An Act To Allow the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife To Authorize the Hunting of Antlerless Deer without a Permit in Certain Areas
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 0116
Committee Amendment CA_A_H903 (House)
Amends: 12 MRSA §10264, 12 MRSA §10902, 12 MRSA §10953, 12 MRSA §11109-A, 12 MRSA §11110, 12 MRSA §11152, 12 MRSA §11403, 12 MRSA §11701

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "//-,' to H.P. 82, L.D. 116, "An Act To Allow the 
Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife To Authorize the Hunting of Antlerless 
Deer without a Permit in Certain Areas" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'An Act Relating to the Hunting of Antlerless Deer' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting the 
following: 
'Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §10264, 2nd 1, as amended by PL 2021, c. 409, §6, is further 
amended to read: 
Notwithstanding section 10801, subsection 4, $2 of each deer registration fee collected 
under section 12301-A, subsection 3, paragraph C must be deposited in the fund. Fifty 
percent of the funds deposited in the fund from the deer registration fees must be used for 
predator control purposes and 50% of the deposited fees must be used to acquire or enhance 
deer habitat. In addition, the revenue from each antlerless deer permit fee collected under 
section 11152, subsection 9, minus administrative costs, must be deposited in the fund. 
The commissioner may accept and deposit into the fund monetary gifts, donations or other 
contributions from public or private sources for the purposes specified in this section. The 
fund must be held separate and apart from all other money, funds and accounts. The 
department shall report annually to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having 
jurisdiction over inland fisheries and wildlife matters on the fund and its utilization. 
Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §10902, sub-§6, ~' as amended by PL 2013, c. 538, §5, is 
further amended to read: 
F. Buying or selling deer, exceeding the bag limit on deer or hunting deer after having 
killed one; in violation of section 11217 or 11501 or unlawfully hunting or possessing 
an antlerless deer in a wildlife management district for whieh no antlerless deer permits 
have been issued in which the taking of antlerless deer is not allowed in violation of 
section 11152, subsection 1-A; . 
Page l - 130LR0098(02) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT,#,, to H.P. 82, L.D. 116 
Sec. 3. 12 MRSA §10953, sub-§1, 1C, as amended by PL 2019, c. 98, § 1, is further 
amended to read: 
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 
Sec. 4. 12 MRSA §10953, sub-§1, ,U, as amended by PL 2019, c. 98, § 1, is further 
amended to read: 
D. Hunt deer with a crossbow during the open firearm season on deer as provided in 
section 11401 t.,, 
Sec. 5. 12 MRSA §10953, sub-§1, ~' as amended by PL 2019, c. 637, §2, is 
repealed. 
Sec. 6. 12 MRSA §10953, sub-§1, ~' as enacted by PL 2019, c. 98, §1, is 
repealed. 
Sec. 7. 12 MRSA §10953, sub-§1-C, as amended by PL 2019, c. 637, §3, is further 
amended to read: 
1-C. Hunting with a crossbow; 65 years of age or older. A person 65 years of age 
or older who meets the eligibility requirements of sections 11105, 11106 and 11162 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 this Part a-Gd may take a-H: a-H:tletless deer vlith a erossbow duri:ag 
the regulai' archery o:aly deer hu:B:ting seaso:a vt'ithout a-H: antlerless deer pennit issued in 
aecorda:ace with seetion 11152.. 
Sec. 8. 12 MRSA §11109-A, sub-§2-A, as enacted by PL 2019, c. 116, §2, is 
amended to read: 
2-A. Antlerless deer permit. A super pack license includes: 
A. An antlerless deer permit as provided under section 11152, except that it is valid 
only for antlerless deer in wildlife management districts in which at least~ 2,000 
antlerless deer permits are issued. No more than 2.5% of those antlerless deer permits 
may be in the form of a super pack license. The commissioner shall implement a system 
for issuing antlerless deer permits under this paragraph; and 
B. An opportunity to enter a bonus a:atletless o:aly an antlerless deer permit lottery 
established by the commissioner by rule pursuant to section 11152. 
If a super pack licensee obtains an antlerless deer permit pursuant to paragraph A, that 
person is not eligible to obtain an antlerless deer permit through an antlerless deer permit 
lottery established by the commissioner pursuant to section 11152. 
