Maine Revised Statutes Title 12. Conservation § 11111. Tracking wounded animals with a leashed dog

1. Permit required. Except as provided in section 12862 or otherwise authorized pursuant to this Part, a person may not use a leashed dog to track a wounded animal without a valid permit issued pursuant to this section. For purposes of this section, “wounded animal” means a lawfully wounded bear, deer or moose.

2. Eligibility; license fee. A person who holds a valid big game hunting license may obtain from the commissioner a permit to use a leashed dog to track a wounded animal. The fee for a 3-year permit to use a leashed dog to track a wounded animal is $81.

3. Dog tracking services. A person who holds a valid permit issued pursuant to this section may charge a fee for dog tracking services. Notwithstanding section 10001, subsection 28, a person is not a guide if the only services that person charges a fee for are dog tracking services pursuant to this subsection.

4. Penalties. Each day a person violates subsection 1, that person commits a Class E crime for which a minimum fine of $50 and an amount equal to twice the applicable permit fee must be imposed.

5. Tracking a wounded animal after legal hunting hours. Notwithstanding sections 11205 and 11206, a person who holds a valid permit issued pursuant to this section may use a leashed dog to track a wounded animal outside of legal hunting hours.

6. Rules. The commissioner may adopt rules to implement the provisions of this section, which may include, but are not limited to, training requirements, the type and number of dogs used, leash requirements and the time and manner in which a wounded animal may be tracked and dispatched. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.