An Act To Create a Local Option for a Sunday Exception Allowing Deer Hunting with Rifles
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 0694
Committee Amendment CA_A_H311 (House)
Amends: 12 MRSA §10501, 12 MRSA §11205, 12 MRSA §11251, 12 MRSA §11402, 12 MRSA §11701, 12 MRSA §11851

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT «A" to H.P. 485, L.D. 694, Bill, "An Act To Create 
a Local Option for a Sunday Exception Allowing Deer Hunting with Rifles" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'An Act To Establish Youth Hunting Weekends' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the 
summary and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §10501, sub-§9, as amended by PL 2003, c. 511, §1 and 
affected by §3 and c. 614, §§9 and 10, is further amended to read: 
9. Possession of hunting equipment on Sunday. Possession of hunting equipment 
in the fields or forests or on the waters or ice in the State on Sunday is prima facie 
evidence of a violation of section 11205, unless: 
A. The hunting equipment is carried, securely wrapped, in a complete cover; 
B. The hunting equipment is fastened in a case; et' 
C, The hunting equipment is carried in at least 2 separate pieces in such a manner 
that it can not be fired, unless the separate pieces are joined together. For the purpose 
of this subsection, a clip, magazine or cylinder of a firearm may not be considered a 
piece of the hunting equipment. Bows and arrows must be kept in a case or cover if 
broadheads or field points are kept attached to the arrows._;_m: 
D. The hunting equipment is carried by a person authorized to hunt on Sunday 
during a youth hunting weekend in accordance with rules adopted by the 
commissioner pursuant to sections 11251, 11402, 11701 and 11851. 
Sec. 2. 
MRSA §11205, sub-§1, as affected by PL 2003, c. 614, §9 and 
amended by c. 655, Pt. B, §137 and affected by §422, is further amended to read: 
1. 
Prohibition. 
A Except as provided by rules adopted by the commissioner 
pursuant to sections 11251, 11402, 11701 and 11851, a person may not: 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
\\,ti$,. 
COMMIITEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 485, L.D. 694 
A. Hunt wild animals or wild birds on Sunday; or 
B. Possess any wild animal or wild bird taken in violation of paragraph A except as 
otherwise provided in this Part. 
Sec. 3. 12 MRSA §11251, as amended by PL 2015, c. 79, §1, is further amended 
to read: 
§11251. Open and closed seasons 
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 teohnioal rules as defined in Title 5, ohapter 375, subohapter 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. 
2. Youth bear hunting weekend. There is a youth hunting Eley weekend for hunting 
bear without a dog or dogs on the Saturday weekend prior to the opening day of the bear 
hunting season established under subsection 1, paragraph A. A person who holds a valid 
junior hunting license may hunt bear with a firearm, bow and arrow or crossbow during 
youth bear hunting day weekend. An adult supervisor, parent or guardian accompanying 
a youth on youth bear hunting day weekend may not possess a firearm, bow and arrow or 
crossbow while the youth is participating in the bear hunt. A person who holds a valid 
junior hunting license may hunt on a Sunday on a youth hunting weekend under rules 
adopted pursuant to this section only on land for which the landowner has provided the 
person written pe1mission to hunt on Sunday. The person must have in the person's 
possession the written permission of the landowner while hunting on Sunday under this 
subsection. 
Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, 
chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. 
Sec. 4. 
MRSA §11402, sub-§4, as affected by PL 2003, c. 614, §9 and 
amended by c. 655, Pt. B, §169 and affected by §422, is further amended to read: 
4. Rule. The commissioner by rule may: 
A. Open any of the areas closed to deer hunting under subsection 3, as long as the 
legislative body of each affected town approves the opening. For purposes of this 
subsection, "affected town" means a town, township or municipality that contains 
within its borders any area proposed to be opened under this paragraph; and 
B. Create special hunting seasons for the taking of deer in any part of the State to 
maintain deer populations in balance with available habitat, subject to the provisions 
of this paragraph. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITIEE AMENDMENT"~ "to H.P. 485, L.D. 694 
(1) The demarcation of each area must follow recognizable physical boundaries, 
such as rivers, roads and railroad rights-of-way. 
(3) The commissioner may establish limits on the number of deer taken or 
possessed by persons during a special season. 
Limits established by the 
commissioner under this subparagraph are exceptions to the limits imposed under 
section 11501. 
(4) The commissioner may specify types of weapons to be used during a special 
s easo n,j--a-H-El ~ 
C. Establish a youth deer hunting day. 
Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, 
chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. 
