Code of Maine Rules › 09 - DEPARTMENT OF INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE › 137 - DEPARTMENT OF INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE - GENERAL › Chapter 17 - TRAPPING › Section 137-17-06 - Seasons and Specific Information for Trapping of Furbearing Animals

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
Table of Contents
1.
Bear Trapping
2.
Beaver Trapping
3.
Muskrat Trapping
4.
Early Fox and Coyote Trapping
				Season
5.
Fisher
				Trapping
6.
Marten
				Trapping
1.
Bear
				Trapping*
A.
Season Dates
The bear trapping season is set in accordance with M.R.S.
				  Title 12
				  §12260.
B. The bag limit on bears by trapping is one
				bear per year. A person may not trap bear after that person has killed or
				registered a bear by trapping during that calendar year. A person may not
				possess more than 2 bears in any calendar year, except a person may keep more
				than two legally obtained bear in that person's home or as otherwise provided
				in law.
C.
Restrictions for
				Bear Trapping
Except as otherwise provided by state law, no person may
				  set, place or tend any bear trap that is not in conformity with
				  12 M.R.S.
				  §12260 and the following
				  provisions:
(1) No person may have
				more than 1 trap set for bear at any one time.
(2) Bear may be trapped only with the use of
				cable traps (foothold cable restraint) or cage-type live traps (see section
				17.03 for definition) in accordance
				with the provisions of
				12 M.R.S.
				§12260. The Belisle style and modified
				conibear traps are not legal.
(3)
				Whenever a cage-type live trap is used to trap for bear, the trap must be
				enclosed and must be heavily constructed to prevent damage from bears, and also
				must have adequate openings for ventilation and cooling inside when the door is
				closed. Traps must also be constructed with no sharp intrusions to injure
				bears, and be large enough for bears to turn around inside the closed
				trap.
(4) Whenever a cable trap
				(foothold cable restraint) is used to trap for bear,
i. the cable must be set at or below ground
				level in such a manner as to catch the animal only by the foot or
				leg;
ii. the cable must be at least
				3/16 inches in diameter;
iii. the
				cable must include a swivel;
iv.
				the cable must be securely attached to a fixed anchor point;
v. if a tree is used as an anchor, it must be
				at least 6 inches in diameter at 4.5 feet above ground level and must be free
				of limbs for at least 7 feet above the ground;
vi. the distance from the anchor to the end
				of the closed cable loop (e.g. the catch circle) must be no greater than 8
				feet; and
vii. the area within the
				catch circle must be clear of woody vegetation, debris and manmade material
				that could cause entanglement of a trapped bear. This restriction does not
				include a tree used as an anchor. Sticks and rocks, and rotten/decaying woody
				material may be used for stepping guides, blocking, and backing for trap sets,
				if they are not rooted to the ground.
(5) Whenever a cable trap (foothold cable
				restraint) is used in conjunction with a device that is designed to capture a
				bear when it reaches into the device to obtain bait (e.g. bucket, tube, or
				pipe-style traps):
i. the opening and inside
				diameter of the device must be no more than 6 inches;
ii. animal-based bait and/or lure may not be
				placed within the device. Animal-based bait is defined as animal matter
				including meat, skin, bones, feathers, hair or any other solid substance that
				used to be part of an animal. This includes live or dead fish;
iii. the trigger must be recessed at least 12
				inches below the opening of the device;
iv. any bait and/or lure within the device
				may not be placed above the trigger, or between the trigger and the opening;
				and
v. the opening to the device
				must be covered by a weight of at least 30 pounds when set, placed, and tended
				to prevent access by non-target species.
(6) A bear caught in a trap must be killed or
				released and not moved away from the catch site. A bear caught in a trap may
				not be used in conjunction with a hunt or to train a dog(s) for bear hunting.
(7) The placement of bait when
				trapping for bear must be done in accordance with the provisions of M.R.S.
				Title 12 §
											11301, subsection
				1.
*Data Collection for Bear
See section
				  17.07 for mandatory submission of
				  bear teeth.