A group called Maine Hunters United for Sunday Hunting announced Wednesday that a new “compromise” bill is in the works to allow bow and crossbow hunting on Sundays. The group said they are working in collaboration with a bipartisan group of lawmakers and advocacy organizations to create the bill in hopes of breaking a 45-year stalemate between Maine hunters and state legislators. According to CBS 13, there have been 35 legislative attempts to allow hunting on Sundays, the last one, which argued that Maine’s new Right to Food Amendment could apply to hunter’s rights, was shot down last year.
Hunters in support of Sunday hunting say the law from 1883 hinders families from spending time together for weekend hunting and cuts short the only two days of the week that most Mainers have time to hunt for their own food.
Opposition to Sunday hunting comes mainly from farmers and landowners whose property is used by hunters, according to Tom Doak of Maine Woodland Owners, who spoke against the last proposed bill in 2022. A main concern is safety and the ability to enjoy the woods on Sundays.
This new bill hopes to offer a compromise that would continue to prohibit the use of firearms on Sunday but would allow hunters the opportunity to hunt with a bow or crossbow.
