09-137 C.M.R. ch. 16, § 11 - Migratory Game Bird Hunting

1. Scope and General Prohibition

2. Hunting Methods

3. Transportation

4. Possession for the Purpose of Processing, Transportation or Storage

5. Termination of Possession

6. Wounded Live Migratory Game Birds

7. Possession of Plumage

8. Wanton Waste of Migratory Game Birds

9. Seasons, Daily Bag Limits, and Possession Limits for Migratory Game Birds

10. Youth Waterfowl Hunt

11. Special Falconry Season

12. North, South and Coastal Waterfowl Zone Lines and Sea Duck Hunting Area Defined

13. Duck Stamp Required

14. Nontoxic Shot Requirements

1. Scope and General Prohibition

A. For the purpose of this section, migratory game birds include and are limited to the following species: rails, gallinules, woodcock, snipe, geese, brant, wild ducks, and sea ducks (eider, scoter, and long-tailed duck).

B. Except as expressly provided in these regulations or by statute or other regulation, it shall be unlawful to hunt, capture, kill, take, possess, transport, buy, or sell any migratory game bird or part thereof.

2. Hunting Methods

A. It shall be lawful to hunt migratory game birds by the aid of:

(1) dogs;

(2) artificial decoys;

(3) manually or mouth-operated bird calls;

(4) with bow and arrow;

(5) crossbow;

(6) by the practice of falconry; or

(7) with shotgun (not larger than No. 10 gauge and incapable of holding more than three shells) fired from the shoulder.

(8) every other method is unlawful.

B. It shall be lawful to hunt migratory game birds from floating craft (except a sinkbox), including those capable of being propelled by motor, sail and wind, or both, only when:

(1) the motor of such craft has been completely shut off and/or the sails furled, as the case may be; and

(2) the progress or motion of the craft in the water has ceased and the craft is drifting, beached, moored, resting at anchor, or is being propelled solely by paddle, oars, or pole.

C. It shall be lawful to use a motor or sail on a craft as a means of retrieving or picking up dead or injured birds.

D. All migratory game birds, including waterfowl, may be taken on or over standing crops (including aquatics), flooded standing crops, flooded harvested crop lands, grain crops properly shucked on the field where grown, or grains found scattered solely as a result of normal agricultural planting or harvesting and in addition, all migratory game birds, except waterfowl, may be taken on or over lands where shelled, shucked, or unshucked corn, wheat or other grain, salt or other feed has been distributed or scattered solely as a result of valid agricultural operations or procedures.

3. Transportation

A. Any person, without a permit, may transport lawfully killed and possessed migratory game birds into, within, or out of any state, or export such birds to a foreign country during and after the open seasons in the State where taken, subject to the conditions and restrictions specified in this part.

B. If such birds are dressed, one fully feathered wing must remain attached to each bird so as to permit species identification while being transported between the place where taken and the personal abode of the possessor or between the place where taken and a commercial preservation facility. Any package or container in which such birds are transported shall have the name and address of the shipper and of the consignee and an accurate statement of the numbers and kinds of birds contained therein clearly and conspicuously marked on the outside thereof.

4. Possession for the Purpose of Processing, Transportation, or Storage

A. No hunter who legally takes and possesses any migratory game birds shall place or leave any such birds in the custody of any other person for picking, cleaning, processing, shipping, transportation, or storage (including temporary storage) unless such birds have a tag attached signed by the hunter stating his address, the total number and kinds of birds, and the date such birds were killed.

B. No person may receive or have in custody any migratory game birds belonging to another person unless such birds are tagged as provided above.

C. No hunter who legally takes and possesses any migratory game birds shall place or leave such birds at any place for storage (including temporary storage) other than at his personal abode unless such birds are tagged as provided above. Legally possessed migratory game birds being transported in any vehicle as the personal baggage of the possessor shall not be deemed to be in storage or temporary storage.

D. Any commercial picking establishment or cold-storage or locker plant receiving, possessing, or having in custody any migratory game birds shall maintain accurate records showing the numbers and kinds of such birds, the dates received and disposed of, and the names and addresses of the persons from whom such birds were received and to whom such birds were delivered. The records required to be maintained shall be retained by the person or persons responsible for their preparation and maintenance for a period of 1 year following the close of the open season on migratory game birds prescribed for the state in which such picking establishment or cold-storage or locker plant is located.

5. Termination of Possession

For the purposes of this part, the possession of birds legally taken by any hunter shall be deemed to have ceased when such birds have been delivered by the hunter to a post office, a common carrier, or a commercial cold-storage or locker plant for transportation by the postal service or a common carrier to some person other than the hunter.

6. Wounded Live Migratory Game Birds

Every migratory game bird wounded by hunting and reduced to possession by the hunter shall be immediately killed and become a part of the daily bag limit.

7. Possession of Plumage

Any person, without a permit, may possess and transport for his own use the plumage and skins of lawfully taken migratory game birds.