• Sec. 9. 12 MRSA §11109-A, sub-§3, 1A, 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 
archery season or the special muzzle-loading season in accordance with sections 
11401, 11403 and 11404, respectively; 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
?--as 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" (Ito H.P. 82, L.D. 116 
Sec. 10. 12 MRSA §11110, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2017, c. 379, §1, is further 
amended to read: 
1. Transfer permitted. A person who has been assigned a designated hunting area, 
zone or season by the department for purposes of hunting a game animal moose may 
exchange that designated zone, area or season with another person assigned a different 
hunting zone, area or season for the same game animal for purposes of hunting that same 
game animal moose. The department may assist in the exchange to ensure that the permit 
holders meet the requirements of section 10756, but the State bears no responsibility for 
enforcing the terms of the exchange between the permit holders. The commissioner may 
adopt rules to implement this section. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine 
technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. 
Sec. 11. 12 MRSA §11152, as amended by PL 2019, c. 324, §2, is further amended 
to read: 
§11152. Antlerless deer; regulation and authority to issue permits 
1. Permit required. Except as otherwise authorized pursuant to this Part, a person 
may not hunt antlerless deer as authorized in this section unless that person has a valid 
permit issued under this section or is hunting in an area that is designated by rule as open 
to the hunting of antlerless deer or either-sex deer without an antlerless deer permit. 
A. 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. 
1-A. Antlerless deer in wildlife management districts with n0 peFmits issued. 
Except as otherwise provided in this Part, a person may not hunt or possess an antlerless 
deer in a wildlife management district or a portion of a wildlife management district that 
does not have permits issued in which the taking of antler less deer is not allowed. A person 
may possess in one of those districts an antlerless deer that has been lawfully registered 
taken in another district where permits have been issued antlerless deer may be legally 
taken. 
A person that violates this subsection commits a Class D crime for which a minimum fine 
of $1,000 must be imposed, and the court shall impose a sentencing alternative involving 
a term of imprisonment of at least 3 days, none of which may be suspended. 
2. Authority to regulate taking of antlerless deer. The commissioner may regulate 
the taking of antlerless deer by rule within an area of the State as necessary to maintain 
deer populations in balance with available habitat if the demarcation of each area follows 
recognizable physical boundaries such as rivers, roads and railroad rights-of-way. This 
subsection does not apply to a person with a special antlerless deer permit under subsection 
7. 
A. Auth:0Fity ta Fegulate taking 0f antlel'less deel' in eel'tain aFeas within wildlife 
management distFiets whel'e 00 peFmits al'e issued. The eommission.er may by rule issue 
permits in. a designated geogmphieal a½·ea v1ithin. a vlildlife man.agement distriet where no 
antlerless deer permits are issued to maiR-taiH balaneed deer populatioas. A. desigaated 
geographieal area uader this subseetioH may eoasist of aH eHtire tovm or other area but 
must hav-e a demareatioa of the area that follows reeogninable physieal bouadaries sueh as 
rP1ers, roads and railroad rights of way, 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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\ 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "ff' to H.P. 82, L.D. 116 
3. Rulemaking. The commissioner may adopt rules necessary for the administration, 
implementation, enforcement and interpretation of this section, except that the 
commissioner is not authorized to establish an antlerless deer permit system lottery unless 
otherwise specified in this section. If the commissioner establishes by rule a lottery for 
issuing antler less deer permits to eligible persons, the commissioner may also allow for the 
direct purchase of additional antlerless deer permits in certain wildlife management 
districts or portions of wildlife management districts as the commissioner finds necessary 
to maintain balanced deer populations. The commissioner may appoint clerks or agents 
under section 10801 to process applications for permits issued under this section. A clerk 
or agent appointed by the commissioner to process applications shall charge a fee of $2 for 
each application processed by that clerk or agent under this section. Rules adopted by the 
commissioner that provide for permits to be issued to nonresident hunters must provide 
that: 
B. No more than 15% of the antler less deer permits issued in any one district or in any 
one zone may be issued to nonresident hunters. 
Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, 
chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. 
