32 HUNTING / TRAPPING ON PRIVATE PROPERTY
Other Provisions of Posting
1 . Signs or paint markings must be at all vehicular access entrances from a public way .
2 . It is unlawful to post the land of another or to remove , destroy , mutilate or deface any signs or paint marks .
Trespass by Motor Vehicle ( 17 MRSA , §§ 3853-C )
A person may not park a motor vehicle or allow a motor vehicle under that person ’ s control to remain parked :
1 . In a private drive or private way in a manner that blocks or interferes with the free passage of other vehicles without the permission of the owner of that private drive or way ; or
2 . On a public highway in a manner that blocks the entrance to a private drive , gate or barway .
Trespass Damages ( 14 MRSA , § 7551-B ) Any person who enters another person ’ s land without permission and causes damage to that person ’ s property is liable to the owner in a civil action . Violations of this law will have the following results :
1 . If the damage is intentional , the person doing the damage is liable to the owner for two times the actual damage , plus additional costs including attorneys ’ fees .
2 . If the damage is unintentional , the person doing the damage is liable to the owner for the amount of the actual damage including attorneys ’ fees .
3 . A person doing damage to property of another may also be charged criminally for causing the damage .
Unlawful Cutting of Trees ( 14 MRSA , § 7552 , and 17 MRSA , § 2510 )
It is unlawful for any person to intentionally , knowingly , recklessly or negligently cut down or fell any tree without the consent of the owner of the property on which the tree stands .
Abuse of Another Persons Property While Hunting ( 12 MRSA § 10652 )
It is unlawful to tear down a fence or wall , trample or destroy any crop , leave open any bars or gates , destroy , tear down , deface or otherwise damage a property posting sign , or insert objects into trees on another person ’ s land without permission or erect or use a portable or permanent ladder or observation stand without first labeling the stand and having landowner permission . See page 16 for observation stand information .
Disposal of Offal ; Littering ( 12 MRSA § 11221 )
It is unlawful to dispose of litter anywhere in this state except in areas or receptacles designed for that purpose . As litter relates to the proper disposal of legally harvested game , a person may not drop , deposit , discard , dump or otherwise dispose of a carcass , waste parts or remains of a wild animal , except waste parts or remains resulting from the normal field dressing of lawfully harvested wild game or the lawful use of waste parts or remains of wild game as bait .
Civil Trespass ( 12 MRSA , § 10657 ) Prohibition
While engaging in any activity regulated by MDIFW , a person , knowing that they are not licensed or privileged to do so , may not :
1 . Enter , or cause a projectile to enter , any place from which that person may lawfully be excluded and that is posted in accordance with Title 17-A , section 402 , subsection 4 , in a manner reasonably likely to come to the attention of intruders , or that is fenced or otherwise enclosed in a manner designed to exclude intruders ; or
2 . Enter , remain in , or cause a projectile to enter or remain in any place in defiance of a lawful order not to enter or an order to vacate that was personally communicated to that person by the owner of the place or another authorized person .
Definition of projectile : For the purposes of this section , “ projectile ” means a bullet , pellet , shot , shell , ball , arrow , bolt or other object propelled or launched from a firearm or a bow , crossbow or similar tensile device .
COMMERCIAL SHOOTING AREAS A person may not charge any fee for access to land if the fee is contingent upon the taking of game on that land or directly related to the taking of game on the land , unless the land is an authorized commercial shooting area whose owner has been licensed by the commissioner to charge others for the opportunity to hunt mallard ducks , pheasants , quail , Chukar partridge , and Hungarian partridge ( 12 MRSA § 12101 ).
The operator of a commercial shooting area may authorize a person to hunt other wild birds or wild animals in a commercial shooting area during the regular open season on those species , in accordance with the provisions of 12 MRSA Part 13 , as long as the person possesses a valid State of Maine hunting license that allows the hunting of those wild birds and animals .
The operator of the commercial shooting area shall provide to each person taking birds in that area a receipted invoice or bill of sale for possession and transportation of those birds .
Enforcement Enforcement of the trespass laws of a commercial shooting area is the responsibility of the owner and may not in any manner be considered an MDIFW obligation .
Commercial Shooting Areas For a complete copy of the law governing commercial shooting areas , and to obtain a list of commercial shooting areas , call MDIFW at ( 207 ) 287-8000 . ■
2024-25 STATE OF MAINE SUMMARY OF LAWS & RULES HUNTING QUESTIONS ? CALL 207 287-8000