Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §11152, sub-§2, as affected by PL 2003, c. 614, §9 and repealed and replaced by c. 655, Pt. B, §120 and affected by §422, is amended to read:

2. Authority to regulate taking of antlerless deer. The commissioner may regulate the taking of antlerless deer within an area of the State as necessary to maintain deer populations in balance with available habitat if the demarcation of each area follows recognizable physical boundaries such as rivers, roads and railroad rights-of-way. This subsection does not apply to a person with a special antlerless deer permit under subsection 7.

Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §11152, sub-§7 is enacted to read:

7.__Special antlerless deer permit.__The commissioner shall issue a special antlerless deer permit to an eligible person who is suffering from the loss of or the permanent loss of use of both lower extremities.__A person who is issued a special antlerless deer permit under this subsection may take an antlerless deer in any part of the State open to the taking of any deer.__The person suffering from the loss of or the permanent loss of use of both lower extremities must provide the commissioner with a letter signed by a physician licensed in the State confirming the person's condition.

SUMMARY

This bill creates a special antlerless deer license that allows a person with ambulatory disability to take an antlerless deer anywhere in the State where any deer may be taken. An applicant for the license must provide a letter signed by a licensed physician confirming the ambulatory disability.