| Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: |
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| | Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §7102-A, sub-§6, ¶C, as corrected by RR 1993, c. 1, | §35, is amended to read: |
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| C. The commissioner shall by rule establish a special | archery season beginning at least 30 days prior and | extending to the beginning of the regular deer hunting | season, as described in section 7457, subsection 1, | paragraph A, for the purpose of hunting deer with bow and | arrow only. During the special archery season on deer, the | following restrictions apply. |
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| (1) Deer may be taken only by means of a hand-held bow | and broadhead arrow, provided that: |
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| (a) Bows must be of adequate strength to shoot an | arrow at least 150 yards; and |
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| (b) Arrowheads must be at least 7/8 inch in | width. |
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| (2) A person may not carry firearms of any kind while | hunting any species of wildlife with bow and arrow | during the special archery season on deer, except that | any person who holds a license that allows hunting with | firearms may carry a handgun. |
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| (3) If a person takes a deer with bow and arrow during | the special archery season on deer, that person is | precluded from further hunting for deer during that | year. |
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| (4) Except as provided in this subsection, the | provisions of chapters 701 to 721 concerning deer are | applicable to the taking of deer with bow and arrow, | including the transportation, registration and | possession of deer taken by this method. |
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| | Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §7102-A, sub-§6, ¶D is enacted to read: |
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| D.__Notwithstanding section 7458, subsections 1 and 2, | a person who has taken a deer with bow and arrow during | the special open season for archery hunting may hunt | for and kill a 2nd deer with a firearm during the | firearm season. |
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| | This bill allows a person who has killed a deer during the | special archery season for deer to hunt and kill a 2nd deer with | a firearm during the regular firearm season for deer. |
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