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> Laws and Rules > Hunting and Trapping > State of Maine 2009-2011 Hunting and Trapping Laws and Rules
State of Maine 2009-2011 Hunting and Trapping Laws and Rules
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Available apprentice licenses |
2009 |
2010 |
|---|---|---|
| Resident Hunting (includes bear and turkey permits) | $21.00 |
$25.00 |
| Resident Crossbow | $25.00 |
$25.00 |
| Resident Archery | $21.00 |
$25.00 |
| Nonresident Big Game (includes bear and turkey permits) | $102.00 |
$114.00 |
| Nonresident Small Game | $67.00 |
$74.00 |
| Nonresident Crossbow | $48.00 |
$55.00 |
| Nonresident Archery | $62.00 |
$74.00 |
| (Note: The apprentice licenses may not be used by a person selected to receive a moose permit.) |
Species |
Daily Bag Limit |
Possession Limit |
| Deer | Only 1 may be taken annually - See exceptions (1) below. |
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| Bear | Only 1 may be taken annually - either hunting or trapping. |
|
| Ruffed Grouse (Partridge) | 4 |
8 |
| Bobwhite Quail | 4 |
8 |
| Pheasant | 2 |
4 |
| Wild Turkey (Spring hunt) One (1) bearded Wild Turkey per permit holder. See (2) below. | ||
| Wild Turkey (Fall hunt) One (1) Wild Turkey either sex, any age per permit holder (shotgun or bow and arrow). | ||
| Snowshoe Hare | 4 |
8 |
| Gray Squirrel | 4 |
8 |
| Migratory Birds (Ducks, Geese, etc.) See (3) below. | ||
| Other Legal Species No limit | ||
Dogs may be trained on foxes, rabbits, and raccoons from July 1st through the following March 31st. It is unlawful to use or possess a firearm, other than a pistol or a shotgun, loaded with blank ammunition, while training dogs on fox, snowshoe hare, or raccoons (except during the open hunting season on these species). Dogs may be used to hunt wild hares during the firearm season on deer.
Residents may train up to 6 dogs on bear from July 1st to the start of the bear hunting season, except south of Route 9 in Washington and Hancock Counties.
Sporting dogs may be trained on wild birds (does not include Wild Turkey) at any time. The commissioner may authorize the use of firearms during such training to shoot and kill wild birds propagated or legally acquired by the permittee and possessed in accordance with the laws pertaining to breeders licenses.
During dog training season, it is legal to train dogs on Sunday.
A person must possess a valid hunting license to engage in these activities.
Note: These changes are in effect from July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010.
*Maine resident landowners, including immediate family members over 10 years of age, as long as their license to hunt without a license, including archery, crossbow and muzzleloading (must purchase all other permits; bear, pheasant, expanded archery, and waterfowl) on land they own and reside provided the land exceeds 10 acres in size and is used exclusively for agricultural purposes.
Applicants for an adult hunting license must show proof of having previously held a adult license to hunt with firearms in any year beginning with 1976 or successful completion of an approved hunter safety course from this or any other state. Residents must provide proof of residency when applying for a license*.
Convicted felons who have not been issued a permit to carry a firearm cannot purchase or possess a firearms hunting license in Maine (Title 15, sub-§393, sub-§§ 1 & 2.)
To obtain an adult archery hunting license, you must show proof of having held an adult license to hunt with bow and arrow in any year after 1979 or successful completion of an archery education course.
To obtain a crossbow hunting license, see Crossbow Information.
*Resident means a citizen of the U.S., or an alien who has been domiciled in this State continuously for one year. You will not be considered a resident unless:
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Hunting licenses and permits may be obtained online, from license agent throughout Maine (Sporting goods stores, many convenience stores, and town clerks), or from the Department office in Augusta. Nonresidents may also purchase the license by mail from the Department office in Augusta. Note: Not all town offices issue nonresident licenses. Get yours online now.
It is unlawful to obtain any license or permit through misstatement or misrepresentation or to possess any license or permit which has been altered, mutilated or tampered with in any manner.
Note: The Commissioner may revoke the license of any person convicted of violating the fish and wildlife laws, in addition to any penalty which may be imposed by a court of law. Some violations result in Mandatory Revocation! See list of violations.
Superpack License: To be eligible for this license, applicants must be a Maine resident. This license permits a person who has met the eligibility requirements for each license or permit to hunt and fish for all legal game and fish species subject to all the laws covering these activities: fishing, hunting, and archery. The Superpack license also includes: muzzleloading, migratory waterfowl, pheasant, spring and fall turkey, bear, crossbow, coyote night hunt, 3 expanded archery antlerless permits, entry in any deer lottery and 6 free chances in the moose lottery.
There are certain permits required (in addition to the regular hunting license) as listed below:
Wild Turkey: Maine’s spring Wild Turkey season occurs in May/June (2010 hunting season dates to be determined). Hunting is allowed by permit only. There is a fall Wild Turkey season for both archery and shotgun. Anyone who possesses an archery license or a big game hunting license may obtain a combination* Spring and Fall turkey permit. In addition, a second Spring turkey permit may be purchased by those who hold the combination* Spring and Fall turkey permit.
* Effective 1/1/2010
Pheasant Permit: Required for hunters 16 years of age or older to hunt or possess pheasant in Cumberland & York Counties. Revenue derived from this permit is dedicated to the acquisition of pheasants which are raised and released by private fish and game clubs.
Migratory Waterfowl Permit: Required for hunters 16 years of age or older to hunt waterfowl. (Federal stamp also required.)
Coyote Night Hunting Permit: Required to hunt coyote at night from December 16 to June 1. Hunting under this permit is limited to 1/2 hour after sunset until 1/2 hour before sunrise and shall cease at midnight each Saturday and resume at 12:01 a.m. on Monday. Hunters must be in possession of an electronic, hand-held or mouth-operated predator calling device. The fee for this permit is $4. Artificial lights may be used.
Muzzleloading License: Required for hunters 10 years of age or older prior to hunting deer during the muzzleloading deer season.
Falconry License: A falconry license, in addition to a regular hunting license, is required of persons who engage in falconry. Copies of the regulations pertaining to this type of hunting are available upon request.
Bear Hunting Permit: Required for hunters 10 years of age or older to hunt bear outside of the firearms season on deer.
*Moose: Hunting during the annual moose hunt is allowed by permit only. Currently 3,015 permits are issued and each permittee may select a subpermittee to hunt with them. Applications are available after January 1. For more information, see Moose Hunting Permits.
Expanded Archery Permit: Restricted to designated areas (see expanded archery maps and descriptions). Archery hunting only. Hunters who have a valid archery license will be able to purchase multiple antlerless deer permits for $12.00 each, and one buck permit for $32.00 (plus agent fee). (For 2009, Junior hunters 10 years of age or older and under 16 years of age may hunt during this season with their junior hunting license but must purchase the expanded archery permits, until 1/1/2010, when they will be included.) Limit: One buck and/or multiple antlerless deer (with appropriate expanded archery permits). Deer must be legally transported and registered as required for other deer seasons. All other archery deer hunting laws apply.
*Antlerless Deer: Hunting of antlerless deer during the firearms season and muzzleloading season is restricted to those hunters who possess a valid any-deer permit, bonus antlerless deer permit, or superpack antlerless deer permit. Antlerless deer may be taken by hunters during the Expanded (September – December) and Regular (October) **Archery Seasons. Applications are available mid-June. In several WMDs, there may be more any-deer permits available than applicants. Unclaimed bonus antlerless deer permits will be allocated in a chance drawing until all permits in that district have been issued. Application deadline: To be Announced
*Maine’s moose, and antlerless deer (firearms) hunts are “permit only” hunts. For more information, see Any-Deer Permits and Moose Hunting Permits.
