An Act To Amend the Laws Pertaining to the Hunting of Bear
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 1474
Committee: Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Sponsors: HARLOW, BOLAND, BOLDUC, CHIPMAN, KAENRATH, MORRISON
Amends: 12 MRSA §10260, 12 MRSA §10902, 12 MRSA §11109, 12 MRSA §11111, 12 MRSA §11217, 12 MRSA §11228, 12 MRSA §11229, 12 MRSA §11251, 12 MRSA §11301, 12 MRSA §11302, 12 MRSA §11302-A, 12 MRSA §11303, 12 MRSA §11304, 12 MRSA §11351, 12 MRSA §12051, 12 MRSA §12201, 12 MRSA §12204, 12 MRSA §12259-A, 12 MRSA §12260, 12 MRSA §12260-A, 12 MRSA §12954

Legislative Document 
No. 1474 
H.P. 1055 
House of Representatives, April 30, 2013 
An Act To Amend the Laws Pertaining to the Hunting of Bear 
Reference to the Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife suggested and ordered 
printed. 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative HARLOW of Portland. 
Cosponsored by Representatives: BOLAND of Sanford, BOLDUC of Auburn, CHIPMAN of 
Portland, KAENRATH of South Portland, MORRISON of South Portland. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  12 MRSA §10260, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 168, §1 and affected by §8, 
is amended to read: 
§10260.  Black Bear Research Fund 
The Black Bear Research 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 studies related to the management of black bears.  Revenue from the 
nonresident late season bear hunting permit under section 11151-A and the bear trapping 
permit under 12260-A must be deposited in the fund.  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. 
Sec. 2.  12 MRSA §10902, sub-§6, ¶E, as repealed and replaced by PL 2011, c. 
691, Pt. A, §7, is amended to read: 
E.  Buying or selling bear, hunting or trapping bear after having killed 2 one or 
exceeding the bag limit on bear, in violation of section 11217, or 11351 or 12260; 
Sec. 3.  12 MRSA §11109, sub-§3, ¶N, as amended by PL 2005, c. 12, Pt. III, §4, 
is further amended to read: 
N.  A license to use leashed dogs to track wounded animals, which permits a person 
to use one or more leashed dogs to track a lawfully wounded deer, or moose or bear, 
is $27. 
Sec. 4.  12 MRSA §11111, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §117 and affected 
by §422, is amended to read: 
§11111.  Tracking wounded animals with leashed dogs; fee for services 
A person who holds a valid license issued under section 11109, subsection 3, 
paragraph N to use leashed dogs to track wounded bear, deer or moose may charge a fee 
for dog tracking services. Notwithstanding section 10001, subsection 28, a person is not a 
guide if the only services that person charges a fee for are dog tracking services pursuant 
to this section. 
Sec. 5.  12 MRSA §11217, sub-§1, as affected by PL 2003, c. 614, §9 and 
amended by c. 655, Pt. B, §150 and affected by §422, is further amended to read: 
1.  Prohibition against buying and selling bear, deer, moose or wild turkey.  
Except as provided in subsection 2, a person may not: 
A.  Buy, sell or offer for sale or barter a: 
(1)  Bear; 
(2)  Deer; 
(3)  Moose; or 
(4)  Wild turkey; or 
B.  Aid in buying, selling or offering for sale or bartering a: 
(1)  Bear; 
(2)  Deer; 
(3)  Moose; or 
(4)  Wild turkey.; or 
D.  Buy, sell, offer for sale, barter or possess for purposes of sale or barter, any part 
of a bear except the head, teeth and hide, including, but not limited to, the gall 
bladder, paws and claws.  Possession of a bear part, other than the head, teeth and 
hide, without the corresponding bear carcass and a valid bear tag is prima facie 
evidence of possession for purposes of sale or barter. 
Sec. 6.  12 MRSA §11217, sub-§2, ¶A, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 
and affected by c. 614, §9, is amended to read: 
A.    The head, teeth, gall bladder, claws and hide of a bear; 
Sec. 7.  12 MRSA §11228, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 2011, c. 432, §2, is amended 
to read: 
1.  Collar required.  A person may not hunt with a dog in pursuit of bear, coyote or 
bobcat unless the dog has a collar that legibly provides the name, telephone number and 
address of the owner of that dog.  
A.  A person who violates this subsection commits a civil violation for which a fine 
of not less than $100 or more than $500 may be adjudged. 
B.  A person who violates this subsection after having been adjudicated as having 
committed 3 or more civil violations under this Part within the previous 5-year period 
commits a Class E crime. 