4. Landowner consideration. An antlerless deer permit system lottery adopted by 
the commissioner pursuant to this section may include a provision giving special 
consideration to landowners who keep their lands open to hunting by the public. As part 
of the special consideration to those landowners, the commissioner shall provide at least 
25% of the available antlerless deer permits in a wildlife management district to eligible 
landowners that apply for an antlerless deer permit in that district. Any 2 or more areas of 
land owned by the same person that are open for hunting and that would be contiguous 
except for being divided by one or more roads are considered contiguous for the purposes 
of determining landowner eligibility for special consideration under this subsection. 
§. Hu.ntei- permit transfers. A resident may take an a-Htlerless deer if another resideRt 
vko holds a ,,zalid afl:tlerless deer permit transfers the permit to that residera by identifying 
the name and address of the transferee on the permit as well as aRy other informatioa 
reasomtbly requested by the eommissioner and then returns the permit to the depattment 
prior to the start of the firearm season oa deer. },_ nomesidera may take an afl:tlerless deer 
if another Boraesident vrho holds a valid antlerless deer permit tnmsfers the permit to that 
nonresideat by ideatifying the Bame and address of the transferee on the permit as v1ell as 
aey other iaformation reasonably requested by the eommissioner and thea returns the 
permit to the departmeat prior to the start of the firearm season on deer. The eommissioner 
shall reeord a transfer under this subseetion and return the permit to the transferee. ,A,_ valid 
permit must be in the possession of the transferee iH order for the transferee to take an 
antlerless deer. 
§ A. Permit tFansfer to juni0F hunter. =Notwithstanding subseetion 5, ajunior huRter 
may take an afl:tletless deer if another person ,vho holds a valid aRtletless deer permit 
transfers that permit to that junior huBter by identifying the name and address of the 
transferee on the permit as 'Nell as any other information reasonably requested by the 
eommissioner and then returns the permit to the departmeat at least 4 8 hours prior to the 
junior hunter's huntiag antlerless deer. Upon transfer of the afl:tlerless deer permit to a 
junior hunter, the transferor may not hunt an antletless deer pursuant to the transferred 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" f} to H.P. 82, L.D. 116 
p6fffiit but rem.ains eligible, unless othenvise prohibited, to take a deer other than an 
antledess deer in aooordaRoe vlith this Part. 
The oommissioner shall reoord a transfer under this subseotion and return the permit to the 
traRsferee. A valid permit must be in the possession of the transferee in order for the 
transferee to take an antlerless deer. 
7. Special antler less deer permit. The commissioner shall issue a special antlerless 
deer permit to an eligible person who has lost all or part of one or more lower limbs, not 
including a partial foot amputation, or is suffering from the pe11nanent loss of use of both 
lower limbs. 
The commissioner shall issue a permit upon application and after the 
applicant verifies that person's ambulatory disability with a letter signed by a physician 
confirming the person's condition. A person who is issued a special antlerless deer permit 
under this subsection may take an antlerless deer in any part of the State open to the taking 
of antlerless deer pursuant to subsection 3. 
8. Junior hunter consideration. An antlerless deer permit system lottery adopted by 
the commissioner pursuant to this section may include a provision giving special 
consideration to persons with a valid junior hunting license. As part of the special 
consideration to junior hunters, the commissioner shall provide at least 25% of the available 
antlerless deer permits in a wildlife management district to persons with a valid junior 
hunting license who apply for an antlerless deer permit in that district. 
9. Fee. The fee for an antlerless deer permit is $12 for residents and nonresidents. 
Sec. 12. 12 MRSA §11403, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2019, c. 325, §5, is further 
amended to read: 
2. Open archery season on deer. The commissioner shall by rule establish a regular 
arohery only archery season beginning at least 3 0 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 onl:j' or crossbow. During the 
regular arohery only arche1y season on deer the following restrictions apply. 
A. A person may not take a deer during a regular arohery only archery season unless 
that person uses a hand-held bow and broadhead arrow in accordance with section 
11214, subsection 1, paragraph P or a crossbow in accordance with section 10953, 
subsection 3. 
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 arohery only archery season on 
deer. This paragraph may not be construed to prohibit a person from carrying a 
concealed weapon in accordance with Title 25, section 2001-A. 
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 arohery only archery season on deer, 
that person is precluded from further hunting for deer during that year except as 
otherwise provided in law or rule. 