**During the archery season on deer, archers may not take antlerless deer in WMD’s where antlerless deer permits are not issued.
Available at the Augusta Office only. For detailed information on the following licenses, contact the Department at (207) 287-3614.
Youth Deer Day: 10 years of age and under 16 years of age may take one deer. Limit is one deer per year unless they receive a bonus antlerless deer permit or participate in the expanded archery season (with appropriate licenses or permits). In WMD's where no any-deer permits are issued, youth hunters on Youth Deer Day are restricted to bucks only.
Hunting of Antlered deer is legal throughout the State during any open deer hunting season.
Hunting of Antlerless deer (having antlers less than 3 inches in length measured from the skull) is prohibited except by special permit during both the firearms season and the muzzleloading season.
Hunters For The Hungry - Attention hunters!Some Maine citizens lack adequate nutrition. A gift of meat from your hunt can help reduce hunger in Maine. Hunters for the Hungry is a program for donating wild game meat to food kitchens, shelters, and charitable organizations statewide. To find out how you can help call 1-888-4DEERME (433-3763) |
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Information on buying, selling or bartering animals.
Municipal Ordinances. Several Maine cities and towns have adopted local ordinances which restrict or prohibit the discharge of certain projectiles (e.g., arrows, bullets). Prior to hunting near thickly settled communities, hunters should check with local authorities regarding such ordinances. |
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The regular archery license allows bow and arrow hunting for all legal game throughout the year (except deer during the muzzleloading season), and is required to hunt during the regular archery deer season, the expanded archery deer season, and the fall Wild Turkey hunting season.
In addition to the regular archery license, hunters participating in the expanded archery deer season (designated areas only) and the fall Wild Turkey season must purchase permits as follows: Multiple antlerless deer permits may be purchased for $12 each and one buck permit for $32 for the Expanded Archery Deer Season. Wild Turkey permits for the fall season may be purchased for a fee of $20 for residents and $47 for nonresidents. You must possess the regular archery license in order to purchase an Expanded Archery Permit or fall Wild Turkey permit in Zone 1 and Zone 2.
Complimentary license holders (Disabled Veteran, Indian) and Junior license holders may hunt with those licenses during the Expanded Archery Deer Season and the fall Wild Turkey Season, but must purchase the permits described above.
Applicants for the regular archery license must show proof of having successfully completed an archery hunter education course or of having held an adult archery license in any year after 1979.
Junior hunters (at least 10 years of age and under 16) who hold a valid Junior Hunting License are allowed to hunt with bow and arrow when accompanied by their parent or an adult 18 years of age or older.
In addition, all other laws pertaining to deer hunting shall apply to archery hunting.
Crossbow Hunting License. To be eligible to purchase a crossbow hunting license, you must hold a valid license to hunt big game (either a big game hunting license or an archery license), and must submit proof of having successfully completed an archery hunting education course and a crossbow hunting course or satisfactory evidence of having previously held adult archery and crossbow hunting licenses in this state or any other state, province, or country, in any year after 1979. When proof or evidence cannot be provided, the applicant may substitute a signed affidavit.
A resident or nonresident 10 years of age or older and under 16 years of age may hunt with a crossbow if that person holds a valid junior hunting license (no crossbow license required). With a valid crossbow hunting license, a person may hunt bear with a crossbow during the open season on bear, and may hunt deer with a crossbow during the open firearm season on deer. (See restrictions on the use of crossbows). A crossbow may not be used to hunt deer during the archery season, muzzleloading season, or expanded archery season.
Only muzzleloading firearms that are 40 caliber or greater and capable of firing only a single charge may be used to hunt deer during this season.
Muzzleloading firearm means a firearm that is capable of being loaded only through the muzzle; is ignited by a matchlock, wheel lock, flintlock, or caplock, including an in-line caplock or shotgun or rifle primer mechanism; has a rifled or smooth-bored barrel capable of firing only a single charge; propels a ball, bullet, or charge of shot; and may have any type of sights, including scopes. (§10001 42-A and §11404)
Spring Season. For the 2010 Season the Department will be initiating a rule establishing the season dates. The season “framework” will remain the same as previous years (usually the month of May). The rule amendment will begin this fall and information on the seasons dates and any other changes, including a new combination Spring/Fall permit will be posted on our web site.
Who May Hunt. Hunters must have a valid spring Wild Turkey permit and a valid Maine resident hunting license or a valid nonresident or alien big game hunting license in order to hunt Wild Turkey. (Clarification: A valid archery license also permits hunting of Wild Turkey with bow and arrow in Maine.) The permittee must possess the permit at all times while hunting.
A person may assist in a hunt without a license or permit for that activity as long as that person does not carry hunting equipment defined as: firearms of any type that are permitted under the laws governing hunting, including muzzleloading firearms; or archery equipment that is permitted under the hunting laws governing archery, including, but not limited to, recurved bows and compound bows.
Permit Fee. For 2009, Maine residents $20.00 and nonresidents $47.00 (plus agent fee). In 2010, a combined Spring/Fall permit will be available to residents for $20.00 and nonresidents for $54.00. Holders of this permit may obtain a 2nd Spring male turkey for $20.00.
Youth Hunting Day. Youth 10 years of age or older and under 16 years of age, who possess a junior hunting license and a valid spring Wild Turkey permit, may hunt under supervision on the Saturday before the Spring hunt begins.
Spring Legal Hours. One-half (1/2) hour before sunrise until 12:00 p.m. (noon) local time.
Spring Area Open To Hunting. There is one spring Wild Turkey hunting zone as follows: Wildlife Management Districts (WMDs) 7, 10 through 18 and 20 through 26. See WMD Maps.
Spring Bag Limit. One (1) bearded Wild Turkey per permit holder per season. Holders of the combined permit may purchase a second Spring Wild Turkey permit to take an additional male turkey for an additional $20.00.
Spring Legal Method For Taking Wild Turkey. Only shotgun gauges 10 through 20 using shot sizes 4 through 6, or bow and arrow may be used to hunt Wild Turkeys in Maine. Electronic calling devices are legal.
Fall Season. See Fall Wild Turkey Hunting.
Fall Zone. There will be a Fall Wild Turkey Hunting season as follows:
Zone 1: (WMDs 15, 16, 17, 20, 24, 25, and 26);
Zone 3: (WMDs 15, 16, 17, 20 through 25).
See WMD Maps.
Fall Permits. Any person who possesses an archery license, or a firearms license that allows the hunting of big game, may purchase a Wild Turkey hunting permit to hunt during the fall Wild Turkey season. For 2009, Maine residents $20.00 and nonresidents $47.00 (plus agent fee). In 2010, a combined Spring/Fall permit will be available to residents for $20.00 and nonresidents for $54.00.
Fall Bag Limit. The bag limit for Wild Turkey during the fall season is 1 (one) Wild Turkey of either sex and any age per permit holder.
Fall Legal Method For Taking Wild Turkey. Only bow and arrow may be used to hunt Wild Turkey during the fall Wild Turkey hunting season in Zone 1 and Zone 2. In Zone 3, permit holders may use, (with appropriate license) bow and arrow or shotgun gauges 10 through 20 using shot sizes 4 through 6 inclusive may be used to hunt Wild Turkey. Electronic calling devices are legal.
Fall Legal Hunting Time. Legal hunting time is from 1/2 hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset.
The following laws and regulations are specific to Spring and Fall Wild Turkey hunting seasons. Hunters must also comply with all other applicable fish and wildlife laws.
