Remote-hunting ban headed for enactment

AUGUSTA – Separate bills to ban remote-control hunting and require snowmobiles to keep to the right face only final Senate votes after House enactment votes on Tuesday.

One of the bills, LD 50, seeks to prevent a high-tech version of hunting, in which computers and cameras are used, before it surfaces in Maine. The ban is supported by animal welfare as well as hunting groups.

In remote-control hunting, clients hook up online to a set of cameras at a ranch, then sight game and fire a rifle.

Also up for final passage is a bill, LD 977, to make operating a snowmobile to the left of the center of a trail when approaching or navigating a curve, corner, grade or hill a civil violation.