An Act To Allow the Use of Crossbows during the Archery Season on Deer
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 0027
Committee Amendment CA_A_H147 (House)
Amends: 12 MRSA §10953, 12 MRSA §11701

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ,f)" to H.P. 28, L.D. 27, Bill, "An Act To Allow 
the Use of Crossbows during the Archery Season on Deer" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'An Act To Allow the Use of a Crossbow for a Limited Duration during the Archery 
Season on Deer and the Fall Season ~n Wild Turkey' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting the 
following: 
'Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §10953, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2017, c. 85, §1, is further 
amended to read: 
1. Species and seasons. A person may: 
A. Hunt bear with a crossbow during the open season on bear as provided in section 
11251; 
B. Hunt wild turkey with a crossbow in areas et)en to wile tm·key hunting as 
establishes by rule ia during the spring open season on hunting wild turkey 
established by the commissioner in accordance with rules adopted pursuant to section 
11701, except that a person may not hunt vlild tm·key with a erossbow from October 
1st until the first aay of the opea season establishes by the commissioner in the 
fullo:wln!'! v@ar; 
C. Hunt moose with a crossbow in areas of the State open to moose hunting during 
the open season on moose established by rule in section 11552, subsections 1 and 2 
and according to the rules pertaining to moose hunting permits adopted by the 
commissioner for the protection of the moose resource under section 11551 and in 
accordance with the provisions of section 11601; and 
D. Hunt deer with a crossbow during the open firearm season on deer as provided in 
section 11401.~ 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 28, L.D. 27 
E. Notwithstanding the restriction in section 11403 to hunting with bow and arrow 
only, hunt deer with a crossbow during the 2020, 2021 and 2022 open archery season 
on deer established by the commissioner in accordance with rules adopted pursuant to 
section 11403. A person may not take an antlerless deer with a crossbow under this 
paragraph during an open arche1y season on deer unless that person possesses an 
antlerless deer permit in accordance with section 11152. 
This paragraph is repealed January 1, 2023; and 
F. Notwithstanding the prohibition on hunting wild turkey with a crossbow during 
the fall open season on hunting wild turkey in section 11701 and also notwithstanding 
paragraph B, hunt wild turkey with a crossbow during the 2020, 2021 and 2022 fall 
open season on hunting wild turkey established by the commissioner in accordance 
with rules adopted pursuant to section 11701. 
This paragraph is repealed January 1, 2023. 
Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §11701, first 1, as amended by PL 2017, c. 85, §3, is further 
amended to read: 
The commissioner may establish open seasons for hunting wild turkeys, designate 
areas that are open to the taking of wild turkeys in any patt of the State, prescribe the 
form and regulate the number of permits to be issued, determine the number and sex of 
the birds to be harvested, establish bag limits, establish permit eligibility requirements, 
establish legal hunting times, specify the types of weapons to be used during any open 
wild turkey hunting season and make any other rules that the commissioner considers 
necessary for the protection of the wild turkey resource. The rules must permit the use of 
a crossbow during an open season for hunting wild turkey, except that a person may not 
hunt wild turkey with a crossbow from October 1st 1:Hltil the first day of the open season 
established by the commissioner in the follo:wing year during the fall open season on 
hunting wild turkey established by the commissioner. 
Sec. 3. Report. By January 15, 2022, the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and 
Wildlife shall submit a report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having 
jurisdiction over inland fisheries and wildlife matters detailing the impact on the deer 
population from the use of a crossbow in accordance with the Maine Revised Statutes, 
Title 12, section 10953, subsection 1, paragraph E and the impact on the turkey 
population from the use of a crossbow in accordance with Title 12, section 10953, 
subsection 1, paragraph F. The report must include whether the commissioner allowed 
the use of a crossbow in any area where a special archery hunting season on deer was 
established by the commissioner pursuant to Title 12, section 11402, subsection 4 during 
the 2020, 2021 or 2022 season. The report must detail any issues or conflicts that arose 
from the use of a crossbow during the regular archery deer hunting season, any special 
archery hunting season and the fall open season on hunting wild turkey. Lastly, the 
report must specify if the use of a crossbow should continue to be permitted during the 
regular archery deer hunting season, any special archery hunting season and the fall open 
season on hunting wild turkey. The committee may repo1t out a bill to the Second 
Regular Session of the 130th Legislature based on the report.' 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or 
section number to read consecutively. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 28, L.D. 27 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill and the title. For a period of 3 years, beginning in 
2020, it allows a person, in accordance with rules adopted by the Commissioner of Inland 
Fisheries and Wildlife, to hunt deer with a cro~sbow during the open archery season on 
deer and the fall open season on hunting wild turkey. It specifies that a person using a 
crossbow during the open arche1y season may not harvest an antlerless deer unless that 
person possesses an antlerless deer permit. It also clarifies that, outside of this limited 
time period, the use of a crossbow to hunt wild turkey is allowed only during the spring 
open season on hunting wild turkey. Lastly, it requires the commissioner to submit a 
report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over inland 
fisheries and wildlife matters that includes a recommendation on whether to continue to 
permit the use of a crossbow during the regular archery season and the fall open season 
on hunting wild turkey and whether the commissioner allowed the use of a crossbow 
during a special archery season on deer and, if so, whether the use should continue to be 
permitted. The committee may report out a bill based on the report. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 04/18/19 w.ac:. 
LD27 
LR 647(02) 
An Act To Allow the Use of Crossbows during the Archery Season on Deer 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment (I, ( J/-P/ V 
Committee: Inland Fisheries and Wildlife 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
This bill would allow the use of a crossbow during certain hunting seasons and under specific conditions starting in 
2020 and ending in 2022. The bill requires the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IFW) to submit a repott 
at the conclusion of this period with a recommendation on whether to continue allowing the use of a crossbow during 
certain hunting seasons and under specific conditions. Any additional costs to IFW associated with this legislation 
are anticipated to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LR0647(02)- Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1