Sec. 8.  12 MRSA §11229 is enacted to read: 
§11229.  Bear poaching by prior offender 
1.   Definition.  For purposes of this section, "bear poaching" means any violation of 
section 11201, subsection 2, former section 11302, section 11302-A or 12259-A; or of 
section 11204, 11206, 11215, 11224, 11351 or 12051 when the targeted species or 
species involved in the violation is a bear. 
2.  Penalty.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a person who commits bear 
poaching after having been convicted of bear poaching on a separate occasion within the 
past 15 years commits a Class C crime for which the court shall impose a sentencing 
alternative involving a term of imprisonment of not less than 30 days, none of which may 
be suspended; the court also shall impose a fine of not less than $1,000, none of which 
may be suspended. 
Sec. 9.  12 MRSA §11251, sub-§1, as affected by PL 2003, c. 614, §9 and 
amended by c. 655, Pt. B, §155 and affected by §422, is further amended to read: 
1.  Open season on bear; commissioner's authority.  This subsection governs the 
open and closed seasons on bear. 
A.  There is an open season on hunting bear from the first Monday preceding 
September 1st to November 30th annually.  The commissioner may, pursuant to 
section 10104, subsection 1, adopt rules prohibiting the use of bait to hunt black bear 
during any portion of the open bear hunting season.  Rules adopted pursuant to this 
paragraph are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-
A. 
B.  There is an open season on using a dog or dogs in conjunction with bear hunting 
from the first Monday preceding September 1st to the day preceding the open firearm 
season on deer provided in sections 11401 and 11402. 
C.  The commissioner may shorten the open seasons season on bear as established in 
paragraphs paragraph A and B in any part of the State as long as: 
(1)  The demarcation of the areas with a shortened season follows recognizable 
physical boundaries such as rivers and railroad rights-of-way; and 
(2)  The decision is made and published prior to February 1st of any year. 
D.  The commissioner may terminate the open season on bear as established in 
paragraphs paragraph A and B at any time in any part of the State if, in the 
commissioner's opinion, an immediate emergency action is necessary due to adverse 
weather conditions or severe hunting or trapping pressure. 
E.  There is a closed season on hunting bear from January 1st until July 31st annually. 
Sec. 10.  12 MRSA §11301, sub-§1, as repealed and replaced by PL 2011, c. 691, 
Pt. A, §9, is amended to read: 
1.  Bear baiting.  A person may not place bait to entice, hunt or trap attract black 
bear, unless: 
A.  The bait is placed at least 50 yards from a travel way that is accessible by a 
conventional 2-wheel-drive or 4-wheel-drive vehicle; 
B.  The stand, blind or bait area is plainly labeled with a 2-inch-by-4-inch tag with 
the name and address of the baiter; 
C.  The bait is placed more than 500 yards from a site permitted or licensed for the 
disposal of solid waste or a campground; 
D.  The bait is placed more than 500 yards from an occupied dwelling, unless written 
permission is granted by the owner or lessee; 
E.  The bait is placed not more than 30 days before the opening day of the season and 
not after October 31st; 
F.  The bait areas will be cleaned up by November 10th, as defined by the state litter 
laws; and 
G.  The person hunting from a stand or blind of another person has permission of the 
owner of that stand or blind. 
A person may not use bait to hunt or trap black bear without the oral or written 
permission of the landowner. 
Sec. 11.  12 MRSA §11302, as amended by PL 2009, c. 550, §4, is repealed. 
Sec. 12.  12 MRSA §11302-A is enacted to read: 
§11302-A.  Hunting bear with dogs 
1.  Hunting bear with dogs; prohibited.  A person may not use one or more dogs to 
hunt or pursue bear, except as provided in subsection 2. 
2.  Exceptions.  The use of one or more dogs to hunt or pursue bear is lawful when 
the dog or dogs are used: 
A.  By a state or federal employee, acting in the state or federal employee's official 
capacity, to pursue a specific offending bear for purposes of protecting and in 
response to a bona fide threat to livestock, domestic animals, threatened or 
endangered wildlife, public or private property or public safety; or 
B.  By the department, or pursuant to a permit granted by the department to an 
accredited university, for scientific or research purposes, but not for the killing of 
bear. 
Sec. 13.  12 MRSA §11303, sub-§2, as affected by PL 2003, c. 614, §9 and 
repealed and replaced by c. 655, Pt. B, §160 and affected by §422, is amended to read: 
2.  Prohibition.  A person may not within the area described in subsection 1: 
A.  Hunt bear; or 
B.  Trap bear; 
C.  Molest or harass a bear; or. 
D.  Release dogs for the purpose of hunting a bear. 
The commissioner, or the commissioner's agent, is exempt from this prohibition for the 
purpose of live-trapping nuisance bears. 
