Illegal taking of moose or bear. Suspension of hunting license. Penalties. Use of deadly force to kill a bear. Authorization. Requirements

(a) Any person who takes moose or bear in violation of this part shall (1) for a first offense, be fined not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days, or both, and the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall suspend such person's hunting license for a period of not less than one year, (2) for a second offense, be fined not more than seven hundred fifty dollars or imprisoned not more than three months, or both, and the commissioner shall suspend such person's hunting license for a period of not less than two years, and (3) for a third or subsequent offense, be fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than six months, or both, and the commissioner shall permanently revoke such person's hunting license. (b) Nothing in this section shall prevent the commissioner from designating an open season on the hunting of moose and bear pursuant to this part. (c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent any person from using deadly physical force to kill a bear if such person reasonably believes that a bear is: (1) Inflicting or is about to inflict great bodily harm to a human, (2) injuring or killing such person's pet that is otherwise controlled in accordance with any applicable provision of the general statutes or any regulation adopted pursuant to such a provision, or (3) entering a building occupied by persons.