| | | Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: |
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| | | Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §7468, sub-§§3 and 5, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 95, §1, | | are amended to read: |
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| | | 3. Wild turkey season. On or after January 1, 1986, the | commissioner may establish open seasons on wild turkeys between | May 1st and June 15th, within the wild turkey hunting zones | | designate zones that are open to hunting wild turkeys and issue | | permits within those zones. |
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| | | 5. Eligibility. Any Maine resident, nonresident or alien who | | is eligible to obtain a Maine hunting license, or who will be | | eligible to obtain a Maine hunting license by the opening day of | | the wild turkey hunting season, is eligible to apply for a wild | | turkey hunting permit. |
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| | | Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §7468, sub-§12, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 95, §1, is | | amended to read: |
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| | | 12. Authority of the commissioner. The commissioner may | | establish open hunting season dates on wild turkeys, issue | | applications for wild turkey hunting permits, set the number of | | permits to be issued, establish wild turkey hunting zones, issue | | permits, establish provisions giving special consideration to | | landowners who keep their lands open to hunting by the public and | make all rules which he | | the protection of the wild turkey resource. |
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| | | This bill repeals the specified dates for the State's wild | | turkey hunting season, instead allowing the Commissioner of | | Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to establish an open season. In | | addition, it clarifies the law pertaining to eligibility to apply | | for permits to be consistent with moose permit applicants as well | | as giving the commissioner the authority to give special | | consideration to landowners, such as establishing a landowner | | permit drawing by rule. |
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