Fishing
Maine has laws and rules for game hunting, trapping and fishing. The laws are enforced by the State of Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Anyone who hunts, traps or fishes must obtain a license. Complimentary licenses are given to certain groups including disabled veterans, military personnel, Native Americans, people over 70 and some handicapped persons.
Laws for Fishing
Maine fishing laws are grouped by ice, open water, saltwater and Atlantic salmon fishing. While ice fishing, you may not lure fish with meat, bones or other food. You can only ice fish on those inland waters that are open by law. If you like to ice fish with multiple lines, you can use a maximum of five. For open water fishing, it's also unlawful to lure fish, but you can place food in a trap that's used to catch baitfish. If your family enjoys alewives, you can take a bushel per day from inland waters, except where someone has been given exclusive rights to the alewives. Different saltwater laws apply to different types of finfish, including methods of catching (for example, hook and line, net) and season and size limitations. Maine has separate rules governing salmon fishing. In determining salmon fishing laws, the IFW's mission is to protect and conserve the salmon. You should check the IFW website for updates on salmon and other fishing laws.
Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
284 State Street
41 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0041
(207) 287-8000
maine.gov/ifw/laws_rules/fishing/index.htm
Laws for Hunting Game
In Maine, the hunting laws combine hunter's rights and concern for the environment. If you wound or kill an animal or bird, you must make a reasonable effort to retrieve it and use it for consumption before abandoning it. No one can try to stop you from hunting as long as you're following the law and aren't hunting on that person's property without his or her permission. If you use a hunting dog, you must obtain a license to allow your dog to track wounded deer, moose, and bear, and there are specific times that you can train your dogs on certain animals such as foxes, rabbits, and bears. When hunting with a crossbow, be aware it must have a shoulder-type stock; hand-held crossbows are not allowed. As a crossbow hunter, you may carry a handgun, but you can't use it to shoot a deer. One other law to be aware of: in Maine, it's illegal to hunt on Sunday.
Laws for Trapping Game
Before receiving your trapping license, you must show proof that you've completed a state-approved trapper education course. The animals you may trap during the season are beaver, bobcat, coyote, fisher, fox, marten, mink, muskrat, opossum, otter, raccoon, red squirrel, skunk and weasel. Bear trapping has its own set of rules. No one may take or disturb a wild animal that you've trapped without your permission. If someone is convicted of disturbing a trap, he can be fined and sentenced to jail and he'll also lose his trapping, hunting and fishing privileges for a designated period of time. You may not trap wild animals or birds on any officially designated wildlife sanctuary or posted wildlife management area. Specifically, it's unlawful to trap waterfowl on Haley Pond in the towns of Rangeley and Dallas Plantation in Franklin County.
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