| B.__The dog or dogs are used by the department or pursuant | to a permit granted by the department to an accredited | university for scientific or research purposes, but in no | event for the purpose of killing bear. |
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| | 3.__Penalty.__A person who violates this section is guilty of | hounding. |
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| A.__Hounding is a Class D crime for the first offense. |
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| B.__Hounding is a Class C crime for a 2nd or subsequent | offense. |
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| | Sec. 7. 12 MRSA §11303, sub-§2, as affected by PL 2003, c. 614, §9 and | repealed and replaced by c. 655, Pt. B, §160 and affected by | §422, is amended to read. |
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| | 2. Prohibition. A person may not within the area described | in subsection 1: |
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| C. Molest or harass a bear; or. |
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| D. Release dogs for the purpose of hunting a bear. |
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| The commissioner, or the commissioner's agent, is exempt from | this prohibition for the purpose of live-trapping nuisance bears. |
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| | Sec. 8. 12 MRSA §11304, first ¶, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, | §2 and affected by c. 614, §9, is amended to read: |
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| | A person may not, without the permission of the person | conducting the hunt, kill or wound a bear that is treed or held | at bay by another person's dog or dogs person. |
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| | Sec. 9. 12 MRSA §11351, sub-§1, as affected by PL 2003, c. 614, §9 and | amended by c. 655, Pt. B, §162 and affected by §422, is further | amended to read: |
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| | 1. Hunting bear after having killed one. A person may not | hunt or trap bear after that person has killed or registered one | during any open season. |
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| | Sec. 10. 12 MRSA §12260, as affected by PL 2003, c. 614, §9 and | amended by c. 655, Pt. B, §§222 to 224 and affected by §422, is | repealed. |
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