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LD 2217

An Act Related To The Electronic Tagging Of Deer

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Joe Baldacci

Maine would establish an electronic tagging system to track deer populations using technology like RFID or GPS for improved wildlife management and hunting data.

Placed in the Legislative Files. (DEAD)
#deer #electronictagging #hunting
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Bill Summary · LD 2217

Legislative bill overview

LD 2217 would establish a system for electronically tagging deer in Maine, likely using RFID or GPS technology to track individual animals for wildlife management purposes. The bill authorizes the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to implement and oversee this electronic tagging program as a tool for monitoring deer populations and movement patterns.

Why is this important

Accurate deer population data is critical for setting sustainable hunting seasons and managing human-wildlife conflicts, as Maine's deer populations significantly impact forest health, vehicle collisions, and agricultural operations. Electronic tagging would provide real-time data on deer movement, migration patterns, and population dynamics that traditional survey methods cannot capture, potentially improving wildlife management decisions.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost and funding: Electronic tags are expensive; unclear whether hunters, taxpayers, or license fees would bear the cost of tagging thousands of deer
  • Privacy concerns: GPS-enabled tags raise questions about data collection, storage, and who can access real-time location information on tagged animals
  • Hunting impact: Requirement to tag harvested deer could complicate the hunting process and create compliance/enforcement challenges for hunters
  • Wildlife stress: Capturing and tagging wild deer involves stress and potential injury; effectiveness versus animal welfare tradeoffs are unclear

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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