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205 Church Hill Road, Augusta ME 04330 207-622-5503 |
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SAM’s 2007 Legislative Achievements
Bills enacted as part of SAM’s legislative agenda or supported by SAM.
Governor’s executive order creating a task force to address concerns about access and use of public lands. SAM’s bill calling for the task force was withdrawn after the governor acted.
Creation of a working group on deer habitat and coyote predation issues and concerns, with a report and recommendations due to the legislature in January. The legislature enacted SAM’s Resolve directing DIF&W to create the task force.
Creation of a landowner relations coordinator position in the Department of Conservation, a SAM bill.
Authorization for a sportsman’s license plate, which SAM began advocating for ten years ago.
Expansion of the night hunting season on coyotes, a SAM bill.
Creation of an apprentice hunting license, a SAM bill.
Commitment from DIF&W to pursue more home-based hunting safety courses and actual firing of guns as part of the course, in response to SAM’s legislation.
A Fish and Wildlife Committee letter to DIF&W requesting action to protect wild brook trout, in response to a SAM bill and a commitment from the department to do that using a working group that includes a SAM representative.
Creation of a new DIF&W policy restricting the stocking of splake, in response to a SAM bill.
Carry over to the next legislative session of SAM’s bill creating a program offering tax credits for fisheries improvements.
Fall turkey season for firearms hunters.
Free turkey permits for senior hunters.
Proposed $5 million bond issue for a new rivers program housed in the Department of Economic and Community Development (SAM’s top priority in the bond issue package). This bond will be on the November ballot.
Naming of the arctic char (blueback trout) as a state Heritage fish, and adoption of a list of ten char waters where stocking and the use of live fish as bait will not be allowed.
Changes to the super pack license which bring it into line with the original concept proposed by SAM. For example, it will now be available to either firearms hunters or bowhunters, not just hunters who are certified for both. It also provides three deer permits for the special archery season in addition to the two deer provision in the current license.
Adoption of many of the recommendations and concepts in the Brookings Institution report for GrowSmart Maine (endorsed by SAM).
An increase in the number of moose permits auctioned for conservation school scholarships from five to ten, almost doubling the amount of money available for scholarships. SAM’s suggestion that the bill be treated as an emergency measure allowed the number of permits to be increased this year, giving the schools more than $30,000 in scholarship funds this summer.
Enactment of a bill authorizing DIF&W to issue licenses to beagle clubs to trap rabbits for use in training dogs. The department issued these permits until 2006, when they discovered they didn’t have the authority to do so. SAM worked with beagle clubs to draft the bill and get it enacted.
Enactment of a bill to allow Maine’s Special Olympics to continue to conduct a bass fishing tournament to raise funds for the Olympics, without entering DIF&W’s annual tournament draw.
A commitment from DIF&W to create a data base to track and record all fishing-related rule changes, available to the public.
Defeat of all gun bills.
Defeat of a saltwater fishing license.
Defeat of a ban on bear trapping.
Defeat of all bills submitted by animal rights groups.
Defeat of a bill to require a mandatory boating safety course for all boaters.
Defeat of several proposals to increase license and permit fees for nonresidents.
Defeat of a bill to ban hunting in Range Ponds State Park.
Defeat of a bill to increase the fee for agents who sell hunting and fishing licenses.
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