An Act To Restore Hunting Rights in the Katahdin Lake Region

Emergency preamble. Whereas,  acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and

Whereas,  hunting was a traditional use on the lands surrounding Katahdin Lake until the transfer of these lands for inclusion in Baxter State Park; and

Whereas,  these lands have been closed to hunting for 4 years; and

Whereas,  the season for hunting game begins before the expiration of the 90-day period; and

Whereas,  in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Sec. 1. Baxter State Park Authority to allow hunting on certain lands. The Baxter State Park Authority shall allow hunting on an approximately 4,040-acre parcel of land located in the northwestern quadrant of Township 3, Range 8, W.E.L.S. and commonly referred to as "the Katahdin Lake parcel." On December 13, 2006, Gardner Land Company, Inc. of the Town of Lincoln transferred the Katahdin Lake parcel by a quitclaim deed with covenant to the Baxter State Park Authority for inclusion in Baxter State Park. The boundaries of the Katahdin Lake parcel are found in Exhibit A of the deed recorded on December 13, 2006 with the Penobscot County Registry of Deeds in Book 10761, Page 286.

Sec. 2. Adoption of rules; revision to policies. The Baxter State Park Authority shall revise any rules adopted under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 12, section 903 or any policies adopted by the authority that prohibit hunting on the Katahdin Lake parcel pursuant to section 1. Any necessary revisions must be in effect no later than October 1, 2011. The general laws of the State pertaining to hunting and trapping apply to the Katahdin Lake parcel, except that the Baxter State Park Authority may adopt rules that prohibit moose hunting, the baiting of animals for hunting purposes and hunting with dogs. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.

SUMMARY

This bill directs the Baxter State Park Authority to allow hunting on the approximately 4,040-acre parcel surrounding Katahdin Lake that was transferred to the authority for inclusion in the park in December 2006. It allows the authority to place restrictions on certain types of hunting through rulemaking.