Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-10-24
Trapping License
Law Is Interpreted
Rv State Game Dept.

The mail coming INTO Inc ooP"A
ment of inland fisheries and game
il reported to be mountain high
with INQUIRIES regarding the new 30
trapping license law and applications
for the licenses. The work has so
increased since the middle OF sep
tember that the department mas
been obliged to employ two adol-
tional temporary clerks.
In RESPONSE to the requests from
various quarters for detailed IN
formation regarding the new, law
the department is issuing the 1ol-
lowing circular of Interpretation up
on general points applying TO trap
ping license laws as amended py the
1925 Legislature:
1t is not necessary to secure
trapping license in order to trap
bobcats, Loupcervier, or Canadian
LYNX. these being the only fur bear
ing animals excepted in the revised
trapping license law.
It is now necessary to have
trapping license in order to trap
bears. The bounty has been re-
moved from bears and there Is no
close season on them. 1t is legal 10
hunt and trap them at any time IN
territory open to trapping.
Beaver cannot be hunted or trap
ped at any time, except in territory
opened by the Department of In
land Fisheries and Game, upon
complaint of land owners, and then
only under a special go trapping
license in addition to the regular
hunting license, which costs Zoe II
a citizen. SIS if a nonresident or
alien resident.
Before a person can legally trap
fur bearing animals he should secure
not only the required trapping IL
cense, but the hunting license-eith-
er Zoe license, or S10.0O 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 well as morgan
lied, which are open to trapping and
hunting. The So trapping license
applies only to organized townships.
If a person is hunting foxes, rae
eoons. or skunks with dog or gun,
or both. the Department rules that
trapping license is not required.
1t is not considered necessary to
have trapping license in order to
shoot bear il a person accidentally
runs across one.
Under the new trapping license
law, written permission is required
only when person is trapping on
cultivated land of another within
the limits of an organized, or in
corporated place. Outside of such
cultivated land, the trespass law ap-
plies. Only.one person can trap UNI
der one license. The trapping H.
cense expires 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-
qulre the so 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 hearing animals. ex-
cept beaver, in accordance with the
laws or the state without a trapping
Incense 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 mile of the compact or built
up. portion of any city or village.
The words land used exclusive
ly for agricultural purposes mean
a mans farm on which he is actu-
ally domiciled.
The words cultivated land" mean
ones moving field, or any land up
on which growing crops are culti-
waited also cleared pasture. 1t does
not include wood lot.
The above fnterpretations cover
the points which are most inquired
about at the Department of Inland
Fisheries and Game.
Summary OF Laws on Fur Bearing
Animals-Fur Bearing Animals
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 up
on complaint of timberland owners
of actual damage done to their
property. Trappers, however. must
procure $50 beaver trapping license
to trap on territory thus opened.
Beaver skins must be sealed byI
Commissioner or his agent before
transportation or traffic is legal.
Muskrats. Open season in Andro-
scoggin. Cumberland, York. Sagada-
hoe, Kennebec, Lincoln, Waldo and
Knox Counties, December l to April
30, inclusive.
Open season In Washington, Han
cock, Aroostook, Penobscot, Piscata-
quis, Franklin, Somerset and Oxford
counties, October 16 to May ii. in
elusive.
Consult law book for special laws