Any private landowner is eligible to hunt Wild Turkeys on their own land without a turkey hunting permit if:
Registration Fee. A fee of $5.00 shall be paid to register a Wild Turkey.
Mandatory Submission of Radio Collars, Leg Bands, and Wing tags.
All radio collars, leg bands, and wing tags must be submitted to the Department at the time the Wild Turkey is presented for registration.
Wild Turkey To Be Tagged. Any person killing a Wild Turkey shall immediately securely attach to its leg, plainly visible, a tag bearing his/her full name, address and license number. Gift turkeys are to be labeled with the name and address of the person who registered it and the year the turkey was registered.
Turkey Transportation. Any Wild Turkey being moved or transported in any manner must have a tag securely attached, and it must be accompanied by the person who killed it. Unless the Wild Turkey has been legally registered, no person shall keep a Wild Turkey at his/her home or at any place of storage (except at the official registration station or at the office of a Maine game warden) for more than eighteen (18) hours without first notifying a game warden.
Wild Turkey Registration. All Wild Turkeys taken by hunters shall be presented for registration within 18 hours at one of the registration stations established for that purpose. The entire turkey, except the viscera, shall be presented. The fee to register a Wild Turkey is $5.00. All radio transmitters, leg bands and wing tags must be submitted at the time of registration.
Illegal Hunting Methods. No person may use bait, live decoys, traps or other devices intended or designed for the purpose of capturing or ensnaring Wild Turkeys. It is unlawful to use dogs to hunt Wild Turkeys. It is unlawful to take a turkey while the turkey is in a tree. It is unlawful to engage in an organized drive of any manner while hunting Wild Turkeys.
Other Prohibited Acts:
Questionnaires: A sample of Wild Turkey permit holders, including those who did not hunt or were unsuccessful, will be asked to complete a questionnaire provided by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and return it to the Department within a period of 10 days after the close of the Wild Turkey hunting season. Information provided by hunters is an important part of the Department’s Wild Turkey management program.
Note: The fall shotgun Wild Turkey season involves tactics that are different from the “sit and call” approach and hunters are reminded to use extreme caution while hunting.
*Bait may not be used to hunt for bear from September 28 to November 28, 2009 and from September 27, 2010 to November 27, 2010. Hunting with the use of bait is defined as hunting from an observation stand, blind or other location which overlooks any bait or food except standing crops and foods that have been left as a result of normal agricultural operations or natural occurrence. *“Bear Bait” means any animal or plant, or derivative of an animal or plant, used to attract bear. “Bear bait” does not include any packaging or container materials that fall within the definition of litter under Title 17, §2263.
Bait may not be used to hunt or trap black bear unless:
A permit is required from the Bureau of Parks and Lands, (207) 287-3821, to place bait on Public Reserved Land for the purpose of hunting bear. Baiting of animals is prohibited in State Parks and Historic Sites.
A permit is required by the White Mountain National Forest for the purpose of placing bear bait on National Forest lands. Contact the Evans Notch Visitor Center in Bethel, Maine at (207) 824-2134 for further information.
Bear Hunting Permit. Outside of the firearms season on deer, a special bear hunting permit (in addition to a hunting license) is required to hunt for bear. The fee for this permit is $27.00* for residents and $67.00* for non-residents and aliens. During the firearms season on deer, non-residents and aliens are required to obtain a permit to hunt bear. The fee for this permit is $40.00. The special permit is not required when trapping for bear. (*Plus agent fee).
Notice to Dog Owners: It is unlawful to allow any dog to run at large at any time, except when used for hunting. ("At Large" means off the premises of the owner and not under the control of any person by means of personal presence or attention.) It is unlawful to allow any dog to chase, wound, or kill a deer or moose at any time or any other wild animal in closed season. |
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To Hunt means to pursue, catch, take, kill or harvest wild birds and wild animals (wild by nature, whether or not bred or reared in captivity including any physical part of that species of mammal or bird) or attempt to catch, take, kill or harvest wild animals or wild birds.
1. Walking or standing on track or bridge. A person may not, without right, stand or walk on a railroad track or railroad bridge or pass over a railroad bridge except by railroad conveyance.
2. Entering Track. A person may not, without right, enter upon a railroad track with a team or a vehicle however propelled or drive any team or propel a vehicle upon a railroad track.
For penalties see Title 23, Chapter 611, §7007
Poachers are thieves… help us catch them.
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Articles of Hunter Orange Clothing must be in good and serviceable condition and visible from all sides. A decal on an article of clothing that is otherwise solid-colored hunter orange does not disqualify that article of clothing from satisfying the requirements of this subsection. Hunter orange means a daylight fluorescent orange color with a dominant wave length between 595 and 605 nanometers, excitation purity not less than 85% and luminance factor of not less than 40%.
If a person is convicted of Assault While Hunting [17A MRSA §208(A)] and the offense occurred in the context of hunting activity, and if, through failure of the hunter to make proper target identification, the offense resulted in the death of another person.
Persons convicted of burglary or criminal trespass of a building located within any unorganized township; theft of any equipment used for hunting, fishing and trapping; or theft of any animal which has been obtained by hunting or trapping and which was in the possession or control of the person who hunted or trapped the animal.
In addition, the Commissioner may suspend all other Department licenses held if a person is convicted of any of the following violations:
In addition to penalties provided in Title 17, Section 2264-B, relating to littering, a person convicted of littering on a state owned wildlife management area or sanctuary as defined in Title 12 shall surrender their hunting and/or fishing licenses for a period of up to one year.
Legal firearms for hunting: Handguns, rifles, and shotguns not larger than 10-gauge are legal for hunting in Maine, except as follows: Automatic firearms are illegal. Auto-loading firearms are illegal if they hold more than 6 cartridges* (does not apply to .22 caliber rimfire guns or to auto-loading pistols with barrel less than 8 inches). *See Auto-loading firearm.
Illegal devices for hunting: Silencers, tracer bullets, explosive bullets, poisonous bolts or set guns.
Deer hunting: No firearm may be used which uses .17 or .22 caliber rimfire cartridges, except .22 magnum. No firearms of any kind may be carried while hunting deer with a bow and arrow during the special archery season on deer and the expanded archery season on deer, except that a person who also holds a license that allows hunting with firearms may carry a handgun, but it cannot be used to shoot a deer or dispatch a wounded deer.
Moose hunting: It is illegal to use .17 or .22 caliber rimfire firearms, shotguns using shot loads or a crossbow.
Carrying concealed firearms: A permit is required to carry a concealed firearm in Maine, except that licensed hunters and trappers are exempt while engaged in these activities; the latter provision does not authorize the carrying of a concealed or loaded firearm in a motor vehicle. Some town offices or city halls issue these permits to residents. If not, contact Maine State Police. Nonresidents may obtain concealed weapons permits from the chief of the Maine State Police: (207) 624-7210.
Loaded firearms in motor vehicles: It is unlawful to have a loaded firearm or crossbow in or on a motor vehicle (including trailer, ATV, aircraft, snowmobile, or railway car). A loaded clip may be carried in a motor vehicle, but it must not be inserted in a firearm. Persons who hold a Maine concealed firearms permit may carry a loaded pistol or revolver in a motor vehicle.
Firearms may be transported in a motor vehicle without a concealed firearms permit provided they are (1) unloaded and in plain view, or (2) are unloaded and placed in a remote secure area (such as a locked trunk) away from the control of the occupants of the motor vehicle. For purposes of this law, a muzzle-loading firearm is considered to be loaded only if charged with powder, lead and a primed ignition device or mechanism. This provision also applies to crossbows.
It Is Illegal To:
Other Illegal Areas: Firearms and crossbows may not be carried on game preserves. Firearms and crossbows must be in a case or stored in the trunk of a car when transported through Baxter State Park.
