An Act To Allow Persons 70 Years of Age or Older Expanded Crossbow Privileges
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 0294
Committee Amendment CA_B_H55 (House)
Amends: 12 MRSA §10953, 12 MRSA §11403, 12 MRSA §11603

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT;B" to H.P. 238, L.D. 294, Bill, "An Act To Allow 
Persons 70 Years of Age or Older Expanded Crossbow Privileges" 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the 
summary and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 12 MRS A §10952, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 and affected 
by Pt. 0, §7 and c. 614, §9, is repealed and the following enacted in its place: 
§10952. Open seasons for hunting with bow and arrow and crossbow 
1. Hunting with a bow and arrow. A person may, except as otherwise provided in 
this Part, hunt any wild bird or wild animal with a hand-held bow and arrow during any 
open season on that bird or animal. 
2. Hunting with a crossbow; 70 years of age or older. A person 70 years of age or 
older may hunt.a wild bird or a wild animal with a crossbow during any open season on 
that wild bird or wild animal subject to the laws of this Part. 
This subsection is repealed january 1, 2013. 
Sec. 2. 
MRSA §10953, sub-§l, as enacted by PL 2005, G. 419, §2 and 
affected by § 12, is amended to read: 
1. Species and seasons. Except as provided in this Part, a person may hunt bear 
with a crossbow during the open season on bear as provided in section 11251 and may 
hunt deer with a crossbow during the open firearm season on deer as provided in section 
11401. This subsection does not authorize a person to hunt deer with a crossbow during 
an expanded archery season established under section 11403 or in an expanded archery 
zone or during the muzzle-loading-only deer hunting season established under section 
11404, except as provided in subsection I-A. 
Sec. 3. 12 MRSA §10953, sub-§l-A is enacted to read: 
I-A. Hunting with a crossbow; 70 years of age or older. A person 70 years of age 
or older may hunt deer with a crossbow during an expanded archeI)' season established 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ,13" to H.P. 238, L.D. 294 
under section 11403 or in an expanded archery zone or during the muzzle-loading-only 
deer hunting season established under section 11404. 
This subsection is repealed January I, 2013. 
Sec. 4. 12 MRSA §11403, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2007, c. 163, §2 and 
affected by §3, is further amended to read: 
2. 
Open archery season on deer. The commissioner shall by rule establish a 
regular archery-only 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 only. During the 
regular archery-only season on deer, exceRt as provided in section 10952, subsection 2 
and section 10953, subsection I-A, the following restrictions apply. 
A. A person may not take a deer 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 3 5 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 during the regular archery-only 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 firearm pursuant to Title 25, section 2003 from carrying a firearm. 
C. Except as provided in section III 09-A, subsection 3, if a person takes a deer with 
bow and arrow during the regular archery-only 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, including the transportation, 
registration and possession of deer taken by this method. 
A person who violates this subsection commits a Class E crime. 
Sec. 5. 12 MRSA §11603, sub-§l-A is enacted to read: 
I-A. Hunting moose with a crossbow; 70 years of age or older. Notwithstanding 
subsection 1, a person 70 years of age or older may hunt moose with a crossbow subject 
to the laws ofthis Part. 
This subsection.is repealed January I, 2013.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment is the minority report of the committee. The amendment replaces 
the bill and until January 1, 2013 allows a person 70 years of age or older to hunt wild 
birds and wild animals with a crossbow during the open seasons for hunting with bow 
and arrow and to hunt moose with a crossbow. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 03/23/11 frac.. 
LD294 
LR 413(03) 
An Act To Allow Persons 70 Years of Age or Older Expanded Crossbow Privileges 
Fiscal Note for Bill as-Amended by Committee Amendment 'B" 
Committee: Inland Fisheries and Wildlife 
"-. 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Potential current biennium revenue increase - General Fund 
Correctional and Judicial Impact Statements 
Eliminates Class E crimes. 
A reduction in fines will decrease General Fund revenue by minor amounts. 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Allowing a person 70 years of age or older to hunt wild birds and animals with a crossbow during the open seasons for 
hunting with bow and arrow and allowing that person to hunt moose with a crossbow could result in an increase in the 
number of crossbow permits issued by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. An estimate of the 
corresponding increase in General Fund revenue cannot be made at this time. 
LR0413(03) - Fiscal Note - Page I of 1