5. Hunting or trapping bear near dumps. The commissioner, or the commissioner's agent, shall establish a line of demarcation at least 200 500 yards from sites permitted or licensed for the disposal of solid waste. A person is guilty of hunting or trapping bear near dumps if that person hunts, traps, molests or harasses bear or releases dogs for the purpose of hunting bear within this area. The commissioner, or the commissioner's agent, is exempt from this prohibition for the purpose of live trapping nuisance bears.

Sec. 13. 12 MRSA §7456, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1979, c. 420, §1, is repealed.

Sec. 14. 12 MRSA §7457, sub-§1, ¶¶B and C, as enacted by PL 1979, c. 420, §1, are repealed.

Sec. 15. 12 MRSA §7457, sub-§1, ¶D, as amended by PL 1999, c. 636, §2 and affected by §6, is repealed.

Sec. 16. 12 MRSA §7457, sub-§1, ¶D-1, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 636, §3, is repealed.

Sec. 17. 12 MRSA §7457, sub-§1, ¶F, as enacted by PL 1979, c. 420, §1, is amended to read:

F. The commissioner may terminate the open season on deer at any time in any area if, in his the commissioner's opinion, an immediate emergency action is necessary due to adverse weather conditions or severe hunting pressure. The commissioner may extend the open season on deer as the commissioner considers necessary to manage the deer population.

Sec. 18. 12 MRSA §7457, sub-§1, ¶H, as amended by PL 2001, c. 690, Pt. A, §8 and affected by §18, is further amended to read:

H. The commissioner may regulate the taking of antlerless deer within any area of the State, as necessary, to maintain deer populations in balance with available habitat if the following conditions are met.

(1) The demarcation of each area must follow recognizable physical boundaries such as rivers, roads and railroad rights-of-way.

(2) The determination must be made and published prior to August 1st of each year.