Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §7102-A, sub-§6, ¶C, as corrected by RR 1993, c. 1, §35, is amended to read:

C. The commissioner shall by rule establish a special archery season beginning at least 30 days prior to and extending to the beginning of the regular deer hunting season, as described in section 7457, subsection 1, paragraph A, for the purpose of hunting deer with bow and arrow only. During the special archery season on deer, the following restrictions apply.

(1) Deer may be taken only by means of a hand-held bow and broadhead arrow, provided that:

(a) Bows must be of adequate strength to shoot an arrow at least 150 yards; and

(b) Arrowheads must be at least 7/8 inch in width.

(2) A person may not carry firearms of any kind while hunting any species of wildlife with bow and arrow during the special archery season on deer, except that any person who holds a license that allows hunting with firearms may carry a handgun.

(3) If a person takes a deer with bow and arrow during the special archery season on deer, that person is precluded from further hunting for deer during that year.

(4) Except as provided in this subsection, the provisions of chapters 701 to 721 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.

Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §7102-A, sub-§6, ¶D is enacted to read:

D.__Notwithstanding section 7458, subsections 1 and 2, a person who has taken a deer with bow and arrow during the special open season for archery hunting may hunt for and kill a 2nd deer with a firearm during the firearm season.

Sec. 3. 12 MRSA §7107-A, sub-§5, ¶A, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 320, §2, is repealed.

Sec. 4. 12 MRSA §7457, sub-§1, ¶H, as amended by PL 1997, c. 225, §1, is repealed.