2013 Maine Revised Statutes
TITLE 12: CONSERVATION
Chapter 915: HUNTING: SEASONS, REQUIREMENTS AND RESTRICTIONS
12 §11154. Moose permit

Part 13: INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE HEADING: PL 2003, C. 414, PT. A, §2 (NEW); PT. D, §7 (AFF); C. 614, §9 (AFF)
Subpart 4: FISH AND WILDLIFE HEADING: PL 2003, C. 414, PT. A, §2 (NEW); PT. D, §7 (AFF); C. 614, §9 (AFF)
Subchapter 3: HUNTING PERMIT REQUIREMENTS AND FEES HEADING: PL 2003, C. 414, PT. A, §2 (NEW); PT. D, §7 (AFF); C. 614, §9 (AFF)

11154. Moose permit

1. Permit required. Except as otherwise provided in this Part, a person may not hunt or possess a moose unless that person has a valid permit issued under this section. A person without a moose permit may possess moose parts lawfully sold under section 11217, subsection 2, paragraph D.

A person who violates this subsection commits a Class D crime for which the court shall impose a sentencing alternative of not less than 3 days for the first offense, none of which may be suspended, and of not less than 10 days for each succeeding offense, none of which may be suspended; the court also shall impose a fine of not less than $1,000, none of which may be suspended.

[ 2003, c. 614, 9 (AFF); 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, 125 (AMD); 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, 422 (AFF) .]

2. Issuance of moose hunting permits. In accordance with section 11552, the commissioner may issue moose hunting permits and may establish the number of moose hunting permits to be issued for each wildlife management district established by the commissioner by rule open to moose hunting. No more than 10% of the moose hunting permits may be issued to nonresident and alien hunters.

[ 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, 2 (NEW); 2003, c. 614, 9 (AFF) .]

3. Moose hunting permit fee. The fee for a moose hunting permit is $52 for a resident and $585 for a nonresident or alien.

[ 2011, c. 370, 4 (AMD) .]

4. Big game hunting license required. While hunting moose, the permittee and the subpermittee shall each have in that person's possession a valid Maine resident, nonresident or alien big game hunting license, whichever is applicable.

Each day a person violates this subsection that person commits a Class E crime for which a minimum fine of $50 and an amount equal to twice the applicable license fee must be imposed.

[ 2003, c. 614, 9 (AFF); 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, 126 (AMD); 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, 422 (AFF) .]

5. Eligibility. Except as provided in this subsection, a 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 open moose season is eligible to apply for a moose hunting permit. Beginning in 2011, a person who has obtained a moose hunting permit is ineligible to obtain another permit until 3 years have elapsed after the issuance of the last permit. This limitation does not apply to subpermittees under subsection 7.

[ 2011, c. 370, 5 (AMD) .]

6. Application procedure. An eligible person wishing to apply for a permit must file a written application for a permit on a form furnished by the commissioner. The application fee is nonrefundable. A person may file no more than one application. A person who submits more than one application is disqualified from the selection of permittees. The application must be accompanied by an application fee of:

A. For a resident:

(1) Fifteen dollars for a one-chance application; or

[2011, c. 370, 6 (AMD).]

B. For a nonresident:

(1) Fifteen dollars for a one-chance application;

(2) Twenty-five dollars for a 3-chance application;

(3) Thirty-five dollars for a 6-chance application; and

(4) Fifty-five dollars for a 10-chance application; multiple 10-chance options may be purchased. [2005, c. 12, Pt. III, 10 (AMD).]

A clerk or agent appointed by the commissioner under section 10801 may process an application under this subsection. The clerk or agent shall charge a fee of $2 for each application under this subsection processed by that clerk or agent.

The commissioner shall allow an applicant to indicate that that applicant does not want to receive a moose permit pursuant to the application but wishes to receive the corresponding points under subsection 8 for that application.

[ 2011, c. 370, 6 (AMD) .]

