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An Act To Allow a Person To Hunt with a Crossbow during the Archery-only Deer Season
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §11109, sub-§9, as amended by PL 2009, c. 213, Pt. OO, §5, is further amended to read:
 
9. Crossbow licenses and fees.   Crossbow hunting licenses and fees are as follows:
 
A. A resident crossbow hunting license is $25;
 
B. A nonresident crossbow hunting license is $55; and
 
C. An alien crossbow hunting license is $79.
 
A person may not hunt with a crossbow without obtaining a crossbow hunting license, except that a person may hunt bear, moose or turkey with a crossbow without obtaining a crossbow hunting license if the person holds a valid permit to hunt that species and a person may hunt deer with a crossbow pursuant to section 11403 without obtaining a crossbow hunting license.
Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §11403, as amended by PL 2011, c. 61, §4 and c. 298, §1, is further amended to read:
§ 11403.Regular archery and crossbow deer hunting season
 
1. License required.   Except as provided in section 11108, subsection 1 or otherwise authorized by this Part, a person 16 years of age or older may not hunt deer with a bow and arrow during the special open season on deer as provided under this section unless that person has a valid archery hunting license. Except as provided in section 11108, subsection 1 or otherwise authorized by this Part, a person 16 years of age or older may not hunt deer with a crossbow during the special open season on deer as provided under this section unless that person has a valid crossbow hunting license and big game hunting license.
 
Each day a person violates this subsection that person commits a Class E crime for which a minimum fine of $50 and an amount equal to twice the applicable license fee must be imposed.
 
2. Open archery and crossbow season on deer.   The commissioner shall by rule establish a regular archery-onlyarchery and crossbow season beginning at least 30 days prior and extending to the beginning of the regular deer hunting season, as described in section 11401, subsection 1, paragraph A, for the purpose of hunting deer with bow and arrow onlyand crossbow. During the regular archery-onlyarchery and crossbow season on deer, except as provided in section 10952, subsection 2 and section 10953, subsection 1-A, the following restrictions apply.
 
A. A person may not take a deer with bow and arrow during a regular archery-only season unless that person uses a hand-held bow and broadhead arrow with the following specifications.
 
(1) Bows must have a minimum draw weight of 35 pounds.
 
(2) Arrowheads, including mechanical broadheads when open, must be at least 7/8 inch in width.
 
B. A person may not carry firearms of any kind while hunting any species of wildlife with bow and arrow or crossbow during the regular archery-onlyarchery and crossbow season on deer, except that a person who holds a license that allows hunting with firearms may carry a handgun. This paragraph may not be construed to prohibit a person who holds a valid permit to carry a concealed handgun pursuant to Title 25, section 2003 from carrying a handgun.
 
C. Except as provided in section 11109-A, subsection 3, if a person takes a deer with bow and arrow or crossbow during the regular archery-onlyarchery and crossbow season on deer, that person is precluded from further hunting for deer during that year.
 
D. Except as provided in this subsection, the provisions of this Part concerning deer are applicable to the taking of deer with bow and arrow or crossbow, including the transportation, registration and possession of deer taken by this method.
 
A person who violates this subsection commits a Class E crime.
 
SUMMARY
This bill allows crossbows to be used during the regular archery-only season and allows a person with a valid permit to hunt bear, moose and wild turkey with a crossbow without obtaining a crossbow hunting license.