1.Residents over 70 years of age.
A complimentary license to hunt, trap or fish, including an archery license under section 11109, subsection 7, a pheasant hunting permit under section 11156, a muzzle-loading permit under section 11109, subsection 4, a migratory waterfowl permit under section 11157 and a bear hunting permit under section 11151 must be issued to a resident who is 70 years of age or older upon application to the commissioner.
1-A.
Residents 100 years of age or older.
A complimentary antlerless deer permit under section 11152 may be issued to a resident of the State who is 100 years of age or older upon application to the commissioner.
2.Blind residents.
A complimentary license to fish must be issued to a resident who is 16 years of age or older and blind and applies to the
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1.
Residents over 70 years of age.
A complimentary license to hunt, trap or fish, including an archery license under section 11109, subsection 7, a pheasant hunting permit under section 11156, a muzzle-loading permit under section 11109, subsection 4, a migratory waterfowl permit under section 11157 and a bear hunting permit under section 11151 must be issued to a resident who is 70 years of age or older upon application to the commissioner.
1-A.
Residents 100 years of age or older.
A complimentary antlerless deer permit under section 11152 may be issued to a resident of the State who is 100 years of age or older upon application to the commissioner.
2.
Blind residents.
A complimentary license to fish must be issued to a resident who is 16 years of age or older and blind and applies to the commissioner for the fishing license. This complimentary license remains valid for the life of the license holder if the license holder continues to satisfy the residency requirements in section 10001, subsection 53 and the license is not revoked or suspended. The application must be accompanied by certified evidence that the applicant is permanently blind. For the purpose of this subsection, "blind" means having visual acuity for distance vision of 20/200 if the widest diameter of field of vision subtends an angle no greater than 20 degrees.
3.
Paraplegics.
A resident paraplegic or a nonresident paraplegic who is a resident of another state may obtain upon application, at no cost, all hunting, trapping and fishing licenses, including permits, stamps and other permission needed to hunt, trap and fish. A license holder under this subsection who qualifies to hunt during the expanded archery season on deer under section 11153 and who meets the eligibility requirements of section 11106 must have included in that person's license one antlerless deer permit and one either-sex permit. The commissioner shall issue all fishing, trapping and hunting licenses and permits applied for under this subsection if the commissioner determines the applicant meets the requirements of this subsection and is not otherwise ineligible to hold that permit or license. For the purposes of this subsection, "paraplegic" means a person who has lost, or who has permanently lost the use of, both lower extremities.
4.
Disabled veteran.
A resident disabled veteran or a nonresident disabled veteran who is a resident of another state may obtain upon application, at no cost, all hunting, trapping and fishing licenses, including permits, stamps and other permission needed to hunt, trap and fish, and, upon meeting the qualifications as established in section 12853, subsection 4, a guide license. A license holder under this subsection who qualifies to hunt during the expanded archery season on deer under section 11153 and who meets the eligibility requirements of section 11106 must have included in that person's license one antlerless deer permit and one either-sex permit. The commissioner shall issue all fishing, trapping and hunting licenses and permits requested under this subsection if the commissioner determines the applicant meets the requirements of this subsection and is not otherwise ineligible to hold that permit or license. For the purposes of this subsection, "disabled veteran" means a person who:
5.
Holders of Congressional Medal of Honor.
Upon application, the Governor may grant 2-year complimentary hunting and fishing licenses to holders of the Congressional Medal of Honor.
6.
Members of Armed Forces domiciled in State.
A member of the Armed Forces of the United States on active duty who is permanently stationed outside of the State may be issued fishing, hunting and trapping licenses for an amount equal to the administrative costs associated with issuing a license as determined by the department. Administrative costs do not include agent fees. To qualify, the member of the Armed Forces of the United States must show proof that that member's home of record, as recorded in that person's service records, is Maine. That person may purchase all other licenses or permits at resident fees. The license is valid during the year of issue. That person's spouse and children may purchase hunting, fishing and trapping licenses at reduced rates. The reduced fees are as follows:
7.
Patients and inmates in certain state institutions.
The commissioner may issue free fishing permits covering:
8.
Members of federally recognized Indian nation, band or tribe.
