Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §7001, sub-§15, as amended by PL 1999, c. 147, §1, is further amended to read:

15. Hunt. To "hunt" means to pursue, catch, take, kill or harvest wild animals or wild birds or to attempt to catch, take, kill or harvest wild animals or wild birds.

Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §7102-A, sub-§6, śC, as amended by PL 2001, c. 387, §9, is further amended to read:

C. The commissioner shall by rule establish a special archery season beginning at least 30 days prior 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:

(a) Bows must have a minimum draw weight of 35 pounds; 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, except for an expanded archery season established by the commissioner pursuant to this Part.

(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. 3. 12 MRSA §7106-B, sub-§3-A is enacted to read:

3-A. Landowners.__Notwithstanding section 7240, a person may stock pheasants on land owned by that person without a permit