HP0619
LD 896
Session - 126th Maine Legislature
 
LR 1036
Item 1
Bill Tracking, Additional Documents Chamber Status

An Act To Allow Fox Hunting at Night

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §11161  is enacted to read:

§ 11161 Fox night hunting permit

1 Permit required.   Except as otherwise authorized pursuant to this Part, a person may not hunt fox at night unless that person has a valid permit issued under this section. Each night a person violates this subsection, that person commits a Class E crime for which a minimum fine of $50 and an amount equal to twice the applicable license fee must be imposed.
2 Eligibility; hunting license required.   A person who possesses a valid hunting license is eligible to obtain a permit from the commissioner to hunt fox at night, except that a permit may not be issued to a person who has been convicted of a violation of section 11206 within 5 years of the date of application for the permit.
3 Issuance.   The commissioner shall issue a permit to hunt fox at night to eligible persons at a fee of $4.

Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §12002  is enacted to read:

§ 12002 Night hunting for fox and restrictions

1 Fox hunting.   Notwithstanding the night hunting prohibitions in section 11206, there is an open season for hunting fox at night in all counties of the State starting from the day after the last special open season on deer hunting through March 31st, as established by rule by the commissioner.

The commissioner shall develop policies to make the affected public and affected law enforcement officers aware of any night hunting operations.

2 Calling devices required.   A person may not hunt fox at night without possessing an electronic, hand-held or mouth-operated predator calling device.

A person who hunts fox in violation of this subsection commits a Class E crime.

Sec. 3. Maine Revised Statutes headnote amended; revision clause. In the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 12, chapter 915, subchapter 12, in the subchapter headnote, the words "coyote hunting" are amended to read "coyote and fox hunting" and the Revisor of Statutes shall implement this revision when updating, publishing or republishing the statutes.

summary

This bill establishes an open season for hunting fox at night in all counties of the State.


Top of Page