8. Wanton Waste of Migratory Game Birds

No person shall kill or cripple any migratory game bird pursuant to this regulation without any visible means to retrieve and without making a reasonable effort to retrieve the bird and include it in his daily bag limit. The shooting of crippled waterfowl from a motorboat under power will be permitted on those coastal waters and all waters of rivers and streams lying seaward from the first upstream bridge.

9. Seasons, Daily Bag Limits, and Possession Limits for Migratory Game Birds

A. Webless Migratory Birds

WEBLESS MIGRATORY BIRD SEASONS
SPECIES	OPEN SEASON	DAILY LIMIT	POSSESSION LIMIT
Woodcock	Sept. 28 - Nov. 19, 2024	3	9
Common (Wilson's Snipe)	Sept. 2, 2024 - Jan. 3, 2025	8	24
Rails (Sora and Virginia)	Sept. 2 - Nov. 21, 2024	25 (single or in the aggregate)	25 (single or in the aggregate)
Gallinules (Common Moorhens)	Closed Season

B. Ducks (including Black Ducks, Scaup, Pintails, Mergansers, Scoters, Eiders, Long-tailed ducks and American Coots)

DUCK SEASONS
ZONE	OPEN SEASON	DAILY LIMIT	POSSESSION LIMIT
North Zone	Sept. 23 - Nov. 30, 2024	6 (no more than 4 of any one species*)	18 (no more than 12 of any one species*)
South Zone	Oct. 1 - Oct. 12, 2024 Oct. 30 - Dec. 25, 2024	6 (no more than 4 of any one species*)	18 (no more than 12 of any one species*)
Coastal Zone	Oct. 5 - Oct. 12, 2024 Nov. 7, 2024 - Jan. 7, 2025	6 (no more than 4 of any one species*)	18 (no more than 12 of any one species*)

*EXCEPT AS NOTED BELOW SEE (F. - Exceptions) *

C. Brant

BRANT SEASONS
ZONE	OPEN SEASON	DAILY LIMIT	POSSESSION LIMIT
North Zone	Sept. 23 - Oct. 26, 2024	1	3
South Zone	Oct. 1 - Oct. 12, 2024 Oct. 30 - Nov. 20, 2024	1 1	3 3
Coastal Zone	Oct. 5 - Oct. 12, 2024 Dec. 12, 2024 - Jan. 7, 2025	1 1	3 3

D. Crows

2024 CROW SEASON
WMDs	OPEN SEASON	BAG LIMITS
Wildlife Management Districts 1-6	Feb. 5 - Apr. 15 August 1 - Sept. 21	No daily bag or possession limit
Wildlife Management Districts 7-29	Jan. 22 - March 30 August 1 - Sept. 21	No daily bag or possession limit

2025 CROW SEASON
WMDs	OPEN SEASON	BAG LIMITS
Wildlife Management Districts 1-6	Feb. 6 - Apr. 15 August 1 - Sept. 20	No daily bag or possession limit
Wildlife Management Districts 7-29	Jan. 22 - March 31 August 1 - Sept. 20	No daily bag or possession limit

E. Geese

GOOSE SEASONS
SPECIES	OPEN SEASON	DAILY LIMIT	POSSESSION LIMIT
Canada Geese Early Season	(NORTH) Sept. 2 - Sept. 25, 2024	8	24
Canada Geese Early Season	(SOUTH) Sept. 2 - Sept. 25, 2024	10	30
Canada Geese Early Season	(COASTAL) Sept. 2 - Sept. 25, 2024	10	30
Canada Geese Regular Season (including greater and lesser white-fronted geese)	(NORTH) Oct. 1 - Dec. 9, 2024	2	6
Canada Geese Regular Season (including greater and lesser white-fronted geese)	(SOUTH) Oct. 1 - Oct. 12, 2024 Oct. 30 - Dec. 25, 2024	2	6
Canada Geese Regular Season (including greater and lesser white-fronted geese)	(COASTAL) Oct. 5 - Oct. 12, 2024 Oct. 26, 2024 - Jan. 7, 2025	3	9
Snow Geese (including blue geese)	Oct. 1, 2024 - Jan. 31, 2025	25	No Possession Limit

F. Exceptions

*EXCEPTIONS TO 2024 - 2025 DUCK SEASON BAG & POSSESSION LIMITS
SPECIES	DAILY LIMIT	POSSESSION LIMIT
American Coots	5	15
Mergansers (in addition to limits on other regular ducks)	5	15
Mallards	4	12
Hen Mallards, Black Duck, Redhead and Canvasback, Eiders	2	6
Northern Pintails, Scaup, Hen Eiders Mottled ducks and Fulvous Whistling Ducks	1	3
Wood Ducks	3	9
Scoters and Long-tailed Ducks (Sea Ducks)	3 by species (4 total sea ducks)	9 by species (12 total sea ducks)
Harlequin Ducks and Barrow's Goldeneye NO OPEN SEASON	No Open Season	No Open Season