*Trapping allowed in accordance with the general laws of the State.
As a result of the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act of 1980, lands purchased by the Penobscot Indian Nation and the Passamaquoddy Tribe within certain designated areas of the State are classified as Indian territory and have special legal status. The Penobscot Nation and the Passamaquoddy Tribe, within their respective Indian territories, have exclusive authority to regulate hunting and trapping. At the time of this publication, parcels of Indian territory had been acquired within the following areas:
Penobscot Nation:
Franklin County: Alder Stream Twp.
Penobscot County: T2R9 NWP (western portion), T3R9 NWP (eastern portion), T6R8 WELS (western portion) Argyle Township (northern portion) and T3R1 NBPP (northeastern portion).
Piscataquis County: T6R8 NWP. The Penobscot Nation also has exclusive authority to regulate hunting and trapping in the Penobscot Reservation, consisting of all islands in the Penobscot River north of, and including, Indian Island, located near Old Town, Maine. Contact the Penobscot Nation, Department of Natural Resources for specific locations of Reservation islands.
Passamaquoddy Tribe:
Franklin County: Lowelltown, T1R8 WBKP.
Hancock County: T3 & 4 ND.
Penobscot County: T3R9 NWP, T5R1 NBPP, TAR7 WELS.
Somerset County: Holeb T6R1 NBKP, Prentiss, T4R4 NBKP, Hammond Township, T3R4 NBKP, Alder Brook Township, T3R3 NBKP, Pittston Academy Grant, T2R4 NBKP Soldiertown Township, T2R3 NBKP.
Washington County: T5ND, BPP; T19 MD, Indian Township, and Pleasant Point, Perry.
Most of these areas will be conspicuously posted as Indian Territory. Anyone wishing to hunt or trap on Indian territory should contact the appropriate Indian agency for further information.
Penobscot Indian Nation:
Department of Natural Resources
12 Wabanaki Way
Indian Island, ME 04468
(207) 827-7776, Ext. 230
Passamaquoddy Tribe:
Ranger Department
Box 301
Princeton, ME 04668
(207) 796-2677
Maine Indian Tribal - State Commission
PO Box 186
Hudson, ME 04449
(207) 394-2045
All Wildlife Management Areas (WMA), except Steve Powell WMA (Swan Island), owned and managed by the Department are open for general law hunting and trapping. A list of these areas can be found online. Camping, fires, and permanent tree stands are all prohibited on Department-owned WMA's. For more information, see Wildlife Management Areas.
The Maine Department of Conservation, Bureau of Parks and Lands manages one-half million acres of land in Maine for a mix of activities, including hunting and trapping, for its citizens and visitors. The safety of all visitors is of primary concern to the bureau. Certain heavily developed and high-use areas are closed to hunting for all or part of the year. At other areas, the bureau provides as many hunting and trapping opportunities as are reasonable and consistent with its mandates and visitor safety.
Hunters and trappers are asked to exercise due caution and care for the safety and enjoyment of other visitors when using Bureau lands by obeying posted information and the rules listed below.
General hunting, except where specifically prohibited, is allowed from October 1 – April 30. Hunting and trapping shall take place in conformity with the laws of the State of Maine, rules of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, and local ordinances. Trapping on State park or historic site land in organized townships requires the written permission of the Bureau. There will be no hunting allowed on State park lands or restricted zone of the Allagash Wilderness Waterway, between May 1 and September 30.
For more information, please call (207) 287-3821, TTY (207) 287-2213 or write to:
Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands
22 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333-0022
Firearms - Loaded firearms are not permitted in campsites, on marked hiking trails, or at boat launching sites and picnic sites and shall not be discharged within 300 feet of such areas.
Bear Hunting - A permit is required from the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands to place bait on Public Reserved Land for the purpose of hunting bear.
NOTE: On National Wildlife Refuges which permit hunting of upland game, persons hunting upland species other than deer and turkey with a shotgun shall possess and use only nontoxic shot while in the field. More restrictive regulations may apply to National Wildlife Refuges open to public hunting. For additional information on federal refuge regulations, contact:
White Mountain National Forest (Oxford County, Maine)
The public land within National Forests is open to hunting. Portable tree stands that do not damage live trees may be used. Please contact the Bethel office of the Androscoggin Ranger District for more information on bear baiting on National Forest lands at (207) 824-2134.
Acadia National Park & the Appalachian Nation Scenic Trail - hunting, trapping, and/or possessing a weapon is prohibited on land administered by the National Park Service. For further information on these lands contact:
Acadia National Park
PO Box 177
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
(207) 288-8791Mount Desert Island (MDI) is located within the geographic boundary of WMD 26.
Appalachian Trail Park Office
Harpers Ferry Center
Harpers Ferry, WV 25425
(304) 535-6278Appalachian Trail Conference
New England Regional Office
PO Box 312
Lyme, NH 03768-0312
(603) 795-4935
The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Landowner Relations Program is actively working towards enhancing the relationship between landowners and land users. With approximately 94% of the land in Maine privately owned, everyone must respect landowners and their rights. Landowner wishes have to be followed by all outdoor recreation participants to help ensure access and use of private property in the years to come.
The Maine Legislature has enacted laws that address the concerns of landowners.
Summarized below are several of those laws and a brief description of each. For further detail on these laws, consult Maine Revised Statues cited in parenthesis.
Landowner Liability (14 MRSA §159-A) Limited Duty.
An owner, lessee, manager, holder of an easement or occupant of premises shall owe no duty of care to keep the premises safe for entry or use by others for recreational or harvesting activities or to give warning of any hazardous condition, use, structure or activity on these premises to persons entering for those purposes. This subsection applies regardless of whether permission has been given to another to pursue recreational or harvesting activities on the premises.
Exceptions to Limited Duty.
Costs and fees. The court shall award any direct legal costs, including reasonable attorney’s fees, to an owner, lessee, manager, holder of an easement or occupant who is found not to be liable for injury to a person or property pursuant to this section.
Posting of Land (17-A MRSA, §402.
Posting may be done in one of the following four ways:
Other provisions of posting.
Trespass Damages (14 MRSA, §7551-B).
Any person who enters the land of another without permission and causes damage to the property of another is liable to the owner in a civil action. Violations of this law will have the following results:
Unlawful cutting of trees (14 MRSA, §7552, and 17 MRSA, §2510).
It is unlawful for any person to intentionally, knowingly, recklessly or negligently cut down or fell any tree without the consent of the owner of the property on which the tree stands.
Abuse of Another Persons Property While Hunting (12 MRSA §10652).
It is unlawful to tear down a fence or wall, destroy any crop, leave open any bars or gates, or insert objects into trees on another person’s land without permission, see tree stand information.
Littering: It is unlawful to dispose of litter anywhere in this state except in areas or receptacles designed for that purpose.
Civil Trespass (12 MRSA, §10657) Prohibition.
While engaging in any activity regulated by the Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, a person, knowing that the person is not licensed or privileged to do so, may not:
Definition. For the purposes of this section, “projectile” means a bullet, pellet, shot, shell, ball, arrow, bolt or other object propelled or launched from a firearm or a bow, crossbow or similar tensile device. For information on other provisions of these laws, contact the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife’s Landowner Program at (207) 287-8091.
Always Seek Permission before engaging in any form of outdoor recreation on property that belongs to someone else. If you know you are welcome to use someone’s land, don’t abuse the privilege. If you don’t know if you are welcome, find out. If the land is posted or you know you are not welcome, find another location. A hunting or trapping license does not give you the right - stated or implied - to go on another person’s land against their wishes. |
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Department Check Stations
Our wildlife biologists collect information that is valuable in determining regional deer herd productivity and condition and figuring sex and age ratios. You will receive facts and figures from last year’s season, and the information you provide will be a basis for management decisions to be made next year. We would appreciate your participation whether you are successful or not.
