2023 Maine Revised Statutes › TITLE 12: CONSERVATION › Part 13: INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE › Subpart 4: FISH AND WILDLIFE › Chapter 915: HUNTING: SEASONS, REQUIREMENTS AND RESTRICTIONS › Subchapter 13: HUNTING DOG TRAINING AND FIELD TRAINING › 12 §12055. License to hold field trials; wild birds

§12055. License to hold field trials; wild birds
(CONTAINS TEXT WITH VARYING EFFECTIVE DATES)
1.  (TEXT EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1/01/24) License required.
A club or organization may not hold field trials as provided under this section unless the club or organization has a valid license issued under this section. Each day a person violates this subsection that person commits a Class E crime for which a minimum fine of $50 and an amount equal to twice the applicable license fee must be imposed.
[PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).]
1.  (TEXT EFFECTIVE 1/01/24) License required.
A club or organization may not hold field trials as provided under this section unless the club or organization has a valid license issued under this section. Each day a person violates this subsection that person commits a civil violation.
[PL 2023, c. 431, §13 (AMD); PL 2023, c. 431, §23 (AFF).]
2.  Application and issuance.
Upon application of a club or organization, the commissioner may, at the commissioner's discretion, issue to the club or organization a license authorizing the following.
A. The licensee may hold, at the time and place stated in the license, a field trial for sporting dogs for the purpose of demonstrating the skill of the dogs in finding, tracking, flushing, pointing or retrieving dead or wounded wild birds.   [PL 2017, c. 205, §10 (AMD).]
B. Members of the licensee club or organization may shoot and kill with firearms wild birds propagated or legally acquired by members of the licensee at the field trial held at the time and place specified in the license.   [PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).]
C. Persons may participate in a field trial pursuant to this section without a hunting license.   [PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).]
A separate application must be filed for each field trial proposed to be held by a club or organization, as described in this section.
[PL 2017, c. 205, §10 (AMD).]
3.  Fee.
The fee for a license to hold field trials for sporting dogs is $27.
[PL 2005, c. 12, Pt. III, §20 (AMD).]
4.  Shooting hours and consent.
Members of the licensee club or organization may not shoot and kill birds, unless it is during the daylight hours and only with the consent of the owner of or person having legal control of the land on which the field trial is held.
[PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).]
5.  Violation of restrictions.
A person may not violate any restriction of a license or permit issued in accordance with this section.
A. A person who violates a license or permit restriction under this section commits a civil violation for which a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $500 may be adjudged.   [PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §198 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §422 (AFF).]
B. A person who violates a license or permit restriction under this section 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.   [PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §198 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §422 (AFF).]
Each day a person violates a license or permit restriction under this section that person commits a separate violation.
[PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF); PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §198 (RPR); PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §422 (AFF).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 2003, c. 414, §A2 (NEW). PL 2003, c. 414, §D7 (AFF). PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF). PL 2003, c. 655, §B198 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 655, §B422 (AFF). PL 2005, c. 12, §III20 (AMD). PL 2017, c. 205, §10 (AMD). PL 2023, c. 431, §13 (AMD). PL 2023, c. 431, §23 (AFF).