Maine
What you need to know to hunt in the North Maine Woods
Moose hunters are making closing preparations for the primary week of Maine’s annual moose hunt, which begins on Monday.
Tons of of hunters will descend this weekend on the North Maine Woods, a tract of three.5 million acres of privately owned industrial forest land. That’s as a result of 4 of the state’s Wildlife Administration Districts are situated inside its boundaries.
The North Maine Woods is house to WMDs 1, 2, 3 and 5, which account for two,025 (almost 50 p.c) of the 4,080 moose permits allotted for the 2022 hunt.
Since entry to the land is gated, and since the entity has particular guidelines governing its use, it is vital for hunters and different guests to know what actions are allowed throughout their go to.
“We’re one of many solely locations within the nation that enables the extent of leisure use that we do right here in Maine on personal land and we ask that individuals be respectful of that,” stated Tom Pelletier, the chief director of North Maine Woods Inc.
Logging will get the proper of manner
Maybe the No. 1 rule in NMW is that vans and different harvesting gear have the proper of manner on the roads. Business logging operations are energetic within the space and people vans can typically transfer quick.
Guests ought to drive slowly, underneath 45 mph, and be ready to drag over to the aspect of the street when encountering a logging truck or different piece of harvesting gear. Hunters additionally mustn’t block any aspect roads and if stopped ought to park properly off the street.
Hunters can reap the benefits of a MURS radio like those utilized by loggers to observe exercise and name out mile markers to oncoming truck site visitors.
“If you happen to encounter a logging truck, pull over and cease,” Pelletier stated.
ATVs are forbidden
Some of the essential issues to know concerning the North Maine Woods in regard to looking is that all-terrain automobiles should not allowed. Meaning hunters who shoot a moose should be capable to extract the animal utilizing their automobiles and different gear.
Ought to guests arrive at one of many entry factors with an ATV in tow, they are going to be required to depart it behind.
There are also restrictions on the dimensions of automobiles allowed into the North Maine Woods. Solely automobiles lower than 28 toes in size, or which have a mixed size of lower than 44 toes when towing a trailer, are permitted. Cell properties should not allowed.
Fireplace permits
Fires could solely be constructed within the approved metal hearth rings offered at campsites. Any hearth exterior a type of rings requires a written allow from the Maine Forest Service.
“Our North Maine Woods campsites are very properly taken care of and our people that preserve them take a number of pleasure in ensuring that they’re presentable,” Pelletier stated.
Hunters who want to camp elsewhere in NMW additionally could use gravel pits that aren’t getting used, a few of which have been outfitted with outhouses, together with different yards and open areas which can be off the street and don’t intrude with work crews or site visitors.
You’re not allowed to park automobiles in any manner that blocks a street or prohibits anybody from getting from one place to a different.
“Don’t be blockading 4 miles of prime looking space simply since you noticed a moose down that street,” stated Pelletier, who stated the Maine Warden Service shall be notified in such circumstances.
Know the circumstances
Guests ought to be aware of two bridge closures within the North Maine Woods. The bridge crossing Ross Stream at Mile 63 on the Realty Street shall be closed from Sept. 13 to Oct. 1.
Additionally, the bridge resulting in the East Shore Street/OP1 Street (off of the Sias Hill Rd) alongside Ragged Lake is washed out and never satisfactory.
Be ready to pay
Entry to the North Maine Woods isn’t free. You will discover the whole price schedule right here, however these are the fundamentals:
— Guests who’re Maine residents pay $11 per day of use, whereas the price is $16 for nonresidents.
— There’s a further price for tenting of $12 per night time (residents) or $15 per night time (nonresidents).
— No matter residence, anybody underneath the age of 18 could use the North Maine Woods free of charge, together with anybody 70 and over.
— Solely money and checks are accepted at checkpoints.