Authorities In Maine Remind Folks That Public Access To Private Land Is A ‘Privilege That’s In Danger’

The onset of the fall season is a big deal here in Maine, and not just for the Pumpkin Spice lovers. The next three months mark some very important hunting seasons in the state for game such as deer, moose, bear, and wild turkey.

According to state statistics, "Roughly 94% of Maine's forest land is privately owned, and more than half of that land area is open to the public. In total, landowners voluntarily open up more than 10 million acres of working farms and forests."

The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife says that while the state of Maine doesn't require permission to hunt on someone else's land, there are some rules, both unwritten and written, that good stewards and knowledgeable outdoorsmen and women follow.

"The law - Unlike most other states, Maine operates under an implied permission structure, meaning that if land is not posted, it is legal to use the land.

The unwritten rule - Always ask permission. Hunting, fishing, or otherwise using private land without the owner's permission is a careless move that puts everyone's future access at risk."

They go on to say that there are seven steps that folks can take to ensure that private landowners continue to feel confident in letting the public use their land.

Those steps include always asking for permission first (as a sign of respect), understanding the landowners' preferences (for what can and can't be done on the land) and knowing the boundaries of that land, communicating clearly and courteously with the landowner, offering to give back to the landowner, respecting and caring for the land while using it (leave no trace), and following the rules.

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State Officials took to Facebook this week, with Maine Game Wardens using a recent incident they were called into investigate as an example of what NOT to do.

"Public access to private land in Maine is a privilege that is jeopardized every time a decision is made to disrespect land and landowners through illegal dumping.
Refrigerators, furniture, and tires were recently found dumped at a public access site to Mosher Pond in Fayette."

"Our annual Landowner Appreciation Clean Up Day is coming up on Sunday, September 14. If you own property that has experienced illegal dumping or if you would like to volunteer to lend a hand, please reach out to the Outdoor Partners Program at outdoorpartners@maine.gov."

Read More: Here's Some Sweet Maine Hiking Spots Where Hunting Is Not Allowed

If you are out using private land for hunting or recreation, and see something that doesn't seem right to you, or that someone has been mistreating the space,  you can also always make a report to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife by calling 1-800-ALERT-US (1-800-253-7887) or going to the website, maineogt.org.