An Act To Double the Number of Moose Permits Available for Auction by Conservation Organizations
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 0695
Committee: Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Sponsors: MARTIN, JACKSON, ALLEY, POULIOT, STANLEY, THERIAULT
Amends: 12 MRSA §11154

Legislative Document
No. 695
H.P. 486
House of Representatives, February 28, 2017
An Act To Double the Number of Moose Permits Available for 
Auction by Conservation Organizations
Reference to the Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife suggested and ordered 
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative MARTIN of Sinclair.
Cosponsored by Senator JACKSON of Aroostook and
Representatives: ALLEY of Beals, POULIOT of Augusta, STANLEY of Medway, 
THERIAULT of China.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  12 MRSA §11154, sub-§11, as amended by PL 2011, c. 370, §9, is 
further amended to read: 
11.   Auction of moose hunting permits to fund youth conservation education 
programs.  Notwithstanding subsection 1, the commissioner may issue not more than 10 
moose hunting permits each year through public auction in accordance with this 
subsection. 
A.  Each moose hunting permit issued under this subsection must be awarded through 
public auction to the applicant who submits the highest bid. 
B.  A person who applies for a moose hunting permit under this subsection is subject 
to the eligibility provisions of subsection 5, except that a successful applicant is not 
required to wait 3 years in order to obtain another permit. 
C.  An eligible person wishing to apply for a permit under this subsection must 
submit a written application in such form as the commissioner may require.  The 
application must be accompanied by a bidding fee of $25, which, except as otherwise 
provided in paragraph D, is nonrefundable.  The commissioner may waive the 
requirements of this paragraph when, as provided in paragraph G, the commissioner 
enters into a contract with a conservation organization to auction the permits. 
D.  An eligible person may apply for a moose hunting permit both through the public 
chance drawing and in accordance with this subsection.  If a person is selected to 
receive a moose hunting permit as a result of the public chance drawing, that person 
is no longer eligible to obtain a permit under this subsection and the bidding fee 
submitted by that person must be refunded. 
E.  A moose hunting permit issued under this subsection is valid in the district 
designated by the permittee.  This designation must be made within 30 days after the 
permit is awarded. 
F.  A person who is awarded a moose hunting permit under this subsection may select 
a subpermittee to participate in the moose hunt as provided in subsection 7. 
G.  The commissioner may enter into a contract with a conservation organization 
whose goals and objectives are not inconsistent with those of the department to 
advertise this process of issuing permits, auction the permits and collect revenues. 
H.  Except as otherwise provided, the provisions of this Part relating to moose are 
applicable to the hunting of moose with a permit awarded under this subsection. 
I.  The commissioner may adopt rules necessary for the proper administration, 
implementation, enforcement and interpretation of this subsection.  Rules adopted 
pursuant to this paragraph are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 
375, subchapter 2-A. 
J.  Notwithstanding this subsection, the total number of moose hunting permits issued 
each year must be in accordance with section 11552, subsection 2. 
K.  The commissioner may decline to issue any permit or any number of permits 
issuable pursuant to this subsection if, in the commissioner's opinion, the auction bids 
received do not reflect the public value anticipated to meet the goals of this 
subsection.  Any permit or permits not issued under this subsection must be drawn in 
the public chance drawing pursuant to subsection 9. 
Sec. 2.  12 MRSA §11154, sub-§11, ¶L is enacted to read: 
L.  The commissioner shall disburse at least 50% of the revenues received under 
paragraph G to one or more conservation organizations for the purpose of operating a 
youth day camp. 
SUMMARY 
This bill doubles the number of moose permits for auction by conservation 
organizations from 10 permits to 20 permits and directs the Commissioner of Inland 
Fisheries and Wildlife to disburse at least 50% of the revenue from the auction to 
conservation organizations for the purpose of operating youth day camps.