An Act to Preserve Maine's Sporting Heritage and Enhance Sporting Opportunities for Maine's Youth by Allowing Maine's Youth to Hunt on Sunday
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 0626
Committee: Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Sponsors: ARDELL, ALBERT, BABIN, HAGGAN
Amends: 12 MRSA §10501, 12 MRSA §11205

Legislative Document
No. 626
H.P. 403
House of Representatives, February 14, 2023
An Act to Preserve Maine's Sporting Heritage and Enhance 
Sporting Opportunities for Maine's Youth by Allowing Maine's 
Youth to Hunt on Sunday
Reference to the Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife suggested and ordered 
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative ARDELL of Monticello.
Cosponsored by Representatives: ALBERT of Madawaska, BABIN of Fort Fairfield, 
HAGGAN of Hampden.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  12 MRSA §10501, sub-§9, ¶B, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 
and affected by c. 614, §9, is amended to read:
B.  The hunting equipment is fastened in a case; or
Sec. 2.  12 MRSA §10501, sub-§9, ¶C, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 
and affected by c. 614, §9, is amended to read:
C.  The hunting equipment is carried in at least 2 separate pieces in such a manner that 
it can not cannot 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.;
Sec. 3.  12 MRSA §10501, sub-§9, ¶D is enacted to read:
D.  The hunting equipment is carried by a person hunting pursuant to section 11205, 
subsection 1-A; or
Sec. 4.  12 MRSA §10501, sub-§9, ¶E is enacted to read:
E.  The hunting equipment is carried by a person supervising a person hunting in 
accordance with the requirements of section 11108-C and the supervised person is 
hunting pursuant to section 11205, subsection 1-A.
Sec. 5.  12 MRSA §11205, sub-§1, ¶A, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 
and affected by c. 614, §9, is amended to read:
A.  Hunt wild animals or wild birds on Sunday, except as provided in subsection 1-A; 
or
Sec. 6.  12 MRSA §11205, sub-§1-A is enacted to read:
1-A.  Hunting allowed on Sunday.  A person who holds a valid junior hunting license, 
a person who is under 18 years of age and holds a valid hunting license or a person 18 years 
of age who is enrolled in secondary school and holds a valid hunting license may hunt wild 
animals or wild birds on private land on Sunday with written consent from the landowner 
subject to all other requirements, laws and rules governing hunting. The department shall 
adopt rules to implement this subsection. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are 
routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
SUMMARY
This bill allows licensed persons under 18 years of age who hold a valid hunting license 
or a valid junior hunting license and persons 18 years of age who hold a valid hunting 
license and are enrolled in secondary school to hunt wild animals and wild birds on private 
land on Sundays with the landowner’s written permission. The bill directs the Department 
of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to establish rules to implement these provisions.