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An Act To Legalize the Use of Supplemental Minerals To Assist with Wildlife Nutrition
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  12 MRSA §10659, sub-§3  is enacted to read:
 
3.  Exception; supplemental minerals.     Notwithstanding subsection 1, from March 1st to July 31st, both days inclusive, a person may place supplemental minerals for deer if:
 
A.  The supplemental minerals are placed on the person's own land or, if the person is placing supplemental minerals on another person's land, the person has obtained oral or written permission of the owner of that land to place the supplemental minerals; and
 
B.  The supplemental minerals do not contain any grain or food products.
Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §11452, sub-§1, as affected by PL 2003, c. 614, §9 and amended by c. 655, Pt. B, §171 and affected by §422, is further amended to read:
 
1. Prohibitions.  AExcept as otherwise permitted by section 10659, subsection 3, a person may not, during an open hunting season on deer:
 
A. Place salt or any other bait or food in a place to entice deer to that place; or
 
B. Hunt from an observation stand or blind overlooking salt, grain, fruit, nuts or other foods known to be attractive to deer. This prohibition does not apply to hunting from an observation stand or blind overlooking:
 
(1) Standing crops;
 
(2) Foods that are left as a result of normal agricultural operations or as a result of a natural occurrence; or
 
(3) Bear bait that is placed at a bear hunting stand or blind in accordance with section 11301, subsection 1.
 
SUMMARY
This bill allows a person to place supplemental minerals for deer from March 1st to July 31st if the supplemental minerals are placed on that person's own land, or on another person's land with the other person's oral or written permission, and the supplemental minerals do not contain any grain or food products.