An Act To Redefine "Muzzle-loading Firearm" and Expand the Muzzleloader Hunting Season
Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 1170
Committee: Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Amends: 12 MRSA §7001, 12 MRSA §7107-A

Legislative Document 
No. 1170 
H.P.867 
House of Representatives, March 5, 2003 
An Act To Redefine "Muzzle-loading Firearm" and Expand the 
Muzzleloader Hunting Season 
Reference to the Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife suggested and ordered 
printed. 
Presented by Representati ve TRAHAN of Waldoboro. 
Printed on recycled paper 
17/~ 
'fr}. 7lldC~ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 12 MRSA ~7001. sub-~l-H is enacted to read: 
I-H. 
Basic 
muzzlelQader. 
"Basic 
muzzleloader" 
means 
d 
firearm that: 
A. 
Is capable of being loaded only through the muzzle; 
B. 
Is ignited by 
a matchlock, 
wheel lock, 
flintlock .. .9.1 
",c-",a~p,-"l,-"o,,-,c,,-,k"-L' ~i,"-,n~c"'-"'.l.,.,u.'='d""i~n~g~-"a~n,-. in-line caplock or shotgun or .. xjJJe 
primer mechanism; 
C. 
Has 
a rifled or smooth-bored barrel or barrels, with 
each barrel capable of firing only a single charge; 
D. 
Is charged with black powder or black powder repli<::.a 
only; 
E. 
Propels a ball, bullet or charge of shot; anQ 
F. 
May have any type of sights, including scopes. 
Sec. 2. 12 MRSA *7001. sub-*23-A. as repealed and replaced by 
PL 1993, c. 438, Pt. A, §2, is repealed and the following enacted 
in its place: 
23-A. 
Muzzle-loading 
firearm. 
"Muzzle-loading 
firearm" 
means 
a 
basic 
muzzleloader, 
a 
primitive 
muzzleloader 
or 
a 
traditional muzzleloader. 
Sec.3. 12 MRS A §7001, sub-§29-B is enacted to read: 
29-B. 
Primitive 
muzzleloader. 
"Primitive 
muzzleloader" 
means a firearm that: 
A. 
Is capable of being loaded only through the muzzle; 
B. 
Is ignited by 
a 
matchlock, 
wheel 
lock or flintlock 
mechanism; 
r 
Has a single rifled or smooth-bored barrel capable of 
firing only a single charge; 
D. 
Is charged with black powder or black powder replica 
only; 
E. 
Propels a lead round baIlor charge of shot; and 
f. 
May have only open or aperture sights. 
Page l-LR0064(1) 
Sec. 4. 12 MRSA §7001. sub-§37-B is enacted to read: 
37-B. 
Traditional muzzleloader. 
"Traditional muzzleloader" 
means a firearm that: 
A. 
Is capable of being loaded only through the muzzle; 
B. 
Is ignited by 
a 
matchlock, 
wheel 
lock, 
flintlock or 
caplock with an exposed ignition mechanism; 
C. 
Has 
a 
rifled or smooth-bored barrel or barrels. with 
each barrel capable of firing only a single charge; 
D. 
Is charged with black powder or black powder replica 
onJ.y; 
E. 
Propels a lead ball. full-bore diameter lead bullet or 
charge of shot; and 
F. 
May have only open or aperture sights. 
Sec. 5. 12 MRSA §7107-A. sub-§4. ~B. as amended by PL 1997. (:. 
432, §21, is further amended to read: 
B. 
The commissioner shall establish by rule the length of 
the 
special muzzle-loading 
season. 
The 
commissioner 
may 
establish seasons of different lengths in different regions 
of the State. 
l'Re--&e-a6-O-n--fRal'-~-e-nd--Ee~-.no--fRe~e--t-h-an--±2 
RBa~ia~-eay6-~~-~~~-~~-~Re-~~a~eT The commissioner may 
establish 
different 
seasons 
for 
basic 
muzzleloaderS1 
primitive muzzleloaders and traditional muzz1eloaders. 
SUMMARY 
This bill redefines 
"muzzle-loading firearm" 
by pro'v'iding 
clear 
definitions 
of 
a 
basic 
muzzleloader, 
a 
primiti','e 
muzzleloader and 
a 
traditional muzzleloader. 
The bill strikes 
out language that limits the authority of the Commissioner of 
Inland Fisheries and Wi Idli fe to extend the muzzle-loading open 
season on deer for more than 12 days in any part of the State. 
The 
bill 
authorizes 
the 
commissioner 
to 
establish different 
seasons for the 3 types of muzzleloaders.