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An Act To Allow Agents Designated by the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife To Hunt Coyotes at Night during the Deer Hunting Season
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §12001, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2011, c. 216, §1, is further amended to read:
 
1. Coyote hunting.   Notwithstanding the night hunting prohibitions in section 11206, there is an open season for hunting coyotes at night in all counties of the State from December 16th to August 31st.
 
Notwithstanding section 11206, the commissioner may appoint and authorize agents to hunt coyotes at night during any open season on deer and notwithstanding section 11214, subsection 1, paragraph M, the commissioner may appoint agents to hunt for coyotes at night using artificial illumination from September 1st to December 15th. The commissioner shall develop policies to make the affected public and affected law enforcement officers aware of any night hunting operations, including policies that ensure each agent notifies affected landowners of the agent's night hunting activities.
 
SUMMARY
This bill allows the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to appoint and authorize agents to hunt coyotes at night during any open season on deer. The commissioner is required to develop policies to make the affected public and affected law enforcement officers aware of any night hunting operations, including policies that ensure each agent notifies affected landowners of the agent's night hunting activities.