An Act To Expand the Season for Night Hunting of Coyotes
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 1148
Committee: Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Sponsors: BLACK, SHERMAN, CRAY, DAVIS, JACKSON, LONG, NADEAU, NOON, WOOD, BURNS
Amends: 12 MRSA §11160, 12 MRSA §12001

Legislative Document 
No. 1148 
H.P. 813 
House of Representatives, March 21, 2013 
An Act To Expand the Season for Night Hunting of Coyotes 
Reference to the Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife suggested and ordered 
printed. 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative BLACK of Wilton. 
Cosponsored by Senator SHERMAN of Aroostook and 
Representatives: CRAY of Palmyra, DAVIS of Sangerville, JACKSON of Oxford, LONG of 
Sherman, NADEAU of Fort Kent, NOON of Sanford, WOOD of Sabattus, Senator: BURNS of 
Washington. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  12 MRSA §11160, as corrected by RR 2011, c. 1, §17, is amended to read: 
§11160.  Coyote night hunting permit 
1.  Permit required.  Except as otherwise authorized pursuant to this Part, a person 
may not hunt coyote at night unless that person has a valid permit issued under this 
section.  A client of a guide licensed under chapter 927 who holds a valid permit issued 
under subsection 3, paragraph B may hunt coyotes at night without obtaining a permit 
under this section during the open season established in section 12001, subsection 1-A if 
the client is under the supervision of that guide.  Each night a person violates this 
subsection that person commits a Class E crime for which a minimum fine of $50 and an 
amount equal to twice the applicable license fee must be imposed. 
2.  Eligibility; hunting license required.  A person who possesses a valid hunting 
license is eligible to obtain a permit from the commissioner to hunt coyotes at night, 
except that a permit may not be issued to a person who has been convicted of a violation 
of section 11206 within 5 years of the date of application for the permit.  Eligibility for 
permits issued under this section is governed by this subsection. 
A.  A person who possesses a valid hunting license is eligible to obtain a permit 
under subsection 3, paragraph A, except that a person is not eligible to obtain that 
permit if that person has been convicted of a violation of section 11206 within 5 years 
of the date of application for the permit. 
B.  A person who possesses a valid hunting license is eligible to obtain a permit under 
subsection 3, paragraph B, except that a person is not eligible to obtain that permit if 
that person has been convicted of any violation under this Part within 5 years. 
3.  Permits.  The commissioner shall issue a permit to hunt coyotes at night to 
eligible persons at a fee of $4 in accordance with this subsection. 
A.  The commissioner shall issue a permit to hunt coyotes at night during the open 
season established in section 12001, subsection 1 to a person who is eligible to obtain 
a permit under subsection 2, paragraph A, for a fee of $4. 
B.  The commissioner shall issue a permit to hunt coyotes at night during the open 
season established in section 12001, subsection 1-A to a person who is eligible to 
obtain a permit under subsection 2-B for a fee established by the commissioner by 
rule. Rules adopted pursuant to this paragraph are routine technical rules as defined in 
Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. 
Sec. 2.  12 MRSA §12001, sub-§1-A is enacted to read: 
1-A.  Coyote hunting from September to December.  Notwithstanding the night 
hunting prohibitions in section 11206, there is an open season for hunting coyotes at night 
in all counties of the State from September 1st to December 15th. Hunting coyotes 
pursuant to this subsection must occur at fixed bait locations and under the supervision of 
a game warden in accordance with rules adopted by the commissioner. Rules adopted 
pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, 
subchapter 2-A. 
SUMMARY 
This bill establishes a night hunting season for coyotes from September 1st to 
December 15th. Hunting coyotes at night during this season must be at fixed bait 
locations and under the supervision of a game warden. It allows a client of a licensed 
guide who holds a permit to participate in night hunting of coyotes during this season 
without obtaining a permit.