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 and crossbow, including the 
transportation, registration and possession of deer taken by this method these methods. 
A person who violates this subsection commits a Class E crime. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT"# to H.P. 82, L.D. 116 
Sec. 13. 12 MRSA §11701, first 1, as amended by PL 2019, c. 98, §2, 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 part of the State, prescribe the form 
and regulate the number of pe1mits 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 tha-t a person may not hunt wild turkey ,,vith 
a crossbow during the fall open season on hunting wild turkey as established by the 
commissioner. 
Sec. 14. Examination of crossbow laws. The Department of Inland Fisheries and 
Wildlife shall determine the statutory changes necessary to remove the distinction between 
hunting with a bow and arrow and crossbow. The department shall report the department's 
findings and recommendations on the necessary changes as well as the cost, timeline and 
impact of the changes to the joiht standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction 
over inland fisheries and wildlife matters by January 3, 2023. The committee may report 
out a bill related to crossbows to the 131 st Legislature in 2023. 
Sec. 15. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and 
allocations are made. 
INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE, DEPARTMENT OF 
Resource Management Services - Inland Fisheries and Wildlife 0534 
Initiative: Provides allocations to acquire or enhance deer habitat. 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
All Other 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL 
2021-22 
$0 
$0 
2022-23 
$811,044 
$811,044 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section 
number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment adds the following provisions to the bill. 
1. It creates a $12 antlerless deer permit fee. The revenue from the $12 antlerless deer 
permit fee, less administrative costs, is deposited in the Maine Deer Management Fund. 
2. It allows super pack license holders to use their antlerless deer permits in wildlife 
management areas where 2,000 or more antlerless permits are issued. 
3. It eliminates swaps and transfers of permits for game animals, except moose. It 
eliminates resident hunter antlerless deer permit transfers and antlerless deer permit 
transfers to junior hunters. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
~os. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" fl<t◊ H.P. 82, L.D. 116 
4. It repeals the provisions that temporarily permit the use of crossbows to hunt deer 
during the open archery season and turkey during the fall turkey season. Instead, the use of 
crossbows is allowed on an ongoing basis during the open archery season and during the 
fall turkey hunting season. 
5. It authorizes the Commissioner oflnland Fisheries and Wildlife to allow hunters to 
take antlerless deer without an antlerless deer permit in certain areas of the State. The 
amendment provides that if the commissioner establishes by rule a lottery for issuing 
antlerless deer permits, the commissioner may also allow direct purchase of additional 
antler less deer permits in certain areas of the State. 
6. It directs the Department oflnland Fisheries and Wildlife to determine the statutory 
changes needed to remove the distinction between a crossbow and a bow and atTow for 
purposes of the hunting laws and to report these changes, along with the anticipated cost 
and timeline for the changes, to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having 
jurisdiction over inland fisheries and wildlife matters by January 3, 2023. The committee 
is authorized to report out a bill related to crossbows to the 131 st Legislature in 2023. 
The amendment also adds an appropriations and allocations section. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 03/27/22 feae 
LD 116 
LR98(02) 
An Act To Allow the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife To Authorize the Hunting of 
Antlerless Deer without a Permit in Certain Areas 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment If ( fl/ q u3) 
Committee: Inland Fisheries and Wildlife 
Appropriations/ Allocations 
Other Special Revenue Funds 
Revenue 
Other Special Revenue Funds 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
FY 2021-22 
FY 2022-23 
$0 
$811,044 
$0 
$811,044 
Projections 
FY 2023-24 
$811,044 
$811,044 
Projections 
FY 2024-25 
$811,044 
Under current law, antlerless deer are harvested by issuing free any-deer permits, which allow hunters to take either an 
antlered or antlerless deer in designated wildlife mamangement districts. This bill ends the use of the free any-deer 
pennit and creates a $12 antlerless deer pennit. Revenue from the pennits will be credited to the Deer Management 
Fund (DMF) in the Department of fuland Fisheries and Wildlife to be used to acquire and manage deer wintering 
habitat. Using an estimate of 67,587 permits, the new $12 fee will generate $811,044 annually beginning in fiscal year 
2022-23. The bill includes a corresponding allocation to allow expenditure of the additional revenue. 
LR0098(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1