The commissioner shall establish by rule limits on the number of bears a person may hunt, trap and possess in a season, which may not exceed 2 bears in total and may not exceed one bear by trapping in a calendar year, except a person may keep more than 2 legally obtained bears in that person's home as otherwise provided in law or rule. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2‑A.

1. 1. Hunting or trapping bear; limit A person may not in one calendar year: The daily bag limit on bear taken by hunting is one bear.

   1. A. Hunt bear after that person has killed or registered the least of:

      1. (1) Two bears by means of hunting;
      2. (2) One bear by means of hunting and one by means of trapping during the open season on trapping bear under section 12260; and

      3. (3) The maximum number established by rule under this section; or

         [PL 2021, c. 100, §7 (NEW); PL 2021, c. 100, §13 (AFF).]

   2. B. Trap bear after that person has killed or registered the least of:

      1. (1) Two bears by means of hunting;
      2. (2) One bear by means of trapping during the open season on trapping bear under section 12260; and

      3. (3) The maximum number established by rule under this section.

         [PL 2021, c. 100, §7 (NEW); PL 2021, c. 100, §13 (AFF).]

   The daily bag limit on bear taken by hunting is one bear.

   [PL 2021, c. 100, §7 (RPR); PL 2021, c. 100, §13 (AFF).]

2. 2. Exceeding limit on bear A person may not possess more than 2 bears in any calendar year, or the maximum number of bears established by rule under this section, whichever is less, except a person may keep more than 2 legally obtained bears in that person's home or as otherwise provided in law or rule.

   [PL 2021, c. 100, §7 (RPR); PL 2021, c. 100, §13 (AFF).]

3. 3. Penalty A person who violates this section commits a Class D crime for which the court shall impose a sentencing alternative of not less than 3 days for the first offense and of not less than 10 days for each succeeding offense; the court also shall impose a fine of not less than $1,000.

   [PL 2021, c. 100, §7 (RPR); PL 2021, c. 100, §13 (AFF).]

PL 2003, c. 414, §A2 (NEW). PL 2003, c. 414, §D7 (AFF). PL 2003, c. 552, §4 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 552, §15 (AFF). PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF). PL 2003, c. 655, §§B162-164 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 655, §§B422,C2,6 (AFF). PL 2011, c. 309, §§2, 3 (AMD). PL 2021, c. 100, §7 (RPR). PL 2021, c. 100, §13 (AFF).