A Caution on Liver and Kidney Consumption
The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and the State Bureau of Health recommend that the liver and kidneys of moose not be eaten because of possible contamination with the heavy metal cadmium. Also, recent studies have shown smaller amounts of cadmium in liver tissues from Maine deer, and deer, elk and antelope from other States. Maine health officials recommend that deer liver consumption be limited to 0.8 pounds in one sitting and 1 to 1-1/3 pounds per week. Human symptoms of acute cadmium poisoning include severe nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle cramps and salivation. There is no known health risk from eating moose meat or deer meat.
Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Program
The Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act of 1937, commonly known as the Pittman-Robertson (PR) Act established a “User Pay/ User Benefit” philosophy for funding State wildlife restoration and conservation efforts directed towards America’s wildlife resources. These funds have played a vital role in the management of Maine’s wildlife since they were first used in 1939 to enhance the Department’s wildlife management capabilities. Revenues are collected from excise taxes on firearms, ammunition, pistols, revolvers, bows and arrows and deposited in the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Fund. These funds support a wide array of projects in Maine which include: wildlife population assessments, long-range species management planning, development of management recommendations, implementation of management programs, acquisition and management of wildlife habitat, and hunter education.
Beaver trapping season dates and town closures will be mailed to all licensed trappers in mid-October.
Note: Nonresidents are not allowed to trap for beaver. Dates and closures can be found here when available.
1. What’s a trap? A trap is any device which is made to catch animals. There are many types of traps, but those which you are allowed to use to trap wild animals in Maine are:
a. ordinary foothold traps (including those manufactured with padded jaws);
b. duffer-type foothold traps designed primarily for taking raccoons (also called egg traps, coon cuffs, bandit busters, etc.);
c. killer-type traps of the body-gripping variety;
d. cage-type live traps;
e. colony traps; and
f. snares.
2. What’s trapping? Trapping is the setting or tending of traps. You are considered to be trapping if you do any of the following things:
a. set one or more traps anywhere in the fields, forests or waters of the State;
b. tend or visit a trap which has been set in the fields, forests or waters of the State;
c. kill an animal which is being held in a trap;
d. remove an animal from a trap; or
e. assist another person in doing any of these things.
Disturbing TrapsYou are not allowed to take or disturb any trap, or any wild animal which is caught in a trap, without permission from the owner of the trap.If you are convicted of disturbing traps, in addition to any fine or jail time you receive, you will lose all your trapping, hunting and fishing privileges for at least three years. |
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3. Who needs a trapping license? Except for certain landowners, full-time Department employees authorized by the commissioner for animal damage control purposes, and children, everyone (including animal damage control agents and animal control officers appointed pursuant to Title 7) must have the appropriate trapping license before going out to trap for wild animals or before going out to help another person who is trapping. (An unlicensed person may accompany a trapper only as an observer.)
4. Which trapping license do I need?
a. If you are a Maine resident under 10 years old, you may trap without a license, except that a person under 10 years of age is not allowed to trap bear.
b. If you are a Maine resident who is at least 10 but less than 16 years old, you must have a junior trapping license (see resident landowner below). (Note: A junior trapping license issued to a 15 year old is good for the entire year regardless of when the person turns 16).
c. If you are a Maine resident who is 16 or more years old, you must have a resident trapping license (see resident landowner below).
d. Resident landowners, and immediate family members, as long as their license to trap is not under revocation or suspension, may trap (except for beaver) without a license on their own land if they actually live on that land and the land is used only for agricultural purposes. (If you trap for beaver, you must have a trapping license.)
e. If you are a nonresident, regardless of age, you must have a nonresident trapping license. (Note: Nonresidents are not allowed to trap for beaver.)
f. If you are a nonresident who is not a citizen of the United States (nonresident alien), you are not allowed to trap in Maine.
(Note: Any licensed trapper is eligible for a free annual permit from the Department to take up to 20 pounds of eels, by eel pots or hook and line only, for the purpose of baiting traps.)
5. How much does a trapping license cost?
a. Resident junior license - $9.00
b. Resident license - $35.00
c. Nonresident license - $310.00 - In 2010 - $317.00
d. Resident over 70 years of age - $8.00 or free (depending on type of license)
e. A resident bear trapping permit - $27.00 (free for resident over 70 or disabled veterans)
f. A nonresident bear trapping permit - $67.00
(*Note: Resident disabled veterans and Native Americans are eligible for a free license.)
6. Where can I get a trapping license? All trapping licenses are issued from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife office in Augusta.
7. How long does a trapping license remain valid? A trapping license remains valid from July 1st through June 30th of the following year.
8. Do I need to take a trapper education course? When you apply for any Maine trapping license (except a junior license), you must show proof of having successfully completed a state-approved trapper education course OR show proof of having held an adult trapping license (in Maine or in some other state, province or country) at some time since 1978.
9. Are young people allowed to go trapping by themselves? A person less than 10 years old may go trapping only if accompanied at all times by a parent or an adult who is at least 18 years old. A person who is at least 10 but less than 16 years old must also be accompanied by an adult unless they have successfully completed a state-approved trapper education course.
10. What animals am I allowed to trap? Maine has an open trapping season for the following species of furbearing animals:
Beaver |
Muskrat |
Bobcat |
Opossum |
Coyote |
Otter |
Fisher |
Raccoon |
Fox |
Red Squirrel |
Marten |
Skunk |
Mink |
Weasel |
(Note: There is also a trapping season for black bear. However, the black bear is not considered a furbearing animal, so the bear trapping rules will be explained separately.) Except as explained in animal damage control laws, you are never allowed to trap for any species of wild bird, and you are never allowed to trap for any species of wild animal which does not have an open trapping season. |
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11. When does the trapping season open? The general trapping season for bobcat, coyote, fox, mink, muskrat, opossum, otter, raccoon, red squirrel, marten, fisher, skunk, and weasel opens on November 1, 2009 and closes on December 31, 2009. In 2010, opens on October 31, 2010 and closes on December 31, 2010.
12. Am I allowed to trap for muskrats while I’m beaver trapping? After the end of the general trapping season, you are allowed to continue to trap for muskrats in any area of the State which is open to beaver trapping.
13. What if I catch a mink or otter in my beaver (or muskrat) traps? Although you are not allowed to trap for mink or otter after the general trapping season closes, you are allowed to keep a mink or otter if you catch one by accident during the beaver trapping season.
14. Are there “special” trapping seasons for any furbearing animals? There is an early statewide fox and coyote trapping season prior to the regular trapping season, and there is an early muskrat trapping season in Wildlife Management Districts 1 through 6, 9, 10, and 11 prior to the regular trapping season. Details about these two early seasons will be explained later.
15. Am I allowed to put out bait or prepare sets before the trapping season begins? Except for beaver and muskrat, you are allowed to go out before the season starts and make preparations in the area you plan to trap; however, you are never allowed to fasten a trap (set or unset) at any trap site location before opening day. You are not allowed to make any advance preparations for trapping beaver and muskrat. You may not use meat or fish as bait in trapping for beaver. Also, you are not allowed to set any steel footholds or killer-type traps within 50 yards of bait that is visible from above.
16. What does “advance preparation” include? Advance preparation includes:
a. the preparation of the site where your trap will eventually be set; and
b. the placement of trapping implements (such as drowning devices) or associated materials (such as trap stakes or guide sticks) in the water or on the ice of any wetland.
