LAWS PERTAINING TO HUNTING EQUIPMENT 15
LAWS PERTAINING TO HUNTING EQUIPMENT
GENERAL LAWS Wild animals and wild birds may be hunted only by the use of rifles , handguns , shotguns ( not larger than 10-gauge ), muzzleloader , archery equipment , or falconry .
Deer and moose decoys are legal , as are laser sights ( red dots or beam ) for firearms , crossbows , and bows .
Electronic calling devices are legal for deer , bear , turkey , moose , and coyote , but are illegal for migratory game birds .
MUNICIPAL ORDINANCES
Several Maine cities and towns have adopted local ordinances that restrict or prohibit the discharge of certain projectiles ( e . g ., arrows , bullets , bolts ).
Prior to hunting near densely populated communities , hunters should check with local authorities regarding such ordinances . Towns may regulate the discharge of firearms as provided by Title 30-A ; however , they cannot regulate or charge fees to hunt , fish or trap .
Illegal Devices :
• It is unlawful to hunt with the use of ( or sell or offer for sale for the purpose of hunting ) a set gun , or any medicinal , poisonous or stupefying substance ( except rodenticide for orchard mouse control and gas cartridges for woodchuck control ).
• Drawlocks and set bows are illegal unless otherwise permitted for disabled hunters .
• Crossbows cannot be used to hunt deer during the muzzleloader season .
Illegal Use of Lights : From September 1 to December 15 , it is unlawful to use artificial lights from ½ hour after sunset until ½ hour before sunrise to illuminate , jack , locate , attempt to locate or show up wild birds or animals , except raccoons , which may be hunted at night with flashlights during the open season ( see General Hunting Provisions for details ). An exception to this may be made for agents appointed by the commissioner to hunt coyotes at night during this period under policies established by MDIFW .
FIREARMS LAWS It is Unlawful to Hunt with , or Possess for Hunting , any :
• Automatic firearm ( a firearm that continues to fire as long as the trigger is held back ).
• Auto-loading firearm ( a firearm that reloads itself after each shot and requires a separate trigger pull for each shot ) with a magazine capacity of more than 5 cartridges ( plus 1 in the chamber for a total of 6 ), unless the magazine has been permanently altered to contain not more than 5 cartridges .
Note : This provision does not apply to . 22 caliber rimfire or smaller caliber guns or auto-loading pistols with barrel lengths of less than 8 inches .
3-shell Max for Migratory Game Birds : It is unlawful to hunt any migratory game bird with a shotgun capable of holding more than 3 shells unless the magazine has been cut off , altered , or plugged with a one-piece filler ( incapable of removal without disassembling the gun ), so as to reduce the capacity of the gun to not more than 3 shells in the magazine and chamber combined .
Silencers : While a person no longer needs a permit from Warden Service to hunt with a suppressor device , anyone who wishes to possess a firearm fitted or contrived with any device for deadening the sound of the explosion must still obtain the appropriate tax stamp from The Bureau of Alcohol , Tobacco , Firearms and Explosives ( ATF ).
Bullet Types : It is unlawful to hunt with cartridges that contain tracer bullets or explosive bullets .
Cartridges :
• Firearms with . 17 or . 22 caliber rimfire cartridges may not be used for deer , moose , or bear hunting , except that . 22 magnum can be used for deer hunting .
• Shotguns using shot loads cannot be used to hunt bear or moose .
Archery Season Provisions : No firearms of any kind may be carried while hunting deer with archery equipment during the regular archery or expanded archery seasons on deer , except a person may carry a handgun in accordance with Title 25 section 2001-A ; but it cannot be used to shoot a deer or dispatch a wounded deer .
Loaded Firearms in Motor Vehicles : It is unlawful to have a loaded firearm or archery equipment in or on a motor vehicle ( including trailer , ATV , aircraft , snowmobile , or railway car ), unless otherwise specified . See page 12 for more information .
A loaded magazine may be carried in a motor vehicle , but it must not be inserted in or attached to a firearm .
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 the purpose of this law , a muzzleloader is considered to be loaded only if charged with powder , a projectile , and a primed ignition device or mechanism . A crossbow is considered loaded if cocked and armed . Exceptions apply when carrying a concealed pistol or revolver .
Carrying Concealed Firearms : A person may carry a concealed handgun without a permit and may have that concealed , loaded pistol or revolver in , or on , a motor vehicle or trailer if :
• The person is 21 years of age or older and is not otherwise prohibited from possessing a firearm or ;
• The person is 18 years of age or older and under 21 years of age and on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States or the National Guard or is an honorably discharged veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States or the National Guard and is not otherwise prohibited from carrying a firearm .
Upon contact with a law enforcement officer , a person carrying a concealed handgun without a permit is required to notify them immediately .
QUESTIONS ? CALL 207 287-8000 2024-25 STATE OF MAINE SUMMARY OF LAWS & RULES HUNTING