10. Youth Waterfowl Hunt

YOUTH WATERFOWL HUNT

NORTH ZONE Sept. 14, 2024 Dec. 7, 2024

SOUTH ZONE Sept. 21, 2024 Oct. 19, 2024

COASTAL ZONE Sept. 28, 2024 Oct. 26, 2024

A. Special Regulations for Youth Waterfowl Hunt Days: On the designated youth waterfowl hunt days, holders of a valid junior hunting license may hunt waterfowl with a shotgun in accordance with 1 2 M.R.S. §11214 §1. F. and §1. N., bow and arrow or crossbow and must be in the presence of and under the effective control of a junior hunter supervisor as defined by Title 12 §11108-C. State and Federal migratory bird hunting stamps are not required for youth hunters who hunt migratory game birds.

B. Exceptions

(1) If a hunter is 16 years of age and possesses a junior hunting license, they must possess a valid Federal migratory bird hunting stamp.

(2) If a hunter is 16 years of age and possess an adult hunting license, they must obtain both the Federal migratory bird hunting stamp and a state migratory waterfowl permit.

(3) The junior hunter supervisor shall not possess a firearm or archery equipment while accompanying a youth hunter on youth hunting days except that the supervisor may carry a handgun pursuant to 25 M.R.S. §2001-A, sub-§2, ¶A-1 but it may not be carried for the purpose of hunting.

(4) When a youth hunt day occurs during the early Canada Goose season, the adult may hunt for Canada Geese only.

C. Bag Limits for Youth Hunt Day

(1) All laws pertaining to the waterfowl hunting season apply including the species specific bag limits as outlined above.

(2) Youth day hunters may not take more than 6 ducks. No more than 3 scoters, 2 eiders, or 3 long-tailed ducks or 4 in the aggregate may be taken as part of the 6-bird daily limit and will count towards the 6 ducks. In addition to the 6-bird daily bag limit youth can also take up to 5 mergansers and 5 American coots.

11. Special Falconry Season

In addition to the regular migratory bird season there shall be a special falconry season on ducks, mergansers and American coots:

NORTH ZONE: Dec. 16, 2024 through Feb. 5, 2025

COASTAL and SOUTH ZONE: Jan. 8 through Feb. 28, 2025

Falconry season daily bag and possession limits for all permitted migratory game birds shall not exceed 3* and 9* birds respectively, singly or in the aggregate. *all species restrictions apply.

12. North, South and Coastal Waterfowl Zone Lines and Sea Duck Hunting Area Defined

A. North/South Waterfowl Zone Line: Maine-New Brunswick border in Baileyville, Maine west along Stony Brook to Route 9 in Baileyville. West along Route 9 to Route 15 in Bangor. West along Route 15 to I-95 in Bangor. Southwest along I-95 to Route 202 (Exit 109A) in Augusta. Southwest along Route 202 to Route 11 in Auburn. Southwest along Route 11 to Route 110 in Newfield. West along Route 110 to Maine-New Hampshire border.

B. Coastal Zone Line: Maine-New Brunswick border in Calais at the Route 1 bridge, south along Route 1 to the Maine - New Hampshire border in Kittery.

C. Sea Duck Hunting Area: All coastal waters and all waters of rivers and streams seaward from the first upstream bridge. In all other cases, sea ducks may be taken only during the regular duck season dates and are part of the regular duck bag limits.

13. Duck Stamp Required

State and federal law requires that persons 16 years of age or older shall have on his/her person; an unexpired federal migratory bird hunting stamp (validated by his/her signature written across the face of the stamp in ink) and a valid state migratory waterfowl permit to hunt any migratory waterfowl (wild ducks, geese or brant); except that no such stamp shall be required for the taking of migratory waterfowl by Federal or state institutions or official agencies, or for propagation, or by the resident owner, tenant, or share cropper of the property or officially designated agencies of the Department of the Interior for the killing, under such restrictions as the Secretary of the Interior may by regulation prescribe, of such waterfowl when found injuring crops or other property. Any person to whom a stamp has been sold shall upon request exhibit such stamp for inspection to any officer or employee authorized to enforce the provisions of this paragraph.

14. Nontoxic Shot Requirements

A. The hunting of wild ducks, geese, brant, rails, and American coots with firearms shall be restricted to the use of ammunition loaded with nontoxic shot.

B. The use or possession of ammunition loaded with other than nontoxic shot while hunting wild ducks, geese, brant, rails, or American coots shall be prima facie evidence of hunting in violation of this rule.

C. Nontoxic shot means any shot type that does not cause sickness and death when ingested by these birds and is approved for use by the Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service list of approved shot is located at https://www.fws.gov/le/pdf/50_CFR_20.pdf.

Notes

09-137 C.M.R. ch. 16, § 11