Maine Legislature Maine Revised Statutes
  • Session Law
  • Statutes
  • Maine State Constitution
  • Information
  • §12303-A PDF
  • §12303-A MS-Word
  • Statute Search
  • Ch. 919 Contents
  • Title 12 Contents
  • List of Titles
  • Maine Law & Disclaimer
  • Revisor's Office
  • Maine Legislature
§12303
Title 12: CONSERVATION
Part 13: INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE
Subpart 4: FISH AND WILDLIFE
Chapter 919: REGISTRATION AND TRANSPORT OF HARVESTED ANIMALS
Subchapter 1: REGISTRATION
§12304

§12303-A. Time limits for registering bear, deer, moose or wild turkey

1.  Time limits.   Except as provided in subsection 1‑A and in section 12307 or in rules adopted under section 12301‑B, a person may not keep any of the following unregistered wild animals for more than 18 hours:  
A. Bear;   [PL 2021, c. 704, §3 (RPR).]
B. Deer;   [PL 2021, c. 704, §3 (RPR).]
C. Moose; or   [PL 2021, c. 704, §3 (RPR).]
D. Wild turkey.   [PL 2021, c. 704, §3 (RPR).]
[PL 2021, c. 704, §3 (RPR).]
1-A.  Exceptions.  The following are exceptions to the time limitation for registering harvested wild animals established in subsection 1:  
A. A person may keep a harvested animal in an official registration station for that animal or at the office of a game warden for more than 18 hours;   [PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §230 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §422 (AFF).]
B. A person may leave an unregistered animal harvested by that person in the woods if that person notifies a game warden within 18 hours as to the location of that animal and the circumstances necessitating leaving that animal in the woods;   [PL 2017, c. 226, §1 (AMD).]
C. A person on a hunting trip in an unorganized township and staying at a temporary place of lodging may keep an unregistered harvested animal at the temporary place of lodging for no more than 7 days or until that person leaves the woods, whichever comes first; and   [PL 2017, c. 226, §1 (AMD).]
D. A person may keep an unregistered animal harvested by that person if that person notifies a game warden within 18 hours as to the location of that animal and the circumstances preventing the person from registering the animal in accordance with subsection 1.   [PL 2017, c. 226, §2 (NEW).]
[PL 2017, c. 226, §§1, 2 (AMD).]
2.  Penalty.  A person who violates this section commits a Class E crime.  
[PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §230 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §422 (AFF).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 2003, c. 655, §B230 (NEW). PL 2003, c. 655, §B422 (AFF). PL 2017, c. 226, §§1, 2 (AMD). PL 2021, c. 54, §11 (AMD). PL 2021, c. 121, §3 (AMD). PL 2021, c. 704, §3 (AMD).
The Revisor's Office cannot provide legal advice or interpretation of Maine law to the public.
If you need legal advice, please consult a qualified attorney.
Office of the Revisor of Statutes · 7 State House Station · State House Room 108 · Augusta, Maine 04333-0007
Data for this page extracted on 1/07/2025 11:10:17.
Maine Government
Legislature • Executive • Judicial • Agency Rules
Visit the State House
Tour Guide • Accessibility • Security Screening • Directions & Parking
Email
Office of the Revisor of Statutes