Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §11403, sub-§3 is enacted to read:

3.__Expanded archery deer hunting season.__There is a special expanded archery deer hunting season from the first Saturday following Labor Day until the last day of the special muzzle- loading hunting season under section 11404.__All provisions of this section and sections 11102, 11106 and 11109 apply during this season.__Any person who possesses an archery hunting license under this section is eligible to purchase special season permits as provided in section 11153.__One permit may be purchased authorizing the taking of a deer other than an antlerless deer and one permit may be purchased authorizing the taking of an antlerless deer.

The expanded archery deer hunting season applies only to areas that are closed to hunting with a firearm.__During the expanded archery deer hunting season, areas that are open to hunting with a firearm must be closed to archery hunting until the regular archery hunting season begins.

SUMMARY

This bill allows an expanded archery deer hunting season for deer in areas that are closed to firearm hunting and also allows the taking of 2 deer during the expanded archery deer hunting season, one antlered deer and one antlerless deer.