Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1925-11-04
FOR TRAPPERS.
License Law Interpreted by State
Game Department.

ment of inland fisheries and game
is reported to be mountain high
with inquiries regarding the new 20
trapping license law and applications
for the licenses. The work has so
increased since the middle of Sep
TENDER that the department has
been obliged to employ two addi-
tional temporary clerks.
In response to the requests from
various quarters for detailed in
formation regarding the new law, the
department is issuing the following
circular of Interpretation upon gen
eral points applying to trapping
license laws as amended by the 1925
Legislature:
1t is not necessary to secure trap
ping license in order to trap bob
cats, loupcervier, or Canadian lynx,
these being the only fur bearing ami
mails excepted in the revised trapping
license law.
1t is now necessary to have
trapping license in order to trap
bears. The bounty has been removed
from bears and there is no close
season on them. 1t is legal to hunt
and trap them at any time in ter
ritory open to trapping.
Beaver cannot be hunted or
trapped at any time, except in ter
ritory opened by the Department of
Inland Fisheries and Game, upon
complaint of land owners, and then
only under a special $25 trapping
license in addition to the regular
hunting license, which costs Csc if
citizen, SIS if nonresident or alien
resident.
Before person can legally trap
fur bearing animals he should secure
not only the required trapping Ii
cense, but the hunting license
either 25c license, or SIS license,
as above suggested.
The $40 trapping license author
ICES the trapping of fur bearing ami
mails, except beaver, in accordance
| with the law in all townships Of the
State, organized as we'll as morgan
lied, which are open to trapping and
hunting The SIS trapping license
applies only to organized townships.
If a person is hunting foxes, rae
coons, or skunks, with dog or gun,
or both, the department rules that
| a trapping license is not required.
1t is not considered necessary to
have trapping license in order to
shoot bear if person accidentally
runs across one.
Under the new trapping license
law, written permission is required
only when a person is trapping on
cultivated land of another within the
limits of an organized, or incor-
porated place. Outside of such Guilt
waited land, the trespass law applies.
Only one person can trap under one
license. The trapping license ex-
pres with the calendar year in which
issued.
Minors under sixteen years of age
who wish to trap in organized terri
tory, except for beaver, do not re-
quire the SIS trapping license. The
law also provides that a bona fide
resident of this State, and members
of his immediate family, may hunt
and trap fur bearing animals, ex
cept beaver, in accordance with the
laws of the State without trapping
license on land owned by him, or on
land leased by him. on which he is
actually domiciled, within the limits
of an organized township, and which
land is used exclusively for agricul-
tural purposes.
Traps cannot be set outside ones
own land, except a water set, within
half a mile of the compact or built
up, portion of any city or village.
The words "land used exclusively
for agricultural purposes means
mans farm on which he is actually
domiciled,
The words cultivated land" mean
ones moving field, or any land up
on which growing crops are Guilt
waited, also a cleared pasture. 1t does
not include wood lot.
The above interpretations cover
the points which are most inquired
about at the Department of Inland
Fisheries and Game.
No closed season on the follow
ing fur bearing animals-bears, bob
cats, loupcervier, Canada lynx and
weasels
Beaver: No open season except
when declared by commissioner upon
complaint of cumberland owners of
actual damage done to their
property. Trappers, however, must
procure $25 beaver trapping license
to trap on territory thus opened.
Beaver skins must be sealed by COM
missioner or his agent before trans
portation or traffic is legal.
Muskrats: Open season in andre
scoggin, Cumberland York, Sagada-
hoe, Kennebec Lincoln, Waldo and
Knox counties, December l to April
80, inclusive.
Open season in Washington, Han
cock, Aroostook, Penobscot, Piscata-
quis, Franklin, Somerset and oxford
counties, October l6 to May A. in
elusive.
Consult law book for special laws
on fur bearing animals in above