The Maine Deer Management Fund, referred to in this section as "the fund," is established within the department as a nonlapsing fund to be used by the commissioner to fund or assist in funding predator control, to assist landowners with the prevention or management of landowner-deer conflict and to acquire or enhance deer habitat. If the funds from the fund are used to directly enhance or manage a deer wintering area on land under the jurisdiction of the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Bureau of Parks and Lands, the land must be designated as a deer wintering area pursuant to section 1805‑A. The commissioner shall establish on the department's online licensing system checkoff options that allow a person to donate money for predator control, landowner-deer conflict prevention or management or deer habitat acquisition or enhancement.   [PL 2023, c. 593, §1 (AMD).]

Notwithstanding section 10801, subsection 4, $2 of each deer registration fee collected under section 12301‑A, subsection 3, paragraph C must be deposited in the fund and may be used to assist landowners with the prevention or management of landowner-deer conflicts. In addition, the revenue from each antlerless deer permit fee collected under section 11152, subsection 9, minus administrative costs, must be deposited in the fund and be used for predator control purposes or to acquire or manage deer habitat. The commissioner may accept and deposit into the fund monetary gifts, donations or other contributions from public or private sources for the purposes specified in this section. The fund must be held separate and apart from all other money, funds and accounts. The department shall report annually to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over inland fisheries and wildlife matters on the fund and its utilization.   [PL 2023, c. 593, §1 (AMD).]