Unlawful trapping methods

12 M.R.S. § 12252, under Chapter 917.

12 M.R.S. § 12252

1. Unlawfully rigging traps. A person may not use auxiliary teeth on any leg-hold trap set on land.

2. Use or possession of prohibited implements or aids. A person may not:

A. Set or tend a snare for the purpose of trapping any wild animal or wild bird, except as provided in section 10105, subsection 1 and section 12259; [PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).]

B. Set or tend a set gun for the purpose of killing, taking, catching, wounding, harming or molesting any wild animal or wild bird; [PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).]

C. Deposit any medicinal, poisonous or stupefying substance for the purpose of killing, taking, catching, wounding, harming or molesting any wild animal or wild bird, except that a landowner or member of the landowner's immediate family may use gas cartridges on the landowner's own land for woodchuck control; or [PL 2015, c. 301, §31 (AMD).]

D. Sell, advertise, give notice of the sale or keep for sale any set gun or poisonous substance for the taking of wild animals or wild birds, except that a person may sell, advertise, give notice of sale of or keep for sale rodenticide for orchard mouse control and gas cartridges for woodchuck control. [PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).]

3. Use of pole traps. A person may not use or set any steel trap on the top of a pole, constituting a device commonly known as a "pole trap" for the purposes of catching any wild bird.

4. Penalty. A person who violates this section commits a Class E crime.