HP0756, LD 1020, item 1, 125th Maine State Legislature
An Act To Allow a Spring Bear Hunting Season

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An Act To Allow a Spring Bear Hunting Season
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §11151, sub-§1, as affected by PL 2003, c. 614, §9 and amended by c. 655, Pt. B, §118 and affected by §422, is further amended to read:
 
1. Permit required.  ~~Except as otherwise authorized pursuant to this Part, a~~A person may ~~not~~ hunt for bear ~~without~~with a valid permit from the 3rd Monday in May to the 4th Saturday in June and from the first Monday preceding September 1st to the day preceding the open firearm season on deer. This section does not apply to trapping for bear.
 
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.
Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §11251, sub-§1, ¶A, as affected by PL 2003, c. 614, §9 and amended by c. 655, Pt. B, §155 and affected by §422, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
 
A.  There are open seasons on hunting bear from:
 
(1) The 3rd Monday in May to the 4th Saturday in June annually; and
 
(2) The first Monday preceding September 1st to November 30th annually.
 
The commissioner may, pursuant to section 10104, subsection 1, adopt rules prohibiting the use of bait to hunt black bear during any portion of the open bear hunting seasons. Rules adopted pursuant to this paragraph are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
Sec. 3. 12 MRSA §11251, sub-§1, ¶D, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 and affected by c. 614, §9, is amended to read:
 
D.  The commissioner may terminate the open ~~season~~seasons on bear as established in paragraphs A and B at any time in any part of the State if, in the commissioner's opinion, an immediate emergency action is necessary due to adverse weather conditions or severe hunting or trapping pressure.
Sec. 4. 12 MRSA §11301, sub-§1, ¶E, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 and affected by c. 614, §9, is amended to read:
 
E.  The bait is placed not more than 30 days before the opening day of ~~the~~a season and not after October 31st of the fall season and not after June 4th of the spring season;
Sec. 5. 12 MRSA §11301, sub-§1, ¶F, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 and affected by c. 614, §9, is amended to read:
 
F.  The bait areas will be cleaned up by November 10th of the fall season and by June 11th of the spring season, as defined by the state litter laws; and
 
SUMMARY
This bill establishes a spring season on hunting bear from the 3rd Monday in May to the 4th Saturday in June.

HP0756, LR 914, item 1,First Regular Session - 125th Maine Legislature, page