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An Act To Allow the Use of Crossbows during the Archery Season
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §10952, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 and affected by Pt. D, §7 and c. 614, §9, is amended to read:
§ 10952.Open seasons for hunting with bow and arrow and crossbow
A person may, except as otherwise provided in this Part, hunt any wild bird or wild animal with a hand-held bow and arrow or a crossbow during any open season on that bird or animal.
Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §10953, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 419, §2 and affected by §12, is amended to read:
 
1. Species and seasons.   Except as provided in this Part, a person may hunt bear with a crossbow during the open season on bear as provided in section 11251 and may hunt deer with a crossbow during the open firearm season on deer as provided in section 11401. This subsection does not authorize a person to hunt deer with a crossbow during an expanded archery season established under section 11403 or in an expanded archery zone or during the muzzle-loading-only deer hunting season established under section 11404.
Sec. 3. 12 MRSA §11109-A, sub-§3, ¶A, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 163, §1 and affected by§3, is amended to read:
 
A. One deer during either the regular open firearm season or the regular archery-onlyarchery and crossbow season or the special muzzle-loading season in accordance with sections 11401, 11403 and 11404, respectively;
Sec. 4. 12 MRSA §11403, as amended by PL 2007, c. 163, §2 and affected by §3, is further amended to read:
§ 11403.Regular archery and crossbow deer hunting season
 
1. License required.   Except as provided in section 11108, subsection 1 or otherwise authorized by this Part, a person 16 years of age or older may not hunt deer with a bow and arrow or crossbow during the special open season on deer as provided under this section unless that person has a valid archery hunting license or crossbow hunting license.
 
Each day a person violates this subsection that person commits a Class E crime for which a minimum fine of $50 and an amount equal to twice the applicable license fee must be imposed.
 
2. Open archery and crossbow season on deer.   The commissioner shall by rule establish a regular archery-onlyarchery and crossbow season beginning at least 30 days prior and extending to the beginning of the regular deer hunting season, as described in section 11401, subsection 1, paragraph A, for the purpose of hunting deer with bow and arrow onlyand crossbow. During the regular archery-onlyarchery and crossbow season on deer, the following restrictions apply.
 
A. A person may not take a deer during a regular archery-onlyarchery and crossbow season unless that person uses a crossbow as allowed in section 10953 or a hand-held bow and broadhead arrow with the following specifications.
 
(1) Bows must have a minimum draw weight of 35 pounds.
 
(2) Arrowheads, including mechanical broadheads when open, must be at least 7/8 inch in width.
 
B.  A person may not carry firearms of any kind while hunting any species of wildlife with bow and arrow or crossbow during the regular archery-onlyarchery and crossbow season on deer, except that a person who holds a license that allows hunting with firearms may carry a handgun. This paragraph may not be construed to prohibit a person who holds a valid permit to carry a concealed firearm pursuant to Title 25, section 2003 from carrying a firearm.
 
C.  Except as provided in section 11109-A, subsection 3, if a person takes a deer with bow and arrow or crossbow during the regular archery-onlyarchery and crossbow season on deer, that person is precluded from further hunting for deer during that year.
 
D.  Except as provided in this subsection, the provisions of this Part concerning deer are applicable to the taking of deer with bow and arrow and crossbow, including the transportation, registration and possession of deer taken by this method.
 
A person who violates this subsection commits a Class E crime.
Sec. 5. 12 MRSA §11603, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2005, c. 477, §13, is further amended to read:
 
1. Prohibition.  AExcept as provided in section 10952, a person may not use a .17 or .22 caliber rimfire firearm, a shotgun using shot loads or a crossbow to hunt moose.
 
SUMMARY
This bill allows the use of crossbows during the regular archery season.