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 5: BEAR HUNTING › Article 2: HUNTING METHODS SPECIFIC TO BEAR › 12 §11301. Placing of bear bait (WHOLE SECTION TEXT EFFECTIVE 1/01/24)

§11301. Placing of bear bait
(CONTAINS TEXT WITH VARYING EFFECTIVE DATES)
(WHOLE SECTION TEXT EFFECTIVE 1/01/24)
1.  Bear baiting; penalty.
A person may not place bait to entice, hunt or trap black bear, unless:
A. The bait is placed at least 50 yards from a travel way that is accessible by a conventional 2-wheel-drive or 4-wheel-drive vehicle;   [PL 2011, c. 691, Pt. A, §9 (RPR).]
B. The stand, blind or bait area is plainly labeled with a 2-inch-by-4-inch tag with the name and address of the baiter;   [PL 2011, c. 691, Pt. A, §9 (RPR).]
C. The bait is placed more than 500 yards from a site permitted or licensed for the disposal of solid waste or a campground;   [PL 2011, c. 691, Pt. A, §9 (RPR).]
D. The bait is placed more than 500 yards from an occupied dwelling, unless written permission is granted by the owner or lessee;   [PL 2011, c. 691, Pt. A, §9 (RPR).]
E. The bait is placed not more than 30 days before the opening day of the season, and not more than 30 days before the first Monday preceding September 1st and not after October 31st;   [PL 2021, c. 100, §6 (AMD); PL 2021, c. 100, §13 (AFF).]
F. The bait areas will be cleaned up by November 10th, as defined by the state litter laws; and   [PL 2011, c. 691, Pt. A, §9 (RPR).]
G. The person hunting from a stand or blind of another person has permission of the owner of that stand or blind.   [PL 2011, c. 691, Pt. A, §9 (RPR).]
A person may not use bait to hunt or trap black bear without the oral or written permission of the landowner.
A person who violates this subsection commits a civil violation.
[PL 2023, c. 431, §9 (AMD); PL 2023, c. 431, §23 (AFF).]
1-A.  Prohibitions; penalty.
During the open season on hunting bear, a person may not within 50 yards of a bait site established by another person in accordance with section 11227 without the written permission of the person who established the bait site:
A. Hunt, trap, molest or harass bear or release a dog or dogs for the purpose of hunting bear or training dogs to hunt bear.
A person who violates this paragraph commits a Class E crime for which the sentencing alternative may include only the penalties provided in Title 17‑A, section 1704, subsection 5 and Title 17‑A, section 1705, subsection 5; or   [PL 2023, c. 431, §9 (AMD); PL 2023, c. 431, §23 (AFF).]
B. Disturb the bait site through the use of chemicals or take other action intended to interfere with the hunting of bear at the bait site by the person who established the bait site.
A person who violates this paragraph commits a Class E crime for which the sentencing alternative may include only the penalties provided in Title 17‑A, section 1704, subsection 5 and Title 17‑A, section 1705, subsection 5.   [PL 2023, c. 431, §9 (AMD); PL 2023, c. 431, §23 (AFF).]
[PL 2023, c. 431, §9 (AMD); PL 2023, c. 431, §23 (AFF).]
2.  Penalty.
[PL 2023, c. 431, §9 (RP); PL 2023, c. 431, §23 (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, §§B156,157 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 655, §B422 (AFF). PL 2011, c. 253, §19 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 432, §3 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 691, Pt. A, §9 (AMD). PL 2013, c. 280, §6 (AMD). PL 2021, c. 100, §6 (AMD). PL 2021, c. 100, §13 (AFF). PL 2023, c. 431, §9 (AMD). PL 2023, c. 431, §23 (AFF).