17. Is there a season limit on any species of furbearing animal? The only furbearing animals which have a season limit are fisher and marten. You are not allowed to take or possess more than 25 marten or 10 fisher during the trapping season. (See special tagging requirements for marten and fisher.)
18. When and where am I allowed to set the different types of traps? As already mentioned, you are allowed to use ordinary foothold traps, specialized duffer-type foothold traps, body gripping killer-type traps, cage-type live traps, colony traps and snares, but you must obey the following rules:
a. Bait. Steel foothold or killer-type traps must not be set within 50 yards of bait that is visible from above. Bait may be used for trapping if it is completely covered to prevent it from being seen from above, and it must be covered in such a way as to withstand wind action and other normal environmental conditions.
Bait is defined as animal matter including meat, skin, bones, feathers, hair or any other solid substance that used to be part of an animal. This includes live or dead fish. For the purpose of this paragraph, bait does not include animal droppings (scat), urine or animals, dead or alive, held in a trap as the result of lawful trapping activity.
b. Foothold traps. Ordinary foothold traps may be used to trap for all legal species of furbearing animal, except that;
c. Duffer type traps. Duffer-type foothold traps (also called egg traps, coon cuffs, bandit busters, etc.) that are designed primarily to catch raccoons and avoid incidental catches of other animals may be used throughout the trapping season.
d. Killer-type (body-gripping) traps. Killer-type traps may be used to trap for all legal species of furbearing animal, but the size of the traps (jaw spread), and the Wildlife Management District, determines where you are allowed to set them:
e. Cage-type live traps. Cage-type live traps may be used to trap for all legal species of furbearing animal (and bears, as explained later), except that in Wildlife Management Districts 1 through 6 and 8 through 11, no cage trap which has an opening of more than 13 inches in width or more than 13 inches in height may be used unless the cage trap is being used (1) for wildlife research and survey activities; (2) for the removal of animals that are causing damage to property; or (3) to capture bear.
f. Colony traps. Colony traps may be used to trap for furbearing animals throughout the trapping season, except that:
g. Snares. Snares may be used only in the following situations:
h. After March 31 in those areas open to beaver trapping, muskrat trapping is restricted to use of killer-type traps and colony traps. Traps must be set to remain underwater at all times.
19. Am I allowed to set traps in the built-up section of a town? Unless you are on your own land, the only trapping you are allowed to do within 1/2 mile of the built-up section of a city or town is with the use of cage-type live traps and drowning sets.
20. What’s a drowning set? A drowning set is a trap that is set completely under water and rigged in such a way as to reasonably ensure the drowning of any species of trapped furbearer that would reasonably be expected to visit the set location and be held in the type of trap used at the set. (Note: You are allowed to trap in shallow water where a trapped animal is not likely to drown, but traps set in this manner are not considered to be drowning sets and are not allowed within 1/2 mile of the built up section of a city or town.)
21. Do I need permission to trap on land I don’t own? You are strongly encouraged to seek landowner permission before going on someone else’s land for any purpose. The trapping laws, with some exceptions, require that you have prior written permission from the landowner before setting traps:
Landowner permission is not required when trapping for beaver that can be legally accessed via water. A new law has also eliminated the written landowner permission requirements:
(*Note: Although you are not always required to obtain written landowner permission before setting traps, you are never allowed to set traps on privately owned land if the landowner has asked you not to trap there, either by a conspicuously posted sign or by word of mouth.)
When trapping on someone else’s land, there are certain things you are never allowed to do unless the landowner has given you specific permission to do so:
a. You are never allowed to tear down or destroy a fence or wall.
b. You are never allowed to leave open a gate or bar way.
c. You are never allowed to trample or destroy crops.
d. You are never allowed to cut trees or remove branches from trees.
22. What are the rules about trapping around muskrat houses, beaver houses and beaver dams? You are not allowed to destroy or damage a muskrat house or den, a beaver house or a beaver dam. You are not allowed to set a trap within 10 feet of a muskrat house, a muskrat den, or a beaver house, and you are not allowed to set a trap within 5 feet of a beaver dam.
23. How do I know if a hole in the bank of a lake or stream is the entrance to a muskrat den or beaver house? For enforcement purposes, the Department uses the following definitions in deciding if a hole in the bank is part of a muskrat den or beaver house:
a. Muskrat den: A muskrat den is any cavity which is capped by muskrats with vegetative matter, including but not limited to hollow stumps and bank cavities. Holes in the bank not capped with vegetative matter are not considered to be muskrat dens.
b. Beaver house: The term beaver house includes any cavity in the bank which is capped by beaver with mud and sticks. Holes in the bank not capped with mud and sticks are not considered to be beaver houses.
24. Am I allowed to set traps on an abandoned beaver dam which no longer holds back water? Yes. As long as the dam is inactive or breached, is in disrepair and is no longer being maintained by a beaver and shows no evidence of beaver activity.
25. Am I required to set my traps a certain distance away from another person’s traps? You are required to set your traps at least 4 feet away from another person’s beaver traps; however, as a matter of common courtesy you should always set your traps a reasonable distance away from any trap which has been set by someone else.
26. How do I know if my traps are set the required distance away from a muskrat house or den, a beaver house or another person’s beaver traps? If there is any question, you should always measure the distance to your trap using the following guidelines:
a. Beaver and muskrat houses should be measured from where the nearest edge of the house meets the water or ice. If the house or den is a capped cavity in the bank, the measurement should be made from where the nearest edge of the cap meets the ground, water or ice.
b. Beaver dams should be measured from where the nearest edge of the dam meets the ground, water or ice.
c. All measurements should be made from the trap itself. Sticks and poles used to construct the set or to secure the trap are not considered part of the trap.
27. Do my traps need to be marked or identified in any way? Each trap you set must be clearly labeled with your full name and address. (Note: The recommended method for labeling traps is to attach to each trap chain with a piece of wire a small metal tag preprinted with your name and address.)
28. When trapping beaver (or other animals) under the ice, am I required to display my name and address above the ice on the pole to which my trap is attached? The law only requires that you label each trap with your name and address. However, most trappers label both their trap and the pole to which their trap is fastened. This eliminates the need for a warden to chop out or otherwise disturb the set in order to identify the trapper. (It is a Department policy that if the trapper’s name and address are displayed on the trap pole above the ice, the warden will not chop out the set to check the trap for a label.)
29. I trap with a partner, and we use each other’s traps. Do the traps need to have both names on them? The purpose of the trap labeling law is to make sure that the trapper can be located if there’s a problem. Therefore, if two people are trapping together, it is not necessary to have the name and address of both trappers on each trap.
30. How often do I need to tend (visit or check) my traps? That depends on where you trap and what types of traps you use. Under ice drowning sets for beaver and muskrat have no specific tending requirements. All other traps must be tended, as follows:
a. In organized towns;
b. In unorganized towns;
31. Am I allowed to have someone else tend my traps for me? If you are unable to tend your traps, you are allowed to give permission to another licensed trapper to tend your traps for you.
32. Am I allowed to carry a firearm while tending my traps? Any licensed trapper (unless you are prohibited from possessing a firearm under title 15 (felon), and have not obtained a permit), is allowed to carry a firearm at any time while tending traps (including nights and Sundays) for the sole purpose of dispatching trapped animals. (Note: If you have a hunting license, you are also allowed to use this firearm for legal hunting purposes.)
33. Am I allowed to hunt for furbearing animals with my firearm? You may use a firearm or bow and arrow to hunt for bobcat, coyote, fox, opossum, raccoon, red squirrel and skunk during the open hunting season on these animals. You are not allowed to hunt for beaver, fisher, marten, mink, muskrat, otter, or weasel at any time.