Sec. 5. 12 MRSA §11402, sub-§5 is enacted to read: 
5. 
Youth weekend. The commissioner shall establish by rule a youth hunting 
weekend for hunting deer. A person who holds a valid junior hunting license may hunt on 
a Sunday on a youth hunting weekend under rules adopted pursuant to this subsection 
only on land for which the landowner has provided the person written permission to hunt 
on Sunday. The person must have in the person's possession the written permission of the 
landowner while hunting on Sunday under this subsection. Rules adopted pursuant to this 
subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 51 chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. 
Sec. 6. 12 MRSA §11701, as amended by PL 2015, c. 127, §§4 and 5 and affected 
by §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. The rules must permit the use of 
a crossbow during the spring open wild turkey hunting season. 
1. Spring season. The commissioner shall establish by rule a spring open season for 
hunting wild turkeys. Unless the commissioner determines that sound management 
principles require otherwise, the rule must allow during the spring open season for 
hunting wild turkeys: 
A. A person to take up to 2 wild turkeys without any additional fee for the taking of 
the 2nd wild turkey; 
B. A person to hunt from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset; and 
C. A person to hunt wild turkeys using a crossbow, in addition to any other weapons 
allowed by the rule. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
~,,. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT"~" to H.P. 485, L.D. 694 
2. Fall seasons. Beginning with the 2016 fall open season, the commissioner shall 
establish by rule 2 fall open seasons for hunting wild turkeys. Unless the commissioner 
determines that sound management principles require otherwise, the rule must establish 2 
fall open seasons that include the month of October and a week in the month of 
November and allow a person to take up to a total of 2 wild turkeys over both seasons 
regardless of sex without any additional fee for the taking of a 2nd wild turkey. 
3. Youth weekend. The commissioner shall establish by rule a spring youth hunting 
day weekend for hunting wild turkeys from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after 
sunset each day. The day weekend must be the Saturday weekend prior to the opening of 
the spring open season for hunting wild turkeys under subsection 1. A person who holds 
a valid junior hunting license may hunt on a Sunday on a youth hunting weekend under 
rules adopted pursuant to this subsection only on land for which the landowner has 
provided the person written permission to hunt on Sunday. The person must have in the 
person's possession the written permission of the landowner while hunting on Sunday 
under this subsection. 
4. Penalty. 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. 
A person who violates this seetion commits a Class E crime for vthich 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 $5 00 for each tmkey unlawfully possessed, none of ·which may be 
suspended. 
Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, 
chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. 
Sec, 7. 12 MRSA §11851, sub-§4 is enacted to read: 
4. 
Youth weekend. The commissioner shall establish by rule a youth hunting 
weekend for hunting migratory waterfowl. A person who holds a valid junior hunting 
license may hunt on a Sunday on a youth hunting weekend under rules adopted pursuant 
to this subsection only on land for which the landowner has provided the person written 
pe1mission to hunt on Sunday. The person must have in the person's possession the 
written permission of the landowner while hunting on Sunday under this subsection. 
Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, 
chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
SUMMARY 
The bill allows, with certain restrictions, any person to hunt on Sunday. 
This 
amendment, which is the minority report of the committee, replaces the bill and directs 
the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to establish annual youth bear, deer, 
wild turkey and migratory waterfowl hunting weekends. A person who holds a valid 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITIEE AMENDMENT'A" to H.P. 485, L.D. 694 
junior hunting license may hunt on Sunday with the written permission of the landowner. 
The person must have in the person's possession the written permission of the landowner. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 04/30/17 fe'ac 
LD694 
LR 379(02) 
An Act To Create a Local Option for a Sunday Exception Allowing Deer Hunting with Rifles 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment '~' { H-311' 
Committee: Inland Fisheries and Wildlife 
) 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost impact - General Fund 
Minor revenue decrease - General Fund 
Correctional and Judicial Impact Statements 
Eliminates Class E crimes. 
A reduction in fines will decrease General Fund revenue by minor amounts. 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
This bill directs the commissioner to establish annual weekends prior to the bear, deer, wild turkey and migratory 
waterfowl hunting seasons during which a youth hunter may hunt on Sundays with the landowners written permission. 
Any additional costs to the Department ofinland Fisheries and Wildlife as a result of the youth hunting weekends 
establishment and the Sunday hunting provisions are anticipated to be minor and can be absorbed within existing 
budgeted resources. 
LR0379(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1