We are facing a number of factors that will likely increase traffic in the North Maine Woods this fall. Remember, you are NOT the only one there.
How to drive safely on privately owned forest roads
All roads within the North Maine Woods are privately built and owned primarily for the purpose of managing and moving forest products. The private landowners are willing to share their roads with members of the general public in order to visit the region’s many lakes and ponds and other natural resources for the purposes of hiking, hunting, fishing, and berry picking to name a few.
ALL LOGGING TRUCKS AND OTHER COMMERCIAL VEHICLES HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY. PLEASE PULL OVER WHEN MEETING THESE VEHICLES.
- Travel at posted speeds but no more than 45 miles per hour.
- Keep to the right when approaching a corner or cresting a hill.
- When dusty conditions exist, please wait for the dust to clear before proceeding.
- When approaching active equipment near the roadside wait for acknowledgement from equipment operators before proceeding to pass.
- Stay clear! NEVER leave vehicles in the middle of the road when chasing partridge or moose. Do not park in front of gates or roads.
Please help North Maine Woods staff by
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Being safe and cooperative at checkpoints. While employees are wearing masks, and there are barriers between them and customers, we need you to help by wearing masks too.
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Being patient at checkpoints. Many moose hunters are first time visitors to NMW, so it takes more time to register them.
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Driving safely. Increased hunter traffic on roads will impact workers and logging truck drivers. Please pull over whenever you meet them and do not leave vehicles in the middle of the road when chasing partridge or moose!
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Being responsible when dressing out game. Please do not clean birds or moose at campsites or leave moose paunches in the roadway.
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Respecting other users. Trapping is perfectly acceptable in the NMW. Tampering with someone else’s trap or with an animal in a trap is a felony offense.
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Respecting wood workers. Entering a job site that is posted with “Safety Zone, No Access” signs may result in being banned from properties managed by NMW.
And if you encounter a forester, or other landowner representative in your travels, take a minute and thank them for supporting traditional access to lands they manage. Foresters and other representatives wish that everyone enjoy their visits to this region this fall. With your understanding, patience and cooperation, everyone can enjoy working and recreating in the North Maine Woods this fall.
Why is the North Maine Woods going to be so busy this hunting season?
- The first week of grouse season overlaps with the first week of moose season. There will be a lot of people on forest roads on the same week! Hunters should avoid major truck haul roads as much as possible.
- Travelers in the North Maine Woods are reporting a significant number of partridge showing up already and word is out on social media.
- The number of moose permits issued for Wildlife Management Zones 1, 2, and 4 within North Maine Woods has increased by 20% over last year.
- Gasoline prices have impacted hunting traffic in the past, but prices are close to $2/gallon this year, so many people will road hunt this year.
- And to top all of that off, other hunters from the U.S. are not allowed to hunt in Canada this year, so more of them will be coming to Maine.
Attention hunters!
Please note that the St. Pamphile tagging station located on the Canadian border in T15R15 WELS is not open for the 2020 hunting season. Hunters will need to use an alternative tagging station to tag big game.
Registration Stations
Moose Registration Stations
Helpful Information
North Maine Woods
Things to Know about the North Maine Woods
2020-2021 Hunting Laws
2020 Fishing Laws
Purchase a Hunting or Fishing License Online
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