SUMMARY OF MAINE HUNTING LAWS 2019-2020 Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife | Season dates for hunting are revised annually. Information appearing in this book may not be valid after July 2020. 3 1 2 6 5 4 10 11 9 8 14 18 19 7 17 13 28 27 26 12 16 23 25 15 22 21 29 20 24 MAINE’S WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS For a more detailed map and information on WMDs, please visit mefishwildlife.com DIGITAL VERSION AVAILABLE Download a PDF copy of this book at mefishwildlife.com/huntinglaws SUMMARY OF HUNTING LAWS to easily reference from your TABLE OF CONTENTS computer or mobile device. LAWS OF THE MAINE OUTDOORS ..... 2 JUNIOR HUNTERS ................................17 Legal Hunting Equipment ...........................26 2019-20 MAINE HUNTING SEASONS . 4 Junior Hunting Licenses .............................17 Bear Hunting Prohibitions ..........................26 LICENSING INFORMATION .................. 6 Supervision of Junior Hunters ....................17 Bear Hunting with a Maine Guide ..............27 Who Needs a License?....................................6 Youth Hunting Days.....................................17 Laws Regarding Registration .......................27 What Are the Requirements? ........................6 DEER HUNTING.....................................18 2019 Bear Seasons & Bag Limits .................27 How Are Licenses Obtained? .........................6 Deer Hunting Prohibitions ..........................18 BEAR TRAPPING ................................. 28 Definitions......................................................6 Areas Closed to Deer Hunting .....................18 Bear Trapping Permit ...................................28 Special Licenses ..............................................7 Areas Open to Deer Hunting .......................18 Design & Deployment Standards ................28 Outdoor Safety Courses .................................7 Deer Permits & Licenses ..............................19 Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Apprentice Hunter License ............................7 Deer Population Monitoring Project ...........19 Program ........................................................28 2019-20 Apprentice Hunter License and Reporting Accidents & Aiding Victims .......20 HUNTING AREAS ................................. 29 Permit Fees .....................................................7 Harassment of Hunters ...............................20 State Parks and Historic Sites .....................29 2019-20 License and Permit Fees .................8 2019 Deer Seasons & Bag Limits ................20 Wildlife Management District Map ............29 Lifetime License Fees .....................................9 CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE ............21 Public Reserved Lands .................................29 Maine Lifetime License ..................................9 What is CWD? ..............................................21 Wildlife Management Areas .......................29 Superpack License ..........................................9 Regulations on Feeding Deer .......................21 National Wildlife Refuges (NWR) ...............29 License Revocation Information .................10 Waste of Game .............................................21 White Mountain National Forest ................30 GENERAL HUNTING LAWS ..................11 MDIFW Check Stations ...............................21 National Park Service ...................................30 Prohibition Regarding Selling MOOSE HUNTING ................................ 22 Baxter State Park ..........................................30 of Wild Animals ............................................11 Moose Hunting Permit ................................22 Closed and Special Regulation Areas ..........30 Night Hunting .............................................11 2019 Moose Permit Hunt Seasons & Railroad Tracks .............................................30 Raccoon Hunting .........................................11 Bag Limits .....................................................22 Native American Territory ..........................31 Placement of Bait .........................................11 WILD TURKEY HUNTING .................... 23 HUNTING/TRAPPING ON PRIVATE Minimum Shooting Distances .....................11 Landowner Privileges...................................23 PROPERTY .............................................31 Target Identification While Hunting ..........12 Wild Turkey to Be Tagged ............................23 Commercial Shooting Areas ........................32 Tagging, Transportation & Registration ....12 Wild Turkey Transportation ........................23 LEGAL HUNTING HOURS ................... 