An Act To Control the Means of Hunting Coyotes
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 1265
Committee: Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Sponsors: MIRAMANT, WILLIAMS, CHIPMAN, VITELLI, GEIGER, MATHIESON, MILLETT, OSHER
Amends: 7 MRSA §3911, 12 MRSA §10902, 12 MRSA §11160, 12 MRSA §11227, 12 MRSA §11228

Legislative Document
No. 1265
S.P. 416
In Senate, March 29, 2021
An Act To Control the Means of Hunting Coyotes
Received by the Secretary of the Senate on March 25, 2021.  Referred to the Committee on 
Inland Fisheries and Wildlife pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator MIRAMANT of Knox.
Cosponsored by Representative WILLIAMS of Bar Harbor and
Senators: CHIPMAN of Cumberland, VITELLI of Sagadahoc, Representatives: GEIGER of 
Rockland, MATHIESON of Kittery, MILLETT of Cape Elizabeth, OSHER of Orono.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  7 MRSA §3911, as amended by PL 1999, c. 254, §3, is further amended to 
read:
§3911.  Dogs at large
It is unlawful for any dog, licensed or unlicensed, to be at large, except when used for 
hunting.  The owner or keeper of any dog found at large is subject to the penalties provided 
in this chapter.
Sec. 2.  12 MRSA §10902, sub-§7, as affected by PL 2003, c. 614, §9 and amended 
by c. 655, Pt. B, §100 and affected by §422, is further amended to read:
7.  Mandatory hunting license revocation; coyote hunting violation.  A hunting 
license of a person convicted of hunting coyote in violation of section 11160 11206; section 
11227, subsection 8; or 12001 section 11228, subsection 4 must be revoked and that person 
is ineligible to obtain any hunting license for a period of one year from the date of 
conviction.
Sec. 3.  12 MRSA §11160, as corrected by RR 2011, c. 1, §17, is repealed.
Sec. 4.  12 MRSA §11227, sub-§8 is enacted to read:
8.  Prohibition.  A person may not hunt coyote by the use or placement of bait.  A 
person who violates this section commits a civil violation for which a fine of not less than 
$100 or more than $500 may be adjudged.
Sec. 5.  12 MRSA §11228, as enacted by PL 2011, c. 432, §2, is amended to read:
§11228.  Hunting with dogs
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.
2.  Limit on number of dogs.  A person or persons may not use more than 6 dogs at 
any one time to hunt coyotes or bobcats.  A person who violates this subsection commits a 
Class E crime.
3.  Night hunting with dogs.  A person may not use a dog to hunt coyotes during the 
period from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise.  A person who violates 
this subsection commits a Class E crime.
4.  Prohibition.  A person may not hunt with a dog in pursuit of coyote.  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.
Sec. 6.  12 MRSA c. 915, sub-c. 12, as amended, is repealed.
SUMMARY
This bill amends the hunting laws by:
1.  Removing the hunting exception from the prohibition of allowing dogs at large;
2.  Repeals provisions allowing coyote hunting at night and hunting with dogs;
3.  Provides for hunting license revocation for the hunting of coyotes at night, with 
dogs or by the use or placement of bait; and
4.  Prohibits the hunting of coyotes by the use or placement of bait or with dogs.