An Act To Establish a Special Handgun Hunting Season That Coincides with the Muzzle-loading Open Season on Deer
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 0996
Committee: Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Sponsors: GUERIN
Amends: 12 MRSA §10001, 12 MRSA §11109, 12 MRSA §11109-A, 12 MRSA §11401, 12 MRSA §11405

Legislative Document
No. 996
S.P. 286
In Senate, February 26, 2019
An Act To Establish a Special Handgun Hunting Season That 
Coincides with the Muzzle-loading Open Season on Deer
Reference to the Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife suggested and ordered 
printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator GUERIN of Penobscot.  (BY REQUEST)
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  12 MRSA §10001, sub-§28-A is enacted to read:
28-A.  Handgun.  "Handgun" has the same meaning as set forth in Title 25, section 
2002, subsection 8-A.
Sec. 2.  12 MRSA §10001, sub-§44, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 and 
affected by c. 614, §9, is amended to read:
44.  Open firearm season on deer.  "Open firearm season on deer" means the time 
during which it is lawful to hunt deer with a firearm, including the special muzzle-loading 
season as described in section 11404 and the special handgun open season described in 
section 11405.
Sec. 3.  12 MRSA §11109, sub-§§10 and 11 are enacted to read:
10.  Special handgun permit; issuance and agent's fee.  Clerks or other agents 
appointed by the commissioner to issue special handgun permits to hunt during the 
special handgun open season established in section 11405 must charge a fee of $1 for 
each special handgun permit issued.  The commissioner shall charge a fee of $1 for each 
special handgun permit issued by department employees.
11.  Special handgun permits and fees.  Special handgun permits and fees to hunt 
during the special handgun open season established in section 11405 are as follows:
A.  A resident special handgun permit is $13; and
B.  A nonresident special handgun permit is $69.
Sec. 4.  12 MRSA §11109-A, sub-§3, ¶A, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 163, §1 and 
affected by §3, is amended to read:
A.  One deer during either the regular open firearm season or, the regular archery-
only season or, the special muzzle-loading season or the special handgun open season 
in accordance with sections 11401, 11403 and, 11404 and 11405, respectively;
Sec. 5.  12 MRSA §11401, sub-§1, ¶A, as amended by PL 2009, c. 134, §1, is 
further amended to read:
A.  Except as otherwise provided in this subsection and sections 10952, 11152, 11403 
and, 11404 and 11405 or by rule adopted by the commissioner pursuant to section 
11402, subsection 4, there is an open season for deer in each calendar year in all 
counties of the State between September 15th and December 20th annually.  In a year 
that the regular season extends beyond November 30th, the regular season must start 
no later than the 4th Monday preceding Thanksgiving.
Sec. 6.  12 MRSA §11405 is enacted to read:
§11405.  Special handgun deer hunting season
1.  Handgun open season on deer.  There is a special handgun open season on deer 
immediately following the regular deer hunting season established under section 11401, 
subsection 1, paragraph A for the purpose of hunting deer only with a handgun.  The 
special handgun open season must coincide with the special muzzle-loading open season 
established in section 11404.
The commissioner may terminate this open season at any time in an area if, in the 
commissioner's opinion, an immediate emergency action is necessary due to adverse 
weather conditions or severe hunting pressure.
The commissioner shall establish by rule the length of the special handgun open season.  
The commissioner may establish seasons of different lengths in different regions of the 
State.  The season may extend for no more than 12 hunting days in any part of the State.
2.  Applicability of laws.  The following provisions apply during the special handgun 
open season.
A.  The commissioner's authority to regulate the harvest of antlerless deer under 
section 11152 is applicable during the special handgun open season.
B.  Deer tags for the special handgun open season must be issued for use in the same 
manner as regular deer tags.
C.  Except as provided in this section, the provisions of this Part relating to deer 
apply to the taking of deer with a handgun.
SUMMARY
This bill establishes a special handgun open season on deer that coincides with the 
special muzzle-loading season.