The commissioner shall issue a hunting, trapping and fishing license, including an archery hunting license under this chapter, and including all permits, stamps and other permission needed to hunt, trap and fish, to a person who is an enrolled member of the Passamaquoddy Tribe, the Penobscot Nation, the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians or the Mi'kmaq Nation that is valid for the life of that person without any charge or fee pursuant to section 11109, if the person presents certification from the appropriate reservation chief or governor or the Mi'kmaq Nation Tribal Council stating that the person described is an enrolled member of a federally recognized Indian nation, band or tribe listed in this subsection. Holders of these licenses are subject to this Part, including, but not limited to, a lottery or drawing system for issuing a particular license or permit. Members of a federally recognized Indian nation, band or tribe listed in this subsection are exempt from the trapper education program required for a license under section 12201, the bear trapping education course required by section 12260‑A, subsection 4 and the archery hunter education course under section 11106. A license holder under this subsection who qualifies to hunt during the expanded archery season on deer under section 11153 and who meets the eligibility requirements of section 11106 must have included in that person's license one antlerless deer permit and one either-sex permit.
9.
Foreign exchange students.
A resident license to hunt or fish must be issued, at a fee equal to the resident license fee for a person of like age and status, to any citizen of a foreign nation under 21 years of age who is domiciled with a family within the State pursuant to any cultural or educational exchange program conducted by any governmental, educational, cultural or religious organization.
10.
Persons with developmental disabilities.
A complimentary license to fish must be issued to any person with a developmental disability, as defined in Title 5, section 19503, subsection 3, upon application to the commissioner when that application is accompanied by a statement signed by the person's physician that states that the applicant's functional limitations substantially limit that person's ability to fish independently. This complimentary license remains effective for the life of the license holder, if the license is not revoked or suspended.
11.
Permits to accommodate permanent physical disabilities.
The commissioner may issue a special permit to a person with a permanent physical disability that includes special authorization that allows that person to hunt, trap or fish at times or in a manner otherwise prohibited by this Part in order to enhance access to hunting, trapping and fishing opportunities. No laws or rules may be waived except as are necessary to effect this subsection. A permit may be issued under this subsection only if:
12.
Persons with acquired brain injury.
A complimentary license to fish must be issued to any person with a head injury, as defined by Title 22, section 3086, upon application to the commissioner. This complimentary license remains effective for the life of the license holder if the license is not revoked or suspended.
13.
Certain veterans.
14.
Game warden killed in line of duty.
A complimentary license to hunt, trap and fish, including permits, stamps and other permissions needed to hunt, may be issued, upon application, to the spouse or child of a game warden who has been killed in the line of duty. These licenses must be issued in accordance with criteria established by the Maine Chiefs of Police Association and the Maine Law Enforcement Officer Memorial board, upon confirmation by the Game Warden Colonel that the applicant is qualified for such a license.
15.
Assisting a person with disabilities.
The commissioner may allow a licensee who has received a complimentary fishing license under subsection 2, 3, 4, 7, 10 or 12 to have a person accompany and assist that licensee in fishing. The person accompanying and assisting the holder of a complimentary fishing license as provided in this subsection may do so without obtaining a separate fishing license. This subsection does not authorize the person accompanying and assisting the licensee to assist that licensee with more than one fishing rod and reel. The person accompanying and assisting the licensee must remain within the immediate proximity of the licensee while that licensee is fishing.
16.
Resident 16 or 17 years of age in custody of the Department of Health and Human Services.
A complimentary license to fish may be issued to any resident 16 or 17 years of age who is in the custody of the Department of Health and Human Services under Title 19‑A, chapter 55 and Title 22, chapter 1071, upon application to the commissioner. This complimentary license remains valid for the duration of the Department of Health and Human Services' custody of the resident, if the license is not revoked or suspended.
17.
Group fishing license for persons with disabilities.
In addition to other licenses issued by the commissioner pursuant to this section, the commissioner may issue a complimentary group fishing license to a person or entity that allows a group of persons with disabilities to fish in a location for a period of time as specified on the license.
18.
Gold star family registration plate holder.
A complimentary license to hunt, trap and fish, including permits, stamps and other permissions needed to hunt, may be issued, upon application, to a resident who is the holder of a registration certificate and a set of gold star family registration plates pursuant to Title 29‑A, section 524‑B. A permit or license issued to a person under this subsection remains valid for the life of the person, as long as the person continues to remain a resident of this State and the permit or license issued under this subsection is not revoked or suspended.
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