Sunday Hunting is NOT the Maine Way.
FOUR Bills Pushing Sunday Hunting in the State Legislature!
LD 672: “An Act to Establish Youth Deer Hunting Weekend ''
LD 672 and LD 626 would allow for youth (under 16, no minimum age) to hunt on Sunday. Youth hunters already have the Saturday before the regular firearm season starts dedicated solely for them. The 2022 survey asked this very question and a majority of hunters, the public, and landowners all opposed this idea.
Landowners: 75% opposed/ 20% in favor Northern and Eastern Maine, 71% Opposed/24% in favor in Central Maine, and 93% Opposed/3% in favor in Southern Maine.
Public: 62% opposed/28% in favor
Hunters: 44% opposed/ 35% in favor
LD 1166: “An Act to Allow Sunday Hunting by Landowners on Their Land.”
LD 1166 is simply an attempt to divide landowners and get some for a Sunday hunting on the books. This idea was not part of the 2022 survey, but this same bill has failed several times in the past, including as recently as the last legislative session. It would be very difficult to enforce and would create two classes of hunters: those that ownland and those that don't.
LD 1241: “An Act to Allow Sunday Hunting with a Bow and Arrow or Crossbow.”
LD 1241 would allow a person to hunt on Sunday with a bow and arrow or crossbow if they paid $31 to the State. The idea of paying extra to hunt on Sunday has been proposed and failed before. It is essentially the State selling the right to hunt on Sunday. Sunday hunting with a bow or crossbow was part of the 2022 survey and a clear majority of hunters, the public and landowners opposed the idea.
Landowners: 69% opposed/ 24% in favor Northern and Eastern Maine, 70% opposed/25% in favor in Central Maine, 90% opposed/10% in favor Southern Maine
Public: 57% opposed/34% in favor
Hunters: 46% opposed/ 34% in favor