Maine Statewide Rule

Maine state law: bear baiting and wildlife-feeding restrictions (12 MRS § 11301)

Heavy RestrictionsApplies statewide across Maine (2026)

Key Facts

Bear-baiting statute: 12 MRS § 11301
Deer feeding/baiting: 12 MRS § 10659
Administering agency: Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
CWD zones: Deer feeding may be prohibited

Last verified: August 21, 2026Source: 12 MRSA §11301 - Placing of bear bait

Summary

Maine prohibits intentionally baiting bear outside the regulated hunting season and restricts deer feeding that creates nuisance or public-safety conditions. IF&W administers wildlife-feeding rules statewide.

1. Prohibition. A person may not place salt or any other bait or food in a place to entice deer to that place from June 1st to the start of an open hunting season on deer and, if all open hunting seasons on deer are closed before December 15th for that year, from the close of the last open hunting season on deer to December 15th.

Source: 12 MRSA §11301 - Placing of bear baitView official code

Full Breakdown

Per 12 MRS § 11301, it is unlawful to intentionally place, deposit, or distribute bait to attract bear except in compliance with rules adopted by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IF&W) for the regulated hunting season. Deer feeding and baiting are separately governed by 12 MRS § 10659. Maine wildlife-feeding regulation is administered by IF&W under 12 MRS Title 12 and 09-137 CMR Chapter 5. IF&W rules prohibit feeding deer in any manner that creates a nuisance or interferes with public safety, and may prohibit feeding entirely in chronic-wasting-disease (CWD) management zones.

Feeding bears, including incidental attraction via accessible trash, pet food left outdoors, or bird feeders maintained during the active bear season (April 1-November 30), may be enforced as nuisance attraction. Maine has no statewide bear-resistant trash container mandate; coastal and mountain municipalities, including portions of Cumberland County and Mount Desert Island, supplement state law with local bear-resistant container ordinances under 30-A § 3001 home-rule authority. Feeding moose, foxes, coyotes, and raccoons is similarly discouraged by IF&W and may be cited as nuisance attraction depending on the circumstance.

Violations & Penalties

Illegal bear baiting under 12 MRS § 12404 is a Class E crime with fines and potential loss of hunting privileges. Nuisance wildlife-feeding violations carry civil penalties under IF&W rules. Municipal bear-resistant container ordinance violations (where adopted) are typical civil infractions with $50-$500 fines.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I feed deer in my backyard in Maine?

Recreational deer feeding is generally permitted in Maine outside CWD management zones, but IF&W may prohibit feeding that creates a public-safety nuisance or attracts predators. In CWD zones, feeding is prohibited entirely. Always check current IF&W rules at maine.gov/ifw.

When do I have to take down my bird feeder for bears?

IF&W advises removing bird feeders and accessible food sources from April 1 through November 30: the active bear season. Bird-feeder bear attraction can be cited as nuisance feeding under 12 MRS § 11301 in some circumstances.

Does Maine require bear-resistant trash cans?

Not statewide. Maine has no statewide bear-resistant container mandate. Municipalities in bear country (parts of Cumberland County, Mount Desert Island, western mountain towns) have adopted local ordinances requiring bear-resistant containers under 30-A § 3001 home-rule authority.

Sources

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