Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §11405 is enacted to read:

§11405.__Muzzle-loading shotgun season on deer

1. Muzzle-loading shotgun season.__There is a special muzzle- loading shotgun__season on deer in expanded archery areas as established by the commissioner immediately following an expanded archery season as established by the commissioner for the purpose of hunting deer only with a muzzle-loading shotgun as defined in section 10001, subsection 42-B.__The muzzle-loading shotgun season on deer is separate from the muzzle-loading-only deer season under section 11404.__The commissioner may terminate the muzzle-loading shotgun season on deer at any time in an area if, in the commissioner's opinion, an immediate emergency action is necessary due to adverse weather conditions or severe hunting pressure.__The length of the muzzle-loading shotgun season on deer is as follows:

A.__The commissioner shall establish by rule the length of the special muzzle-loading shotgun season on deer in expanded archery areas after an expanded archery hunting season.__The season may extend for no more than 6 hunting days and must end by the Saturday before Christmas Day.

2. Applicability of laws.__The following provisions apply during the muzzle-loading shotgun season on deer:

A.__The commissioner's authority to regulate the harvest of antlerless deer under section 11152 is applicable during the muzzle-loading shotgun season on deer;

B.__Deer tags for the muzzle-loading shotgun season on deer must be issued for use in the same manner and in addition to the muzzle-loading-only deer season;

C.__Except as provided in this section, the provisions of this Part relating to deer apply to the taking of deer with muzzle-loading shotguns; and

D.__Only one deer of either sex may be taken during the muzzle-loading shotgun season on deer, in addition to any deer taken during the regular open hunting season on deer.

SUMMARY

This bill establishes a muzzle-loading shotgun season on deer in the expanded archery areas of the State and after the