preamble and clause to the bill. It clarifies that 
rock doves, also known as "rock pigeons" and which the bill adds to the list of wild birds 
that may be hunted, are not included in the definition of "migratory game bird." It repeals 
the Maine Revised Statutes, T'ltle 12, section 12051, subsection 2, which requires a 
permit to take rock doves from the wild for the purpose of training dogs since a rock dove 
is not a migratory game bird. 
It makes further changes to the laws regarding the 
placement of bear bait to prohibit hunting, trapping, molesting or harassing wildlife, 
using chemicals or releasing dogs in the vicinity of existing bait sites. It also requires 
nonresidents hunting bear with the use of a dog or dogs to be within visual and voice 
contact of a resident Maine guide. Finally, it makes the penalty for violation of hunting 
bear over another person's bait without permission a mandatory hunting license 
revocation. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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Revised: 05/23/13 
~ac. 
LD 1225 
LR 475(02) 
An Act To Strengthen Maine's Wildlife Laws 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment 'A:Cs- ''=13 \ 
Committee: Inland Fisheries and Wildlife 
:,J 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor Net Impact - General Fund 
Correctional and Judicial Impact Statements 
Establishes and eliminates Class E crimes. 
The impact on General Fund fine revenue is expected to be minor 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Eliminating the rock dove permit will reduce General Fund revenue by minor amounts not requiring any change to the 
budget. 
LR0475(02) - Fiscal Note - Page I of I