7. Subpermittees. An applicant for a moose permit may indicate on the application filed pursuant to subsection 6 the name of a subpermittee-designate and the name of an alternate subpermittee-designate. If the applicant is issued a moose permit under subsection 9 and upon application to the commissioner, the permittee may change that person's subpermittee-designate or alternate subpermittee-designate until 30 days prior to the start of the moose hunting season for which the permit was issued. Thirty days prior to the start of the applicable moose hunting season, the subpermittee-designate becomes a subpermittee. The permittee may authorize the subpermittee to participate in the moose hunt with the permittee. The permittee may authorize the alternate subpermittee-designate to participate in the hunt in place of the subpermittee-designate if the permittee notifies the department of the authorization at least 5 business days prior to the first day of the moose season, in which case the alternate subpermittee-designate becomes the subpermittee. The permittee may choose not to authorize a subpermittee to participate in the hunt.

A. A person may not sell a subpermittee or an alternate subpermittee designation. [2011, c. 370, 7 (NEW).]

B. A person who violates paragraph A commits a Class E crime. [2011, c. 370, 7 (NEW).]

[ 2011, c. 370, 7 (AMD) .]

8. Point system for public chance drawing. A person accumulates points as follows for each consecutive year that person purchases an application for a moose hunting permit but is not selected to receive a permit:

A. One point each year for the first 5 years; [2011, c. 370, 8 (NEW).]

B. Two points each year for years 6 to 10; [2011, c. 370, 8 (NEW).]

C. Three points each year for years 11 to 15; and [2011, c. 370, 8 (NEW).]

D. Ten points each year after the 15th year. [2011, c. 370, 8 (NEW).]

Each point entitles an applicant to one chance in the public chance drawing. A person's accumulated points are eliminated and that person begins to accumulate points anew if in any year that person is selected to receive a moose hunting permit or if that person fails to purchase a new chance in any 2 consecutive years.

A person who is ineligible to receive a moose hunting permit as provided in subsection 5 may continue to purchase points for each year that person is ineligible to receive a moose hunting permit for the corresponding application fee under subsection 6.

[ 2011, c. 370, 8 (RPR) .]

9. Selection procedure. Permittees are selected by a public chance drawing, except that a permit must be issued to any resident who is 70 years of age or older or will attain 70 years of age during the calendar year in which the resident is applying for the permit, who has accumulated at least 30 points pursuant to subsection 8 and who applies for and is otherwise eligible to obtain the permit.

[ 2013, c. 226, 1 (AMD) .]

9-A. Permits in road safety management areas. A person who has been selected as a permittee to hunt in a wildlife management district that the commissioner has designated as a road safety management area and who indicates to the commissioner that the person wishes to decline the permit retains any points accumulated, as long as the person appropriately indicates the intent to decline within a reasonable amount of time after receiving notice from the commissioner of the person's permit and the person's right to decline the permit under this subsection. For purposes of this subsection, "road safety management area" means a wildlife management district in which the predominant moose management goal is to reduce the moose population to the extent necessary to minimize the danger to motorists.

[ 2013, c. 226, 2 (NEW) .]

10. Questionnaire. Each permittee shall complete a questionnaire, to be provided by the commissioner, and return this questionnaire to the commissioner within a period of 10 days after the close of the moose hunting season.

[ 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, 2 (NEW); 2003, c. 614, 9 (AFF) .]

11. Auction of moose hunting permits to fund youth conservation education programs. Notwithstanding subsection 1, the commissioner may issue not more than 10 moose hunting permits each year through public auction in accordance with this subsection.

A. Each moose hunting permit issued under this subsection must be awarded through public auction to the applicant who submits the highest bid. [2003, c. 414, Pt. A, 2 (NEW); 2003, c. 614, 9 (AFF).]

B. A person who applies for a moose hunting permit under this subsection is subject to the eligibility provisions of subsection 5, except that a successful applicant is not required to wait 3 years in order to obtain another permit. [2011, c. 370, 9 (AMD).]

C. An eligible person wishing to apply for a permit under this subsection must submit a written application in such form as the commissioner may require. The application must be accompanied by a bidding fee of $25, which, except as otherwise provided in paragraph D, is nonrefundable. The commissioner may waive the requirements of this paragraph when, as provided in paragraph G, the commissioner enters into a contract with a conservation organization to auction the permits. [2003, c. 614, 9 (AFF); 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, 128 (AMD); 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, 422 (AFF).]

