Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §7035, sub-§3, ¶B, as amended by PL 1999, c. 636, §1, is repealed.

Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §7504, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 1979, c. 420, §1, is amended to read:

4. Coyotes. The commissioner may cause department personnel to take coyotes at any time and in any manner that he may prescribe, except that coyotes may not be taken by snaring.

Sec. 3. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.

INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE,

DEPARTMENT OF

Resource Management Services -

Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

Initiative: Deappropriates funding used to pay agents for the snaring of coyotes.

General Fund 2003-04 2004-05

All Other ($15,700) ($15,700)

SUMMARY

This bill repeals the statutory authorization for the coyote snaring program and deappropriates funding associated with the direct costs of the program. Under the bill, hunting coyotes with firearms and dogs or trapping them without the use of snare traps will still be authorized.