A part of a law that temporarily allowed bear-hunting dogs to be trained in certain areas of Hancock and Washington counties could become permanent if the full Legislature approves it.
Members of the Standing Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife on Monday voted unanimously among those present that LD 751, “An Act to Amend the Hunting Laws Related to the Training of Dogs and Open Training Seasons” ought to pass.
That part of the law was scheduled to be repealed on May 1.
The bill was scheduled Monday for a public hearing, but when no one spoke against it, the committee voted to move it to a work session and a vote.
Under that law, bear hunting dogs can be trained in Washington and Hancock counties in areas south of Route 9. A person can legally train up to six dogs at a time from July 1 until the fourth day before bear hunting season opens.
People training dogs on commercial wild blueberry land must have the owner’s permission first.
Because new laws don’t go into effect until 90 days after the Legislature adjourns, the bill will be considered emergency legislation so that dogs can be trained in that area this year.
There have been no complaints from landowners over the last couple of years, according to Maine Warden Service Col. Dan Scott during the hearing.
Dog trainers have respected harvest time and no blueberry farmers have complained to the Wild Blueberry Commission, according to Jerod Bornstein, a lobbyist speaking on behalf of the commission during the hearing.
Some blueberry farmers say training bear dogs on the commercial fields actually mitigates the farms’ loss of honeybee hives, he said.
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