On January 28, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife presented its report on the use of soft plastic lures to the Joint Standing Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. The report was in response to HP 37 (LD 42), which was before the Maine legislature during the 2013 session.
Initially the bill would have banned the use of rubber lures in Maine. However, following a hearing in February 2013, the bill was amended to direct the Department to study the issue. The Committee report of “Ought to Pass as Amended” was accepted on the House floor following a motion by Maine Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chair, Representative Michael Shaw, and was subsequently accepted on the Senate floor following a motion by Caucus member, Senator David Dutremble.
The Department’s report concluded that “requiring the sale and use of only biodegradable SPLs is currently not a solution” and that based on their study, “the Department does not recommend any legislation at this time.”
For more information on the Maine Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, click here.
Studies conducted at both the state and federal level have found that the number of hunters and trappers have been on a generally declining trend over the past several decades. To increase recruitment, retention, and reactivation (R3) of hunters and trappers, which initiative do you think would have the greatest impact?
