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Rulemaking Proposals Open to Public Comment
ADVERTISE: February 12, 2025
AGENCY: Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
CHAPTER NUMBER AND TITLE: Chapter 16.12 – Upland Game and Furbearer Animal Hunting (Gray Squirrels)
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: Thursday, March 6, 2025 @ 4:00pm – Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, 353 Water Street, 3rd fl conference room, Augusta
COMMENT DEADLINE: March 17, 2025
BRIEF SUMMARY: The Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is proposing a change to Chapter 16 rules to adjust the gray squirrel hunting season. The Department regularly adjusts hunting and trapping regulations in response to emerging scientific information, changes in hunter and trapper participation, and biological data. The proposed rule would lengthen the gray squirrel hunting season by one month to provide additional opportunities to pursue this species. If adopted, the gray squirrel hunting season would open the last Saturday in September and close January 31. No changes are proposed for the gray squirrel (falconry) hunting season that runs from the last Saturday in September to February 28th. The daily (4) and possession (8) limits for gray squirrel would remain the same. 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 10954
SUBSTANTIVE STATE OR FEDERAL LAW BEING IMPLEMENTED (if different):
E-MAIL FOR OVERALL AGENCY RULE-MAKING LIAISON: Becky.Orff@maine.gov
ADVERTISE: February 12, 2025
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 4, 2025 @ 4:00pm – Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, 353 Water Street, Room 400, Augusta
COMMENT DEADLINE: March 14, 2025
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 population status of these migratory game birds remains unchanged from last year; therefore, season frameworks and harvest limits are similar to the previous hunting season. Of note is the proposed increased bag limit for northern pintails from a daily limit of 1 per day to 3 per day. This increase was allowed at the Atlantic Flyway scale. No significant impact to the northern pintail population is expected, due to the very low annual harvest of northern pintails in Maine each year. 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