BANGOR DAILY NEWS • October 4, 2023
Lawyers argued Wednesday morning before the Maine Supreme Judicial Cour t whether Maine’s 140-year-old Sunday hunting ban is now unconstitutional based on the 2021 right-to-food amendment. Much of the argument from both sides came down to the interpretation of the word “harvest” as it appears in the new amendment. In the amendment, “harvest” is surrounded by words referencing agriculture, not hunting, Assistant Attorney General Paul Suitter said. The word commonly refers to gathering crops, and Mainers were assured the amendment would not change hunting laws by lawmakers who introduced it. Maine’s Legislature can update hunting laws to create any changes it wants, and has done so numerous times. In May, the Legislature rejected four bills to allow Sunday hunting.