Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.

Sec. 9. 12 MRSA §7457, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2001, c. 690, Pt. A, §§8 and 9 and affected by §18, is further amended to read:

1. Open and closed season.

A. Except as otherwise provided in this section, sections 7102-A and 7107-A or by rule adopted by the commissioner pursuant to this section, there is an open season for deer in each calendar year in all counties of the State between September 15th and December 15th annually. The commissioner may by rule establish an open season for deer hunting and may by rule shorten or lengthen that season if planned deer harvest levels are exceeded or not achieved.__ Rules adopted pursuant to this paragraph are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. In any year that the regular season extends beyond November 30th, the regular season must start no later than the 4th Monday preceding Thanksgiving.

B. There shall be an open season on deer in the Town of Vinalhaven, and the islands within the confines of the Town of Vinalhaven, to conform with the open season on deer for Knox County.

C. There shall be an open season on deer in the Town of Southport, and the islands within the confines of the Town of Southport, to conform with the open season on deer in Lincoln County.

D. Except as provided by rule pursuant to paragraph D-1, there is a continual closed season on deer in the following places:

(1) Mount Desert Island;

(2) Cross Island in Washington County;

(3) Scotch Island in Washington County;

(4) The Town of Isle au Haut and the islands within the confines of the Town of Isle au Haut in Knox County;