Hunting in Maine: 5 Things To Know About Hunting on Private Lands in Maine

With about 94 percent of land in Maine privately owned, the state legislature has enacted scads of regulations about hunting in Maine on private lands. Here are five things that hunters should know.

1. Look for Signs
In areas of northern Maine with lots of open spaces, it is a common practice by landowners to allow hunters onto their properties. In southern Maine, however, landowners’ attitudes are likely to vary, according to the Portland Press-Herald.

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When in doubt, read the signs. In Maine, landowners who want to turn back potential trespassers are required to post signs on all vehicular access entrances from a public way. Landowners may post signs no further than 100 feet apart denying access to either a specific activity or all activities. Property owners may also paint two silver marks on trees, rocks, fence posts, or other objects. These paint marks mean that access is by permission only. Furthermore, landowners can tell intruders either verbally or in writing to stay off their property, according to the Maine Hunting & Trapping Guide.

2. Don’t Shoot Bullets or Arrows Without Permission
If a landowner has forbidden trespassing either through signs or verbal warnings, it is unlawful for a person to either “enter or cause a projectile to enter any place from which that person may lawfully be excluded,” according to the Maine Hunting & Trapping Guide. A projectile is defined as a bullet, arrow, pellet, shot, shell or bolt.

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3. Watch Your Step
Landowners and occupants of private land are under no obligation to keep the premises safe for entry or use by others in recreational and harvesting activities or to give warning of hazardous situations. There are a couple of exceptions to this law, however. It does not apply in situations where a person has paid money to use the land for hunting or other recreational activities. Also, landowners can be held liable for “a willful or malicious failure to guard or warn against a dangerous condition, use, structure or activity,” the Maine Hunting & Trapping Guide said.

4. Don’t Cut Down Trees or Tear Down Fences
It is illegal in Maine to cut down any trees without the consent of the property owner, or to do so recklessly or negligently. It is also illegal to insert any objects into trees, tear down walls or fences, destroy any crops or leave open any gates without the landowner’s consent. People who cause property damage while trespassing on private lands can be held liable in civil lawsuits.

5. Don’t Be a Litterbug
It is illegal anywhere is the state to dispose of litter except in areas or receptacles designed for that purpose. This law also applies to waste from field dressing of lawfully killed wild game.

This article is for information only. Please check current regulations before hunting.

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