Dogs can be extraordinarily helpful allies to hunters for both tracking and retrieving prey. Here are some things to know about laws for hunting with dogs in Maine, with most of the regulations specific to particular types of game hunts.
Training Dogs
A person must hold a valid Maine hunting license to train dogs for hunting. It is against the law to go hunting in Maine on Sundays, but it is legal to train dogs on Sundays during open seasons. It is also unlawful to let a dog chase, wound or kill a deer or moose at any time, or to do so to any other wild animal during a closed
hunting season, states the Maine Hunting & Trapping Guide.
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Bear Hunts
Although the general open season for hunting bear takes place from Aug. 31 through Nov. 28, 2015, the season for hunting bear with dogs is much shorter, lasting from Sept. 14 through Oct. 30, according to Maine’s
tentative hunting schedule for the 2015 season.
The Maine Hunting & Trapping Guide notes that residents are allowed to train up to six dogs on hunting bear from July 1 to the fourth day before the open season for bear hunting. Also, a person may not go hunting with a dog in pursuit of bear, bobcat or coyote unless the dog has a tag showing the name, phone number and address of the owner.
Deer Hunts
Deer may not be hunted with the use of dogs, artificial lights, snares, traps or deer decoys. The deer season is from mid-September to mid-December with separate components for archery, firearms, muzzleloading and expanded archery.
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Bobcat Hunts
Hunters may not use more than six dogs at a time to hunt for bobcat. The open season for bobcat is early December to mid-February.
Coyote Hunts
There is no closed season for coyote hunting. As with the bobcat, hunters may not use more than six dogs at one time for coyote. In addition, the state has designated a night hunting season for the coyote only. However, dogs may not be used for hunting coyotes at night.
Hunting Fox, Raccoons and Snowshoe Hare
Hunters may train dogs on fox, raccoons and snowshoe hare from July 1 through the following March 31. Open hunting seasons start in October for all three animals.
Wild Turkey Hunts
Dogs can be used for hunting wild turkey during the fall season, but not the spring season. The fall turkey season takes place in October.
This article is for information only. Please check current regulations before hunting.
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