34. What do I do when I catch an animal in one of my traps? Any animal you find in one of your traps must be removed. If the animal is alive, it may either be released or humanely dispatched. You are not allowed to keep a trapped animal alive unless you also have a license to possess captive wildlife. (Contact the Department for more information about captive wildlife.) See the Trapper information handbook for information on what to do and who to contact if you catch a lynx or bald eagle.
35. What if I catch an animal that I’m not allowed to keep? If you catch an animal at a time when you are not allowed to trap for that species, you must immediately release the animal alive. If the animal is found dead in the trap, you must report the incident to a game warden as soon as possible and turn the animal over to the Department.
36. What are the details about the early fox and coyote trapping season and the early muskrat trapping season? During the seasons explained below, there are rules, in addition to the general trapping rules, which you must follow. Failure to follow these rules could result in the loss of your trapping license.
Early Fox and Coyote Trapping Season - Opens Sunday, October 18, 2009 and closes Saturday, October 31, 2009. In 2010, opens on Sunday, October 17, 2010 and closes on Saturday, October 30, 2010.
a. You must set all traps at or below ground level.
b. You are not allowed to use killer-type traps.
c. You are not allowed to set traps in the water.
d. You are not allowed to use any exposed bait or visible attractor.
e. You are allowed to keep any incidental opossum, raccoon or skunk which you catch in your fox and coyote traps. Any other furbearing animal caught incidentally in your fox and coyote traps must be immediately released alive, or, if found dead, must be left there in the trap and be reported to a game warden as soon as possible.
Early Muskrat Trapping Season - Wildlife Management Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11 only. Opens Sunday, October 25, 2009 and closes Saturday, October 31, 2009. In 2010, opens on Sunday, October 24, 2010 and closes on Saturday, October 30, 2010.
a. You must set all traps at or below ground or water level.
(Note: For enforcement purposes, traps will be considered set “at or below ground or water level” when set on objects which muskrats frequently visit, such as floating logs, logs extending from the water onto the bank and tree stumps located in or near the water.)b. The only traps you are allowed to use are foothold traps not larger than size number 11/2, killer-type traps with a jaw spread of not more than 5 inches and colony traps. See colony trap restrictions.
c. You are not allowed to use any exposed bait or visible attractor.
d. You are allowed to keep any incidental mink or raccoon which you catch in your muskrat traps. Any other furbearing animal caught incidentally in your muskrat traps must be immediately released alive, or, if found dead, must be left there in the trap and be reported to a game warden as soon as possible.
37. Do the furbearing animals which I take by trapping or hunting need to be tagged? The skins of all beaver, bobcat, coyote, fisher, fox, marten, mink and otter must be tagged within 10 days after the end of the season on each species. There is a 25 cent tagging fee for each skin. (Note: The skins of all bobcats taken by hunting must be tagged within 72 hours from the time they were taken.) Tags must be attached to the skins of these furbearing animals before you are allowed to sell them, give them away, send them anywhere or take them anywhere. Skins of other furbearing animals (muskrat, opossum, raccoon, red squirrel, skunk and weasel) do not need to be tagged.
38. If the beaver trapping season closes at different times in different districts, do some beaver skins have to be tagged sooner than others? All beaver must be tagged within 10 days of the final closing date on beaver. If beaver are allowed to be trapped in some districts until April 30th, all beaver skins (regardless of where they were taken) must be tagged by May 10th.
39. What are the special tagging requirements for marten and fisher? When you obtain your trapping license you will be given 25 temporary marten tags and 10 fisher tags. One of these tags must be immediately attached to each marten and fisher at the time you remove the animal from your trap. This temporary tag allows you to keep the marten or fisher until you are able to have it officially tagged by the Department. Trappers who are not required by law to have a trapping license (residents under 10 years of age and residents trapping on their own land) may use, in lieu of the official temporary tag, a substitute tag (string tag) on which the name and address of the individual has been clearly written in ink.
40. What if I bring the skins of furbearing animals into Maine from another state or province? The skins of furbearing animals taken in another state or province must be tagged in that state or province before being brought into Maine. If that state or province has no tagging requirements, you must have the skins tagged in this State. (The tagging of imported fur applies only to those eight species for which Maine requires tagging.) (Note: Skins imported by taxidermists solely for taxidermy purposes do not require tagging.)
41. Am I allowed to have a skin tagged before removing it from the carcass? Yes, you may have a skin tagged while it’s still attached to the carcass, but you may find it more difficult to properly prepare the skin if it has already been tagged.
42. What about tagging frozen skins? If a skin will be frozen at the time it is presented for tagging (even if it hasn’t been removed from the carcass), you should insert a popsicle stick, tongue depressor, or similar object from the mouth hole through one of the eye holes before you freeze it. Removal of the stick at the time of tagging allows the tag to be inserted in the skin without thawing it out. Tagging agents may refuse to tag frozen skins which have not been prepared in this manner.
43. Where do I get my furs tagged? Except for bobcat and otter, you can get your furs tagged at one of the many fur tagging stations which are located throughout the state. You can find out the location of a fur tagging station in your area by calling the nearest Warden Headquarters. In addition to fur tagging stations, furs may be tagged at any regional office of the Department and, through prior arrangement, by any Department game warden or wildlife biologist. Bobcat and otter must be tagged by Department personnel.
44. What if I want to take or ship my furs out of the State? If your furs have been properly tagged, you are allowed by Maine law to take or ship your furs out of the State, but Federal Law requires an export permit for black bear, bobcat, otter and ermine (weasel) before these animals may be transported outside the United States. For information and permit applications, please contact:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Office of Management Authority
4401 North Fairfax Drive, Room 420C
Arlington, VA 22203
(703) 358-2104
Bear Trapping
There is an open season on trapping bear from September 1 thru October 31 annually. With the appropriate license, you are allowed to take only one black bear a year, either by trapping or hunting. (Persons who hold a trapping license are required to obtain a bear trapping permit - see trapping license information).
If you trap for black bear you are required to follow the same general rules that apply to the labeling of traps, the tending of traps and the need to obtain landowner permission. If you trap a bear, you are required to follow the same transportation and registration rules as apply to bear which have been taken by hunting (see Transportation and Registration). In addition, you are required to follow other rules which apply specifically to bear trapping, as follows:
a. You are not allowed to have more than one trap set for bear at any time.
b. The only types of traps you are allowed to use when trapping for bear are the cable trap (foot snare), and cage type live trap.
c. If you use a cage-type live trap, you must enclose the trap, as follows:
d. If you use a cable trap, the trap must have a closing diameter of not less than 2- 1/2 inches.
e. Whenever cable traps (foot snares) are used to trap for bear, each trap must be set at or below ground level in such a manner as to catch the animal only by the foot or leg.
f. All bear traps must be tended at least once each day.
g. You are not allowed to catch a bear in a trap and allow another person to kill or register the bear.
h. You are not allowed to continue to trap for bear after you have already killed or registered one.
i. Bears caught in traps must be killed or released and not moved away from the catch site. A bear caught in a trap may not be used in conjunction with a hunt or to train a dog for bear hunting.
j. The same rules apply to hunting and trapping for bear with the use of bait. (See rules about the use of bear baits.)
k. A line of demarcation of at least 500 yards shall be established at sites permitted or licensed for the disposal of solid waste. A person may not trap within the demarcation area (except that an agent of the commissioner is exempt for the purpose of live trapping of nuisance bear).
You are not allowed to trap within 500 yards of a site permitted or licensed for the disposal of solid waste, except for agents of the commissioner who are exempt for the purpose of live trapping of nuisance bear.
l. A person under 10 years of age may not trap bear.
