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An Act To Clarify Crossbow-related Hunting Laws
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas,  this legislation needs to take effect before the expiration of the 90-day period in order to provide for the proper implementation of the legislation for the 2020 hunting season; and
Whereas,  in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §10953, sub-§1, ¶E, as enacted by PL 2019, c. 98, §1, is amended to read:
 
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. AExcept as provided in subsection 1-C and section 10853, subsection 11, a person may not take an antlerless deer with a crossbow under this paragraph during an open archery season on deer unless that person possesses an antlerless deer permit in accordance with section 11152. A person 65 years of age or older who hunts deer with a crossbow pursuant to this paragraph and subsection 1-C and a person who holds a permit under section 10853, subsection 11 and hunts deer with a crossbow pursuant to this paragraph may not take an antlerless deer in a wildlife management district for which antlerless deer permits have not been issued.
 
This paragraph is repealed January 1, 2023; and
Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §10953, sub-§1-C, as amended by PL 2019, c. 325, §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 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.and may take an antlerless deer with a crossbow during the regular archery-only deer hunting season without an antlerless deer permit issued in accordance with section 11152.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.
 
SUMMARY
This bill allows a person 65 years of age or older and, under certain circumstances, a person with a permanent physical disability to take an antlerless deer with a crossbow without an antlerless deer permit during the open archery season on deer.