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).]
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).]
2. Penalty. A person who violates this section commits a Class E crime.