33 Time Limits for Registering.........................13 Wild Turkey Registration.............................23 MIGRATORY GAME BIRDS .................. 34 Condition of Animal Presented Wild Turkey Hunting Prohibitions .............23 Summary of Federal Regulations ................35 for Registration ............................................13 Wild Turkey Legal Hunting Hours ..............23 Phone Numbers You Might Need ................35 Possession of Gift Bear, Deer, Moose, Wild Turkey Licensing, Permit, Maine Migratory Hunting Zones Map ........35 or Wild Turkey ..............................................13 & Who May Hunt .........................................23 2019-20 Migratory Game Birds Seasons Hunting with Dogs and Dog Training .........13 Spring Wild Turkey Hunting .......................24 & Bag Limits .................................................36 LAWS PERTAINING TO HUNTING Fall Wild Turkey Hunting ............................24 Laws Specific to Merrymeeting Bay ............38 EQUIPMENT ...........................................14 2019–20 Wild Turkey Seasons & Duck Stamp Art Contest ..............................38 General Laws ................................................14 Bag Limits .....................................................24 Harvest Information Program ....................38 Firearms Laws ..............................................14 OTHER SPECIES HUNTING................. 25 Stamp Requirements ...................................38 Disturbing Traps ..........................................14 Other Species Permits & Licenses ...............25 Field Possession Limit .................................39 Trail/Game Cameras Law .............................14 2019-20 Other Species Seasons & Importation ..................................................39 Archery Information ....................................15 Bag Limits .....................................................25 Band Recovery Reports ................................39 Hunter Orange Clothing Requirements .....15 BEAR HUNTING ................................... 26 Barrow’s Goldeneye ......................................39 Releasing Dogs from Traps ..........................16 Bear Hunting Permit ....................................26 2019-20 Migratory Bird Hunter’s Time Crossbow Information .................................16 Landowner Privileges...................................26 & Tide Table ..................................................40 Observation Stands .....................................16 Bait ................................................................26 MAINE IF&W CONTACTS .....................41 2 LAWS OF THE MAINE OUTDOORS - DIGITAL LAWS OF THE MAINE OUTDOORS Being a responsible user of the Maine outdoors means staying informed of, and complying with, the current laws and rules. This book, published by the Maine Department WHY DIGITAL LAW BOOKS? of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW), is In 2016, we printed over 700,000 law books. That’s a designed to help you quickly find and understand lot of paper and a lot of money diverted from Maine’s the hunting rules that apply to you. We’ve also fish and wildlife. included handy tools to help you stay in compliance, like charts of legal hunting hours already adjusted for sunrise and sunset. And in the back, you’ll find MDIFW contact info, including regional game With 77% of the U.S. population using smartphones warden communication centers. in 2017, our agency’s mission clearly directed us to Our popular summary guides make it easy to find make a shift. And while we are still printing some and follow the laws and rules that apply to you, books (available at license agent locations), we’re asking you to do your part and make use of the no matter what outdoor activity you’re interested convenient and responsible digital options. in. And now, our NEW digital formats allow you As a bonus, the digital options are searchable and to quickly check a technical rule, confirm legal always on hand, as long as you have your mobile hunting hours, look up best practices and more— device. If you always keep it on you (and charged) to from anywhere, anytime. take photos or use the GPS, this is a no-brainer. 2019-20 STATE OF MAINE SUMMARY OF LAWS & RULES HUNTING QUESTIONS? CALL 207 287-8000 LAWS OF THE MAINE OUTDOORS - DIGITAL 3 NO CELL COVERAGE IN THE WOODS? NO PROBLEM. Just go to mefishwildlife.com/laws and browse by activity. Before you head into the woods, follow these instructions to save an offline law book or quick-reference guide to your mobile device. FROM YOUR IPHONE FROM YOUR ANDROID FROM YOUR COMPUTER 1. Download the Adobe 1. In Chrome, go to: Go to mefishwildlife.com/laws Acrobat Reader app. mefishwildlife.com/laws. to save a copy and/or print just 2. In Safari, go to: 2. Select the link for the PDF the pages you need. mefishwildlife.com/laws.