D. An eligible person may apply for a moose hunting permit both through the public chance drawing and in accordance with this subsection. If a person is selected to receive a moose hunting permit as a result of the public chance drawing, that person is no longer eligible to obtain a permit under this subsection and the bidding fee submitted by that person must be refunded. [2003, c. 414, Pt. A, 2 (NEW); 2003, c. 614, 9 (AFF).]

E. A moose hunting permit issued under this subsection is valid in the district designated by the permittee. This designation must be made within 30 days after the permit is awarded. [2003, c. 414, Pt. A, 2 (NEW); 2003, c. 614, 9 (AFF).]

F. A person who is awarded a moose hunting permit under this subsection may select a subpermittee to participate in the moose hunt as provided in subsection 7. [2003, c. 414, Pt. A, 2 (NEW); 2003, c. 614, 9 (AFF).]

G. The commissioner may enter into a contract with a conservation organization whose goals and objectives are not inconsistent with those of the department to advertise this process of issuing permits, auction the permits and collect revenues. [2003, c. 414, Pt. A, 2 (NEW); 2003, c. 614, 9 (AFF).]

H. Except as otherwise provided, the provisions of this Part relating to moose are applicable to the hunting of moose with a permit awarded under this subsection. [2003, c. 414, Pt. A, 2 (NEW); 2003, c. 614, 9 (AFF).]

I. The commissioner may adopt rules necessary for the proper administration, implementation, enforcement and interpretation of this subsection. Rules adopted pursuant to this paragraph are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. [2003, c. 614, 9 (AFF); 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, 129 (AMD); 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, 422 (AFF).]

J. Notwithstanding this subsection, the total number of moose hunting permits issued each year must be in accordance with section 11552, subsection 2. [2003, c. 414, Pt. A, 2 (NEW); 2003, c. 614, 9 (AFF).]

K. The commissioner may decline to issue any permit or any number of permits issuable pursuant to this subsection if, in the commissioner's opinion, the auction bids received do not reflect the public value anticipated to meet the goals of this subsection. Any permit or permits not issued under this subsection must be drawn in the public chance drawing pursuant to subsection 9. [2007, c. 161, 1 (NEW).]

[ 2011, c. 370, 9 (AMD) .]

12. Persons in armed forces called to serve in armed conflict. A person who is issued a moose permit under this section and who is subsequently called to active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States to serve in an armed conflict and is unable to use the permit is entitled to use the same permit during the next appropriate season following that person's return to the State. Permits used under this subsection do not affect the number of permits that may be issued by the commissioner under this section. For purposes of this subsection, "armed conflict" means any military action in which participants are exposed to war-risk hazards as defined in 42 United States Code, Section 1711(b).

[ 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, 2 (NEW); 2003, c. 614, 9 (AFF) .]

13. Hunting adventure permits for children. Notwithstanding subsection 6 and section 11102, the commissioner may issue 2 moose permits to a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing hunting and fishing adventures to children under 21 years of age with life-threatening, critical or terminal illnesses. The commissioner may issue these permits upon written request by an eligible nonprofit organization but may not issue more than 2 permits in total for a calendar year. These permits are in addition to the moose hunting permits issued under subsection 2 for each wildlife management district and are at no cost to the organization.

[ 2005, c. 143, 1 (NEW) .]

SECTION HISTORY

2003, c. 414, A2 (NEW). 2003, c. 414, D7 (AFF). 2003, c. 614, 9 (AFF). 2003, c. 655, B125-129 (AMD). 2003, c. 655, B422 (AFF). 2005, c. 12, III9,10 (AMD). 2005, c. 143, 1 (AMD). 2007, c. 161, 1 (AMD). 2009, c. 186, 4 (AMD). 2009, c. 213, Pt. OO, 7 (AMD). 2011, c. 370, 4-9 (AMD). 2013, c. 226, 1, 2 (AMD).