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afternoon - At the work session yesterday, the F&W Committee killed the last of the 4 Sunday hunting bills submitted this session (LD #910, An Act To Allow Hunting On Sunday For Landowners). Things are really getting busy now, because the deadline for getting all bills out of committee is less than three weeks away (May 13th). The F&W Committee has already dealt with most of the more controversial bills. The only bills left that are of concern are the bear bills, which have all been scheduled for public hearing at 9 AM, next Monday, May 2nd. There are four bear bills that will be heard that day, as follows (not necessarily in the order listed):
· LD 468, An Act To Amend the Laws Governing Bear Hunting – This is the bill submitted by Representative Wood. As written, the bill would eliminate one week of hound hunting, require written landowner permission to place bear bait, prohibit the training of bear dogs 7 days prior to the start of the hunting season and allow a person to take a bear by both hunting and trapping (with appropriate permits). As written, this bill would be detrimental to many guides and hunters. It would likely be extremely contentious as well. However, I have been working with Representative Wood, and he has agreed (when he presents the bill) to completely remove the section that would eliminate a week of hound hunting. The landowner permission issue has already been addressed in another bill so that section will also be removed from this bill. On the training issue, Representative Woods has agreed to reduce the number of days from 7 to 4. The only remaining issue is the 2nd bear for those that both hunt and trap for bears. Only 67 bears were taken by trapping last year, so that shouldn’t be a big issue. All told, the final version of the bill will be completely different from the way it is currently written. While there may still be opposition, the changes agreed to by Representative Wood should make the bill much more acceptable.
· LD 996, An Act To Amend the Law Relating to Training Dogs During Bear Hunting Season – This bill would remove the current law that prohibits the training of dogs on bear in those portions of Washington and Hancock Counties that are situated south of Route 9. The bill will have strong opposition from landowners (blueberry growers).
· LD 1020, An Act To Allow a Spring Bear Hunting Season – This bill would establish a spring bear hunting season to run from from the 3rd Monday in May to the 4th Saturday in June. Large landowners will be opposing the bill because of potential road damage. Lots of social issues involved with this one. I don’t think it will go anywhere.
· LD 1080, An Act To Ban the Use of Traps and Dogs in Bear Hunting – This bill has been submitted several times in the past, both prior to and following the 2004 bear referendum. It would do just as the title implies. It’s not going anywhere.
There have been times in the past when I’ve asked for a large turnout at a public hearing, and you have responded beyond expectations. This is not one of those times. The only real threat to our future is contained in LD #1080, and that bill is nearly dead already. I know that several of you will want to attend these hearings for various reasons (especially those of you that run hounds), and that will be great. However, I don’t think we need to flood the place with people. If you have questions or need more information
· LD 468, An Act To Amend the Laws Governing Bear Hunting – This is the bill submitted by Representative Wood. As written, the bill would eliminate one week of hound hunting, require written landowner permission to place bear bait, prohibit the training of bear dogs 7 days prior to the start of the hunting season and allow a person to take a bear by both hunting and trapping (with appropriate permits). As written, this bill would be detrimental to many guides and hunters. It would likely be extremely contentious as well. However, I have been working with Representative Wood, and he has agreed (when he presents the bill) to completely remove the section that would eliminate a week of hound hunting. The landowner permission issue has already been addressed in another bill so that section will also be removed from this bill. On the training issue, Representative Woods has agreed to reduce the number of days from 7 to 4. The only remaining issue is the 2nd bear for those that both hunt and trap for bears. Only 67 bears were taken by trapping last year, so that shouldn’t be a big issue. All told, the final version of the bill will be completely different from the way it is currently written. While there may still be opposition, the changes agreed to by Representative Wood should make the bill much more acceptable.
· LD 996, An Act To Amend the Law Relating to Training Dogs During Bear Hunting Season – This bill would remove the current law that prohibits the training of dogs on bear in those portions of Washington and Hancock Counties that are situated south of Route 9. The bill will have strong opposition from landowners (blueberry growers).
· LD 1020, An Act To Allow a Spring Bear Hunting Season – This bill would establish a spring bear hunting season to run from from the 3rd Monday in May to the 4th Saturday in June. Large landowners will be opposing the bill because of potential road damage. Lots of social issues involved with this one. I don’t think it will go anywhere.
· LD 1080, An Act To Ban the Use of Traps and Dogs in Bear Hunting – This bill has been submitted several times in the past, both prior to and following the 2004 bear referendum. It would do just as the title implies. It’s not going anywhere.
There have been times in the past when I’ve asked for a large turnout at a public hearing, and you have responded beyond expectations. This is not one of those times. The only real threat to our future is contained in LD #1080, and that bill is nearly dead already. I know that several of you will want to attend these hearings for various reasons (especially those of you that run hounds), and that will be great. However, I don’t think we need to flood the place with people. If you have questions or need more information
