An Act To Expand Turkey Hunting Opportunities for Young Hunters
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 0200
Committee Amendment CA_A_H542 (House)
Amends: 12 MRSA §11155, 12 MRSA §11701, 12 MRSA §12301-A, 12 MRSA §1230

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ·A" to H.P. 161, L.D. 200, Bill, "An Act To 
Expand Turkey Hunting Opportunities for Young Hunters" 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the 
summary and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §11155, sub-§l-B, as repealed and replaced by PL 2009, c. 
213, Pt. 00, §8, is amended to read: 
I-B. 
Issuance; permit fee. 
The commissioner, through the commissioner's 
authorized agent, shall issue in wildlife management districts that are open by rule for 
wild turkey hunting a combined fall and spring wild turkey hunting permit that allows an 
eligible person to take one male 'i'lild turke,r ill the spring and one wild turkey in the fall 
wild turkeys in the spring and fall seasons in accordance with section 11701. The fee for 
a combined fall and spring wild turkey hunting permit is $20 for residents and $54 for 
nonresidents and aliens. +lHH1<llder of a oomeined fall and spring wild turkey hunting 
permit is eligible to purohase a 2nd spring wild turkey permit that allO't .... s the taking of 
one additional male wild turkey £It a east of $20 for residents, nomesidents and aliens. 
Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §11701l, as affected by PL 2003, c. 614, §9 and amended by c. 
655, Pt. B, § 179 and affected by §422 and Pt. C, §§2 and 6, is further amended to read: 
§11701. Authority of commissioner; wild turkey hunting 
The commissioner may establish open seasons for hunting wild turkeys, designate 
areas that are open to the taking of wild turkeys in any part of the State, prescribe the 
fonn and regulate the number of permits to be issued, determine the number and sex of 
the birds to be harvested, establish bag limits, establish permit eligibility requirements, 
establish legal hunting times, specify the types of weapons to be used during any open 
wild turkey hunting season and make any other rules that the commissioner considers 
necessary for the protection of the wild turkey resource. 
1. Spring season. The commissioner shall establish by rule a spring open season for 
hunting wild turkeys. Unless the commissioner determines that sound management 
COMMI7-TEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A .. to H.P. 161, L.D. 200 
principles require otherwise, the rule must allow during the spring open season for 
hunting wild turkeys: 
A. A person to take up to 2 male wild turkeys without any additional fee fot the 
taking of the 2nd male wild turkey; 
B. A person to hunt from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. This 
paragraph is repealed August 1, 2016; and 
C. A person to hunt wild turkeys using a crossbow, in addition to any other weapons 
allowed by the rule. 
2. Fall season. The commissioner shall establish by rule a fall open season for 
hunting wild turkeys. Unless the commissioner determines that sound management 
principles require otherwise, the rule must establish a fall open season that includes the 
month of October and allow a person to take up to 2 wild turkeys regardless of sex 
without any additional fee for the taking of a 2nd wild turkey. 
3. Youth day. The commissioner shall establish by rule a spring youth hunting day 
for hunting wild turkeys from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. The 
season must take place on the Saturday prior to the opening of the spring open season for 
hunting wild turkeys under subsection 1. 
A person who violates this section commits a Class E crime for which the court shall 
impose a fine of not less than $500, none of which may be suspended. The court also 
shall impose a fine of $500 for each turkey unlawfully possessed, none of which may be 
suspended. 
Sec. 3. 12 MRSA §12301-A, sub-§3, fB, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, 
§226 and affected by §422, is amended to read: 
B. Attach a seal to each bear, deer, moose or wild turkey in the manner directed and 
with the materials furnished by the commissioner; arul 
Sec. 4. 12 MRSA §1230l-A, sub-§3, ~C, as amended by PL 2011, c. 660, §1, is 
further amended to read: 
C. Collect $5 and retain $2 for each seal from the person registering a bear, deer; or 
moose or 'llild turkey. The remaining $3 must be returned to the department by the 
agent pursuant to section 10801, subsection 37; and 
Sec. 5. 12 MRSA §12301-A, sub-§3, ~ 
is enacted to read: 
D. Collect and retain $2 for each wild turkey registered.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment does the following: 
1. It requires the establishment of a spring youth hunting day for wild turkey during 
which hunting is allowed beginning 30 minutes before sunrise and ending 30 minutes 
after sunset. The season must take place on the Saturday prior to the start of the spring 
wild turkey hunting season; 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 'A" to H.P. 161, L.D. 200 
2. It reduces the tagging fee from $5 to $2 per wild turkey and directs registration 
agents to retain the $2 tagging fees they collect; 
3. It directs the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to establish a spring 
wild turkey hunting season during which a person may take up to 2 male wild turkeys and 
a fall wild turkey hunting season during which a person to take up to 2 wild turkeys of 
either sex. 
During the spring open season a person may take wild turkeys with a 
crossbow, bow and arrow or shotgun; and 
4. It. provides that the hours for the spring wild turkey hunting season are from 30 
minutes before sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset. This provision is repealed at the end 
of the spring 2016 season. 
FISCAL : ... v IE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMIT'TEE AMENDMENT 
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Approved: 06117113 
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LD200 
LR 745(02) 
An Act To Expand Turkey Hunting Opportunities for Young Hunters 
Net Cost (Savings) 
General Fund 
Revenue 
General Fund 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment 1\' (f./-fj/-JJ 
Committee: Inland Fisheries and Wildlife 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
FY 2013-14 
FY 2014-15 
$98,895 
$98,895 
($98,895) 
($98,895) 
Projections 
FY 2015-16 
$98,895 
($98,895) 
Projections 
FY 2016-17 
$98,895 
($98,895) 
This legislation allows the taking of a second male turkey in the spring at no cost for residents and $20 for 
nonresidents. It also reduces turkey tagging fees from $5 to $2. These changes will result in a reduction in General 
Fund revenue of$98,895 beginning in fiscal year 2013-14. 
LR0745(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1