APPROVED CHAPTER
MAY 23, 2025 35
BY GOVERNOR RESOLVES
STATE OF MAINE
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IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FIVE
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H.P. 502 - L.D. 777
Resolve, Directing the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to Study
Lengthening the Muzzle-loading Season for Deer in Certain Wildlife
Management Districts
Sec. 1. Study of muzzle-loading season for deer and expanding season in
certain wildlife management districts. Resolved: That the Department of Inland
Fisheries and Wildlife shall study lengthening the muzzle-loading season for deer beyond
the 6-day season currently established in department rule in additional wildlife
management districts in the State where winter conditions are less severe.
Sec. 2. Report. Resolved: That, by January 1, 2026, the department shall submit a
report to the Joint Standing Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife that includes an
overview of the study findings pursuant to section 1 and any recommendations to identify
additional wildlife management districts where the length of the special muzzle-loading
season on deer could be extended. The report must include a map identifying the muzzle-
loading season for deer in each wildlife management district in the State and highlight on
the map wildlife management districts that are currently permitted by rule to have a longer
season than 6 days, wildlife management districts that the department determines could
have an extended season and wildlife management districts that the department determines
should continue to have a 6-day season. The committee may report out a bill related to the
report to the Second Regular Session of the 132nd Legislature.
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