Maine Revised Statutes
Subchapter 4: GENERAL UNLAWFUL ACTS PERTAINING TO HUNTING
12 §11214. Unlawful use or possession of implements or aids

§11214. Unlawful use or possession of implements or aids
1.  Prohibition.  A person may not:  
A. Use for hunting or possess for hunting any automatic firearm. This paragraph does not apply to:  
(1) Military organizations authorized by law to bear arms or to the National Guard in the performance of its duty.   [PL 2017, c. 164, §11 (AMD).]
B. Use for hunting or possess for hunting any autoloading firearm having a magazine capacity of more than 5 cartridges. All autoloading firearms having a magazine capacity in excess of 5 cartridges must have the magazine permanently altered to contain not more than 5 cartridges before the autoloading firearm may be used in this State for hunting. This paragraph does not apply to:  
(1) Military organizations authorized by law to bear arms or to the National Guard in the performance of its duty; or  
(2) Firearms using the .22 caliber rimfire cartridge or smaller caliber cartridge or to any autoloading pistol having a barrel less than 8 inches in length;   [PL 2017, c. 164, §11 (AMD).]
C. [PL 2021, c. 112, §3 (RP).]
D. Use for hunting cartridges containing tracer bullets. This paragraph does not apply to:  
(1) Military organizations authorized by law to bear arms or to the National Guard in the performance of its duty.   [PL 2017, c. 164, §11 (AMD).]
E. Use for hunting cartridges containing explosive bullets. This paragraph does not apply to:  
(1) Military organizations authorized by law to bear arms or to the National Guard in the performance of its duty.   [PL 2017, c. 164, §11 (AMD).]
F. Hunt migratory game birds with a shotgun of any description originally capable of holding more than 3 shells, unless the shotgun's 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. This paragraph does not apply to:  
(1) Military organizations authorized by law to bear arms or to the National Guard in the performance of its duty;   [PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).]
G. Hunt a wild animal or wild bird with a set bow;   [PL 2015, c. 301, §15 (AMD).]
H. Use for hunting or possess for hunting an arrow or a bolt having either an explosive or poisonous tip;   [PL 2005, c. 477, §10 (AMD).]
I. Allow duck decoys to remain in waters of Merrymeeting Bay at any time during the period from one hour after legal shooting time until one hour before legal shooting time the next day;   [PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).]
J. Leave or allow to remain in waters of Merrymeeting Bay an artificial cover, that is, a "stationary blind," or parts of an artificial cover used for hunting purposes between one hour after legal shooting time and one hour before legal shooting time the next day;   [PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).]
K. Use a dog to hunt deer or moose, except as provided in section 11111 or 12862;   [PL 2015, c. 90, §3 (AMD).]
L. Use an artificial light, snare, trap or set gun to hunt deer or moose. This paragraph does not affect or restrict the legitimate possession and sale of flashlights or the lawful use of an artificial light to aid in the tracking of a wounded animal pursuant to section 11111 or 12862;   [PL 2015, c. 90, §3 (AMD).]
M. Use artificial lights between 1/2 hour after sunset and 1/2 hour before sunrise the next day to illuminate, jack, locate, attempt to locate or show up wild animals or wild birds from September 1st to December 15th of each calendar year. This paragraph does not affect chapter 921, any rule issued in accordance with section 10104, subsection 1 or the lawful use of an artificial light to aid in the tracking of a wounded animal pursuant to section 11111 or 12862;   [PL 2015, c. 90, §3 (AMD).]
N. Hunt a wild animal or wild bird by any method other than by the usual method of shooting with a firearm not larger than number 10-gauge, shooting with a hand-held bow and arrow or shooting with a crossbow or by falconry;   [PL 2015, c. 301, §16 (AMD).]
O. Possess a wild animal or wild bird taken in violation of this section, except as otherwise provided in this Part; or   [PL 2015, c. 301, §16 (AMD).]
P. Use a bow and arrow to hunt deer, bear or moose unless:  
(1) For hunting deer and bear, the minimum draw weight of the bow is 35 pounds;  
(2) For hunting moose, the minimum draw weight of the bow is 45 pounds; and  
(3) The arrowhead, including mechanical broadheads when open, is at least 7/8 inch in width.   [PL 2015, c. 301, §17 (NEW).]
[PL 2021, c. 112, §3 (AMD).]
2.  Penalty.  A person who violates subsection 1 commits a Class E crime.  
[PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §146 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §422 (AFF).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 2003, c. 414, §A2 (NEW). PL 2003, c. 414, §D7 (AFF). PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF). PL 2003, c. 655, §B146 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 655, §B422 (AFF). PL 2005, c. 419, §6 (AMD). PL 2005, c. 419, §12 (AFF). PL 2005, c. 477, §10 (AMD). PL 2013, c. 538, §27 (AMD). PL 2015, c. 90, §3 (AMD). PL 2015, c. 262, §2 (AMD). PL 2015, c. 301, §§15-17 (AMD). PL 2017, c. 164, §11 (AMD). PL 2021, c. 112, §3 (AMD).

Structure Maine Revised Statutes

Maine Revised Statutes

TITLE 12: CONSERVATION

Part 13: INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE

Subpart 4: FISH AND WILDLIFE

Chapter 915: HUNTING: SEASONS, REQUIREMENTS AND RESTRICTIONS

Subchapter 4: GENERAL UNLAWFUL ACTS PERTAINING TO HUNTING

12 §11201. Hunting during closed season

12 §11202. Unity Utilities District; closed season

12 §11203. Hunter orange clothing

12 §11204. Criminal trespass

12 §11205. Hunting on Sunday

12 §11206. Night hunting

12 §11207. Twilight hunting (REPEALED)

12 §11208. Unlawful shooting or discharge of firearm, bow and arrow or crossbow

12 §11209. Discharge of firearm, crossbow or bow and arrow near dwelling or building

12 §11209-A. Discharge of firearm within 300 feet of state-owned boat launching ramp

12 §11210. Shooting domestic animals

12 §11211. Unlawful use of firearm in Southport

12 §11212. Motor vehicles and motorboats (REPEALED)

12 §11212-A. Having a loaded firearm or crossbow in a motor vehicle or hunting or shooting from a motor vehicle or motorboat

12 §11213. Shooting at or near wildfowl decoys (REPEALED)

12 §11213-A. Shooting at or near decoys

12 §11214. Unlawful use or possession of implements or aids

12 §11215. Use of motorized vehicle to kill, injure or molest wild animals or wild birds

12 §11216. Hunting with aid of aircraft

12 §11217. Buying and selling wild animals and wild birds

12 §11218. Game fees

12 §11219. Hunting on state game farm

12 §11220. Hunting in licensed wildlife exhibit

12 §11221. Disposal of offal; littering

12 §11222. Target identification while hunting

12 §11223. Aid to injured person and reporting hunting accident

12 §11224. Waste of game

12 §11225. Retrieval of wounded or killed big game after hours (REPEALED)

12 §11226. Alien big game hunter; guide required (REALLOCATED FROM TITLE 12, SECTION 11224) (REPEALED)

12 §11226-A. Canadian big game hunter; guide required (REPEALED)

12 §11226-B. Canadian big game hunter; guide required

12 §11227. Placement of bait for hunting

12 §11228. Hunting with dogs