Chronic Wasting Disease or CWD is a fatal brain disease of white-tailed deer, mule deer, caribou, moose and elk. It now occurs in several Midwestern and western states and a couple of western Canadian provinces. Where it is established, CWD can be very destructive to local deer, caribou, moose and elk herds, as well as to the hunting economies these populations support. Although there is no known link between CWD and any human disease, health officials advise against consuming meat from CWD-infected deer. The CWD disease agent, a type of protein, accumulates in certain high-risk tissues in a sick deer, caribou, moose or elk’s body. These include: the brain, spinal cord, spleen, lymph nodes, tonsils, eyes, saliva, urine, and feces. Deer meat is not known to harbor the disease agent, unless it is contaminated by other high-risk tissues. In Maine, we have been monitoring for the presence of CWD in wild and captive deer since 1999. To date, no CWD diseased animals have been detected. To keep Maine free of CWD, the Department of Agriculture (captive deer and elk) and the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (white-tailed deer) are actively working to prevent the introduction of CWD. Here’s how hunters can help:
Urine-based Deer Lures At this time, we do not know whether any captive/farmed deer or elk used by the lure industry have ever contracted CWD. To date, urine-based deer lures are not being checked for the presence of CWD proteins. Until more is known about whether commercial deer lures pose a risk of spreading CWD, we recommend that hunters use caution in spreading urine-based lures in the environment, and avoid placing the lures on their clothing or skin. Avoid placing deer lures on the ground or on vegetation where deer can reach them. Deer lures can be safely placed above deer height, allowing air circulation to disperse the scent.
It is illegal for individuals to bring into Maine cervid carcasses or parts, except that the following carcass parts may be imported and possessed:
This transportation restriction applies to both any cervid wild by nature and to any cervid killed in a commercial hunting preserve, that are taken in any state, province, or country outside of Maine. Any person who imports into Maine any cervid carcass or parts described above and is notified that the animal has tested positive for CWD must report the test results to the Department within 72 hours of receiving notification. It is legal for individuals to transport through the state of Maine cervid carcasses or parts destined for other states, provinces, and countries. Such transportation is to occur without undue delay and using the most reasonably direct route through Maine to the final destination for the cervid carcass or parts and in a manner that is both leak proof and that prevents their exposure to the environment.
Learn more about CWD.
This is a summary of 12 MRSA §11222.
While hunting, a hunter may not shoot at a target without at that point in time being certain that it is the wild animal or wild bird sought.
A reasonable and prudent hunter:
Any person who knows or has reason to believe that they have inflicted injury to another person by the use of firearms or bow and arrow is required to make themselves known to the victim and render such first aid and assistance, as they are capable of under the circumstances. The incident must be reported by the quickest means, to a game warden or other law enforcement officer.
Maine has a club for deer hunters called “The Biggest Bucks in Maine Club”, which is sponsored by:
The Maine Sportsman
183 State St., Suite 101
Augusta, ME 04330
To qualify, the minimum dressed weight (without heart, lungs, and liver) must be 200 pounds. Application blanks are available from Department wardens and biologists or by calling The Maine Sportsman at 207-622-4242.
A person may not charge any fee for access to land if the fee is contingent upon the taking of game on that land or directly related to the taking of game on the land, unless the land is an authorized commercial shooting area licensed as follows: The Commissioner may issue licenses for the establishment and operation of commercial shooting areas, authorizing the owner of a commercial shooting area to charge others for the opportunity to hunt mallard ducks, pheasants, quail, Chukar partridge, and Hungarian partridge in that area (12 MRSA section 12101).
The operator of a commercial shooting area may authorize a person to hunt other wild birds or wild animals in a commercial shooting area during the regular open season on those species, in accordance with the provisions of 12 MRSA Part 13, as long as the person possesses a valid state hunting license that allows the hunting of those wild birds and wild animals.
The operator of the commercial shooting area shall provide to each person taking birds in that area a receipted invoice or bill of sale for possession and transportation of those birds.
Enforcement. Enforcement of the trespass laws of a commercial shooting area is the responsibility of the owner and may not in any manner be considered an obligation of the Department.
Commercial Shooting Areas. Hunting on commercial shooting areas is governed by the license provisions of Section 12101.
List of commercial shooting areas licensed by IF&W.
Any hunter who takes a trophy deer, bear, or moose may wish to obtain information concerning the Maine Antler & Skull Trophy Club:
MASTC
150 Ames Rd.
Dover-Foxcroft, ME 04426
(207) 564-7614
Email: mastc1@gmail.com
www.mastc.info
Attention Outdoor Sportspeople
Do you need to take an outdoor safety course to obtain your license for firearms,
archery, crossbow, or trapping? Maine law requires completion to obtain your adult license unless you have previously done so or have held an adult license.
These courses are made available in your area by Volunteer Instructors certified by
the Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife. Pre-registration is requested and/or required. Courses will include 6 to 12 hours of instruction dependent on the subject. Sponsors include school districts, sports clubs, civic groups, and others. Courses will be scheduled based on instructor availability. See list of safety courses.
For information on becoming a Volunteer Instructor, contact the Regional Safety Coordinator or the Recreational Safety Division Office at (207) 287-5220.
Information provided by the Maine Chapter of the National Taxidermy Association and Maine Association of Taxidermists.
Hunting and fishing season are upon us and we are all hoping to harvest the trophy of a lifetime. For many of you this will lead you to a taxidermist to preserve that trophy forever. The steps you take after the kill will determine the quality of the finished mount. The following tips should help you to avoid any problems when you arrive at the taxidermist with your trophy.
Large and Small Mammals
The most important thing to remember is to cool down the carcass as soon as possible. This is of great importance during the early bow season and bear season.
Excess exposure to heat can cause irreversible damage. Once this happens, there is nothing even the most experienced taxidermist can do. Upon killing the animal, field dress it in the usual manner. Do not cut the throat and do not split the brisket past the armpit area. Small mammals should not be field dressed. They can be bagged and frozen at this point. On large mammals, if you are considering a full mount, remove the viscera only and leave all other body parts intact.
You must be careful dragging your animal out of the woods. The hair is easily damaged. The best way to remove them is to wrap them in a tarp before dragging or remove them with an all terrain vehicle. When you get home, wipe off any excess blood and dirt. A quick rinse with cold water is okay, but don’t soak the animal.
When you arrive at the butchers, inform them that you want to mount the animal. The carcass should be kept in a cooler and processed within two or three days of the harvest date. Even if temperatures are near freezing, you should not let the carcass hang more than a few days.
Many butchers prefer to split deer and moose capes up the back of the neck. It is best not to do this as it is often improperly done and results in additional repair costs later. The skin should be rolled down the neck during skinning until you reach the skull neck junction. The head is then severed, taking care not to cut the hide. If you cannot get to a taxidermist immediately, double bag, removing as much air as possible, and freeze.
Birds
The most important step to having a beautiful mount begins the moment you shoot your birds. Birds must be handled carefully; the feathers can be damaged very easily. If you are hunting with a dog, take the bird away from them immediately. Once you have the bird in hand, remove any excess blood and debris.
Do not field dress the bird. The best way to protect your bird is to slip it into a pair of pantyhose or a sock. This will hold the feathers tightly against the body, preventing damage. If this is not possible, they can be wrapped in a shirt of slipped carefully into a pocket. With pheasants, grouse, and turkeys take care not to damage or bend the tail feathers, and as with any specimen, they can be placed in a bag. Seal the bag first, removing as much air as possible. The bird can then be put on ice or frozen in a freezer. A properly packaged bird can remain frozen for as much as a year with no ill effects.
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