Bill > LD95

This bill makes several amendments to Maine's wildlife laws, primarily focusing on renaming the "special season" for deer hunting to "expanded archery season" and updating various related provisions. The bill modifies licensing requirements for seniors over 70, paraplegics, disabled veterans, members of federally recognized Indian tribes, and junior hunters, ensuring they receive certain deer permits at no additional cost during the expanded archery season. It grants the commissioner of inland fisheries and wildlife more flexibility in creating special hunting seasons and expanded archery seasons, allowing them to establish specific rules about hunting areas, deer population limits, permitted weapons, and hunting methods. The bill also updates provisions related to conservation of threatened and endangered species, including adding confidentiality protections for location information of such species. Additionally, the legislation repeals an existing section of law (§11402) and makes technical changes to terminology and cross-references throughout the wildlife regulations, ultimately aiming to simplify and clarify the state's wildlife management laws.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=95&snum=132