Sec. 5. Effective date. That section of this Act that amends the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 12, section 7457, subsection 1, paragraph D takes effect July 1, 2001.

SUMMARY

This bill establishes a deer hunting season in the Town of Cranberry Isles in order to address deer overpopulation of 5 islands in this community.

Specifically, the bill requires the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to establish a special hunting season for deer in the Town of Cranberry Isles that must end no later than January 31, 2001. Effective July 1, 2001, the bill repeals the provision establishing a continual closed season on deer in the Town of Cranberry Isles. The bill also establishes a requirement of prior written landowner consent by enacting as a prohibited act hunting deer in the Town of Cranberry Isles without such consent. The bill also directs the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to establish an expanded archery deer hunting season for the Town of Cranberry Isles beginning with the 2001 hunting season.