An Act to Amend and Simplify Certain Wildlife Laws
Sponsored By: Sally Cluchey (Democratic)
Signed by Governor
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Free or low-cost hunting licenses
Seniors age 70+ can buy a lifetime hunting license for a one-time $8 fee. It may also let you renew a guide license for free. Paraplegic residents and resident disabled veterans (50%+ service-connected, honorably discharged) get all hunting, trapping, and fishing licenses at no charge for life while they remain Maine residents; similar privileges for nonresidents apply only if their home state offers reciprocity. Enrolled members of the Passamaquoddy, Penobscot, Houlton Band of Maliseet, or Mi’kmaq Nation get free lifetime hunting, trapping, and fishing licenses (including archery) and are exempt from certain education courses; lottery rules still apply. Resident juniors under 16 pay $8 and nonresident juniors under 16 pay $35 for a junior license that includes all needed permits and stamps; under-16 hunters must hold a junior license or it is a civil violation. For all these groups, if you qualify for the expanded archery season and meet the law’s eligibility rules, your license includes one antlerless deer permit and one either-sex permit.
Stronger protections for rare wildlife
The state can run programs to recover threatened and endangered species, including buying habitat, propagation, live trapping, and moving animals. Before reintroducing a species, the department must write a recovery plan, hold a public hearing, and submit the plan to the Legislature’s committee; action cannot start until at least 90 days after those steps. In rare cases of extreme population pressure, the department can allow regulated taking consistent with a recovery plan. The department can adopt rules to identify key habitat and set protection guidelines. Exact locations of listed or special-concern species stay confidential if sharing them could harm the species and may be shared only with the landowner.
Permits and fees for expanded archery
You must hold a valid permit to hunt deer during the expanded archery season. When the state issues these permits, an either-sex permit costs $32 and an antlerless permit costs $12. Without the required permit, you cannot hunt in the expanded archery season.
Flexible deer seasons and youth days
The regular deer season in all counties runs from September 15 to December 20. If the season goes past November 30, it must start no later than the fourth Monday before Thanksgiving. The commissioner can open areas that were closed to deer hunting if each affected town agrees, and can create special or expanded archery seasons, set bag limits, mark boundaries, and set permit fees that cannot exceed expanded-archery fees. A 2-day youth deer hunting period can be set for the Friday and Saturday before the resident open day. The law repeals an older deer-season section and uses this rule-based approach instead.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Sally Cluchey
Democratic • House
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
Actions Timeline
Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 333
6/17/2025PASSED TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence.
6/12/2025SenatePASSED TO BE ENACTED. Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
6/11/2025HouseReport READ and ACCEPTED, in concurrence.READ ONCE.Committee Amendment "A" (H-609) READ and ADOPTED, in concurrence.Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED BY Committee Amendment "A" (H-609), in concurrence.Ordered sent down forthwith.
6/11/2025SenateCONSENT CALENDAR - FIRST DAYUnder suspension of the rules CONSENT CALENDAR - SECOND DAY.The Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-609).Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
6/10/2025HouseCarried over, in the same posture, to the next special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature, pursuant to Joint Order SP 519.
3/21/2025HouseThe Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE in concurrence
1/8/2025SenateCommittee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife suggested and ordered printed. The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE.Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
1/8/2025House
Bill Text
Amendment C-A (H-609), adopted by House & Senate
Enacted
Introduced
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