An Act Concerning the Taking of Nuisance Animals
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §12402, sub-§3, ¶B, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 and affected by c. 614, §9, is amended to read:
B. In all cases of deer, bear, moose or wild turkey, immediately and properly dress the carcass or carcasses and care for the meat. When the meat is being distributed to recipients authorized under the Hunters for the Hungry Program established in section 10108, subsection 8, the person shall inform the department within 24 hours that the meat is ready to be picked up.
Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §12402, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 and affected by c. 614, §9, is amended to read:
4. Warden's certificate. A game warden shall investigate an incident under this section as soon as possible and, if the game warden is satisfied that the wild animal or wild turkey was taken as provided in this section, give the person who killed the wild animal or wild turkey a certificate that entitles the cultivator, owner commercial farmer, mortgagee or keeper of the orchard or growing crop to own the carcass or carcasses, which may be possessed and consumed only within the immediate family of the cultivator, owner commercial farmer, mortgagee or keeper of the orchard or growing crop, or, in accordance with the labeling requirements for possession of deer, bear, moose or wild turkey, to transfer possession of those wild animals or wild turkeys to another person. Any excess carcasses after the first 2 carcasses of deer, bear, moose or wild turkey or after the first 5 carcasses of deer killed or taken under subsection 1 or 2 must be distributed to recipients authorized through the Hunters for the Hungry Program established in section 10108, subsection 8 or as otherwise authorized by the game warden.
summary
This bill allows a person to kill up to 2 wild animals or wild turkeys or 5 deer annually on that person's property if a game warden issues a permit because of crop damage. If a person kills more than 2 wild animals or wild turkeys or 5 deer, the carcasses of deer, bear, moose or wild turkeys killed or taken must be distributed to recipients authorized through the Hunters for the Hungry Program and the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife must be notified within 24 hours that the meat is ready to be picked up.