The Rumor Is True, Could Maine Soon Allow Sunday Hunting

Because of the state's "blue laws", hunting on Sunday is still prohibited in Maine.  However, that could soon be changing.

According to the Bangor Daily News, a bill before the legislature would allow hunting seven days a week, with some restrictions.

The bill, SP 730, would effectively split the state in two.  In the north, everyone legally allowed to hunt could do so on Sundays.  In the south, people legally allowed to hunt on their own land.  Additionally, in the south, you could hunt on someone else's land if you had their written permission.

The dividing line would run east-west from Bethel to Bangor to the Canadian border.

It should come as no surprise that this is not the first time critics of the "blue laws" have tried to ditch the no-Sunday hunting law.  According to the Bangor Daily News, there have been over the last 45 years, there have been nearly three dozen attempts at ending the laws.

The most recent attempt was just last year, when a similar bill was proposed by state Republicans.

The difference this year is that senators and reps from both sides of the aisle are in favor of some kind of Sunday hunting.  These include Senate President Troy Jackson (D) and Assistant Senate Minority Leader Matt Pouliot (R).

See the bill HERE.

Recent polls have found that many Mainers do not support the idea of Sunday hunting.  In a recent survey, 67% of Mainers who responded said they were opposed to Sunday hunting.  If hunters were required to get written permission to hunt on someone else's land, the percentage of those in support did rise to 45%.

Would you like to see some kind of Sunday hunting in Maine?  If Maine does adopt Sunday hunting, will you be doing it?