Sec. 14.  12 MRSA §11304, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 and affected 
by Pt. D, §7 and c. 614, §9 and amended by c. 655, Pt. B, §161 and affected by §422, is 
repealed. 
Sec. 15.  12 MRSA §11351, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2011, c. 309, §2, is 
further amended to read: 
1.  Hunting bear; one-bear limit.  A person may not hunt or trap bear after that 
person has killed or registered one during an open season under section 11251 and one 
during the open season on trapping bear under section 12260. 
Sec. 16.  12 MRSA §11351, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2011, c. 309, §3, is 
further amended to read: 
2.  Exceeding bag limit on bears.  A person may not possess more than 2 bears one 
bear in any calendar year, except a person may keep more than one legally obtained bear 
in that person's home or as otherwise provided in law.  
Sec. 17.  12 MRSA §12051, sub-§1, ¶C, as amended by PL 2011, c. 309, §4, is 
repealed. 
Sec. 18.  12 MRSA §12201, sub-§2, ¶C, as amended by PL 2009, c. 69, §2, is 
further amended to read: 
C.  A resident under 10 years of age may trap all legal species, except bear, without a 
license. 
Sec. 19.  12 MRSA §12201, sub-§7, ¶A, as amended by PL 2009, c. 69, §3, is 
further amended to read: 
A.    A person under 10 years of age may not trap unless that person is accompanied 
at all times while trapping by a parent or guardian or by an adult at least 18 years of 
age approved by a parent or guardian.  A person under 10 years of age may not trap 
bear. 
Sec. 20.  12 MRSA §12204, sub-§7, as enacted by PL 2011, c. 51, §1, is repealed. 
Sec. 21.  12 MRSA §12259-A is enacted to read: 
§12259-A.  Trapping bear 
1.  Trapping bear; prohibited.  A person may not use or set a trap to hunt or capture 
bear, except as provided in subsection 2. 
2.  Exceptions.  The use of a trap to hunt or capture bear is lawful when the trap is 
used: 
A.  By a state or federal employee, acting in the state or federal employee's official 
capacity, to hunt or capture a specific offending bear for purposes of protecting and in 
response to a bona fide threat to livestock, domestic animals, threatened or 
endangered wildlife, public or private property or public safety; or 
B.  By the department, or pursuant to a permit granted by the department to an 
accredited university, for scientific or research purposes, but not for the purpose of 
killing bear. 
3.  Violation.  A person who uses or sets a trap to hunt or capture bear in violation of 
subsection 1 commits a Class E crime. 
Sec. 22.  12 MRSA §12260, as amended by PL 2011, c. 309, §§5 and 6, is 
repealed. 
Sec. 23.  12 MRSA §12260-A, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 168, §7 and affected by 
§8, is repealed. 
Sec. 24.  12 MRSA §12954, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 and 
affected by c. 614, §9, is amended to read: 
2.  Issuance. The commissioner may issue a hide dealer's license permitting a person 
to commercially: 
A.    Buy, sell, barter, take in trade or take in exchange for any services rendered any 
raw, untanned wild animal hide or head or the gall bladder from any bear; and 
B.    Aid or assist another in buying, selling or bartering raw, untanned hides or heads 
of wild animals or bear gall bladders. 
Sec. 25.  12 MRSA §12954, sub-§4-A, ¶A, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, 
§348 and affected by §422, is amended to read: 
A.  A licensee shall: 
(1)  Keep a true and complete record, in such form as is required by the 
commissioner, of all heads, and hides and bear gall bladders purchased; and 
(2)  File that record with the commissioner on or before June 30th of each year. 
Sec. 26.  12 MRSA §12954, sub-§6, ¶A, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 
and affected by c. 614, §9, is amended to read: 
A.  A person who lawfully possesses a deer, moose or bear or lawfully possesses a 
fur-bearing animal may sell, without a license, the hide, or head or gall bladder of 
that animal. 
SUMMARY 
This bill prohibits, with certain exceptions, hunting bear with dogs and trapping bear.  
The bill also sets a permanent closed season on bear hunting from January 1st through 
July 31st and decreases the bear bag limit from 2 to one.  In addition, the bill prohibits the 
trade in bear gall bladders and imposes increased penalties for bear poaching for repeat 
offenders.