Rulemaking Proposals Open to Public Comment

ADVERTISE: March 6, 2024

AGENCY: 09-137 Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

CHAPTER NUMBER AND TITLE: Chapter 16.08 – Moose Hunting (permit allocations)

PROPOSED RULE NUMBER:

BRIEF SUMMARY: The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is proposing moose permit allocation numbers for moose hunting permits to be issued for the 2024 moose hunting season. Permits will be issued for antlered and antlerless moose. As was done previously, combined units are included wherein a permittee can hunt either WMD. Recommendations are for no changes to permit numbers from 2023. Removal of the 4th week of the adaptive hunt is also being proposed. Proposed permit allocations according to Wildlife Management District are as follows:

WMD 1 – 450 antlered / 175 antlerless
WMD 14 & 17 (combined) – 40 antlered
WMD 2 – 350 antlered /175 antlerless
WMD 16 – 0 permits
WMD 3 – 200 antlered / 125 antlerless
WMD 18 – 40 antlered
WMD 4 – 400 antlered / 100 antlerless
WMD 19 – 60 antlered
WMD 4A (adaptive hunt) – 550 antlerless
WMD 27 & 28 (combined) – 40 antlered
WMD 5 – 250 antlered / 125 antlerless
WMD 6 – 200 antlered / 60 antlerless
Totals: 4,105 – 2,645 (antlered); 1,460 (antlerless)
WMD 7 & 13 (combined) – 140 antlered
WMD 8 – 200 antlered / 150 antlerless
WMD 9 - 125 antlered
WMD 10 – 60 antlered
WMD 11 – 50 antlered
WMD 12 & 15 (combined) – 40 antlered

Please contact the agency contact person for a complete copy of the rule proposal.

PUBLIC HEARING: Tuesday, March 26, 2024 @ 4:00pm – Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, 353 Water St., Room 400, Augusta, ME

COMMENT DEADLINE: April 5, 2024

CONTACT PERSON FOR THIS FILING: Becky Orff, Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, 353 Water Street 41 SHS, Augusta, ME 04333; phone: 207-287-5202; fax: 207-287-6395; e-mail: Becky.Orff@maine.gov

FINANCIAL IMPACT ON MUNICIPALITIES OR COUNTIES (if any): No fiscal impact anticipated.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY FOR THIS RULE: 12 MRS 11551, 11552

SUBSTANTIVE STATE OR FEDERAL LAW BEING IMPLEMENTED:

AGENCY WEBSITE: www.maine.gov/ifw

E-MAIL FOR OVERALL AGENCY RULE-MAKING LIAISON: Becky.Orff@maine.gov


ADVERTISE: March 6, 2024

AGENCY: Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

CHAPTER NUMBER AND TITLE: Chapter 16 - Hunting

PROPOSED RULE NUMBER (leave blank; assigned by Secretary of State):

CONTACT PERSON FOR THIS FILING: Becky Orff, Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, 41 State House Station, 353 Water Street, Augusta, ME 04333; Tel: 207-287-5202; becky.orff@maine.gov

CONTACT PERSON FOR SMALL BUSINESS INFORMATION (if different):

PUBLIC HEARING: Monday, March 25, 2024 @ 4:00pm – Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, 353 Water Street, Room 400, Augusta

COMMENT DEADLINE: April 4, 2024

BRIEF SUMMARY: This rulemaking proposal aligns Chapter 16 rules regarding crossbow use with state statutes. Bows and arrows and crossbows are now both considered to be "archery equipment" in statute, and this proposal incorporates this change in terminology to allow crossbow use in most situations where only bows and arrows were previously permitted. This rule change allows for the use of crossbows broadly during the expanded archery season for deer and the fall turkey season. The proposal also amends several town-specific hunting closures and modifies the rule to reflect the preferences of impacted towns. A section detailing the Eastport special hunt has been repealed as this hunt no longer occurs. A complete copy of the proposed rule may be obtained from the agency contact person.

IMPACT ON MUNICIPALITIES OR COUNTIES: No fiscal impact is anticipated.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY FOR THIS RULE: 12 MRSA, Sections 10104 and 10952

SUBSTANTIVE STATE OR FEDERAL LAW BEING IMPLEMENTED (if different):

E-MAIL FOR OVERALL AGENCY RULE-MAKING LIAISON: Becky.Orff@maine.gov


ADVERTISE: February 21, 2024

AGENCY: Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

CHAPTER NUMBER AND TITLE: Chapter 16.11 – Migratory Game Bird Hunting

PROPOSED RULE NUMBER (leave blank; assigned by Secretary of State):

CONTACT PERSON FOR THIS FILING: Becky Orff, Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, 41 State House Station, 353 Water Street, Augusta, ME 04333; Tel: 207-287-5202; becky.orff@maine.gov

CONTACT PERSON FOR SMALL BUSINESS INFORMATION (if different):

PUBLIC HEARING: Tuesday, March 12, 2024 @ 4:00pm – Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, 353 Water Street, Room 400, Augusta

COMMENT DEADLINE: March 22, 2024

BRIEF SUMMARY: The Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is proposing to amend Chapter 16.11 rules pertaining to season dates and bag limits for the hunting of ducks, geese, and other migratory game birds. The proposal is similar to the previous year's final season framework with two notable changes. The first notable proposed change is reducing the daily bag limit for eiders from 3 to 2. This recommended change comes from concerns of seeing fewer eiders along the coast in the winter over the last few years. The second notable proposed change is for the first segment of the coastal waterfowl hunting zone to begin on Saturday, October 5th. Traditionally, the season would start on October 1st. Starting the season on October 5th and ending on the following Saturday would provide two Saturdays of waterfowl hunting in this zone in the first segment. Proposed season dates and bag limits for Brant are pending USFWS winter 2024 surveys and were not available prior to this notice being advertised. A complete copy of the proposed rule may be obtained from the agency contact person.

IMPACT ON MUNICIPALITIES OR COUNTIES: No fiscal impact is anticipated.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY FOR THIS RULE: 12 MRSA, Sections 10104 and 11855

SUBSTANTIVE STATE OR FEDERAL LAW BEING IMPLEMENTED (if different):

E-MAIL FOR OVERALL AGENCY RULE-MAKING LIAISON: Becky.Orff@maine.gov