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 §12052. Special dog training area license

§12052. Special dog training area license
1.  License required.
Except as otherwise authorized under this Part, a person may not engage in an activity authorized under this section unless that person 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).]
2.  Application and issuance.
Upon application of a club or organization having 25 or more resident members, the commissioner may issue to the club or organization a license authorizing the following.
A. The licensee may establish and maintain on land owned by the licensee, or over which the licensee has legal control, a special dog training area in which and on which dogs may be trained at any time during the year.   [PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).]
B. The licensee may at any time during the year train the licensee's own dogs or the dogs of other persons on that area.   [PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).]
C. The licensee may hold field trials at any time on that area or permit, in writing, others to hold field trials on that area under such conditions as are mutually agreed on.   [PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).]
No more than 8 clubs in any one county may be issued a license.
[PL 2019, c. 65, §1 (AMD).]
3.  Fee.
The fee for a special dog training area license is $27.
[PL 2005, c. 12, Pt. III, §19 (AMD).]
4.  Restrictions.
The following provisions must be observed.
A. Each club licensed under this section may not establish more than 2 special dog training areas, each of which may not be less than 20 acres.   [PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).]
B. A club may not control more than a total of 400 acres.   [PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).]
C. A person shall plainly and conspicuously post the boundary line of a special dog training area with legible notices at least 11 inches square, placed not more than 100 yards apart, that must bear the following warning:
"SPECIAL DOG TRAINING FIELD TRIAL AREA -- HUNTING AND TRAPPING IS UNLAWFUL. This land is set aside under special license for the training of dogs and the holding of field trials. Entering on this land for the purpose of hunting or permitting dogs to enter without proper authorization is prohibited."
The name and address of the licensee must be printed on the notice.   [PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF); PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §194 (AMD); PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §422 (AFF).]
[PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF); PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §194 (AMD); PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §422 (AFF).]
5.  Use of special dog training area other than by licensee.
Unless the area is completely enclosed with rabbit-proof fence, a person not a licensee may train that person's own dogs or the dogs of other persons on a special dog training area under the following conditions.
A. The person shall apply in writing to the licensee and must receive a permit to do so, for which a charge not to exceed $2 may be made, which amount is retained by the licensee.   [PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).]
Unless the special dog training area is completely enclosed by rabbit-proof fence, a licensee's failure to make reasonable provision for the use of that special dog training area by persons not licensees is sufficient grounds for the department to deny a renewal of license.
[PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).]
6.  Stocking by commissioner.
The commissioner may, from time to time during each year, stock wild animals or wild birds at the special dog training area and shall charge the licensees a reasonable price for them.
[PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).]
7.  Stocking by licensee.
This section is not to be construed as authorizing licensees to liberate a wild bird or quadruped coming from outside of the State on a special dog training area.
[PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).]
8.  Violation of license restriction.
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, §195 (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, §195 (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, §195 (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, §§B194,195 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 655, §B422 (AFF). PL 2005, c. 12, §III19 (AMD). PL 2019, c. 65, §1 (AMD).