An Act To Amend the Laws Governing Deer Hunting and To Extend the Coyote Hunting Season
Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §11401, sub-§1, ¶A, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 and affected by c. 614, §9, is amended to read:
Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §11401, sub-§1, ¶B, as affected by PL 2003, c. 614, §9 and amended by c. 655, Pt. B, §168 and affected by §422, is further amended to read:
(1) The demarcation of the areas with the shortened season follows recognizable physical boundaries, such as rivers and railroad rights-of-way; and
(3) The Saturday preceding the first day of open season on deer is an open day only for residents of the State only and nonresidents who own 25 or more acres of land in this State and keep that land open to hunting.
Sec. 3. 12 MRSA §12001, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2007, c. 242, §1, is further amended to read:
SUMMARY
This bill allows the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to set December 20th as the ending date for the open season for deer. Current law allows the commissioner to set December 15th as the ending date. The bill allows nonresidents who own 25 or more acres of land in this State and keep that land open to hunting to hunt deer on the Saturday preceding the first day of open season on deer, which is currently reserved for hunting by residents only. The bill expands the open season for hunting coyotes at night from December 20th to August 15th. Current law provides a season that runs from January 1st to June 1st.