12 M.R.S. §12303-A: Time limits for registering bear, deer, moose or wild turkey

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;

B. Deer;

C. Moose; or

D. Wild turkey.

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;

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;

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

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.

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