This story was originally published in September 2022.
With Maine’s moose hunting season underway, hunters are descending on the North Maine Woods, a tract of 3.5 million acres of privately owned commercial forest land.
That’s because four of the state’s Wildlife Management Districts are located within its boundaries.
Since access to the land is gated, and because the entity has special rules governing its use, it is important for hunters and other visitors to know what activities are allowed during their visit.
“We’re one of the only places in the country that allows the extent of recreational use that we do here in Maine on private land and we ask that people be respectful of that,” said Tom Pelletier, past executive director of North Maine Woods Inc.
Logging gets the right of way
Perhaps the No. 1 rule in NMW is that trucks and other harvesting equipment have the right of way on the roads. Commercial logging operations are active in the area and those trucks can sometimes move fast.
Visitors should drive slowly, under 45 mph, and be prepared to pull over to the side of the road when encountering a logging truck or other piece of harvesting equipment. Hunters also should not block any side roads and if stopped should park well off the road.
Hunters can take advantage of a MURS radio like the ones used by loggers to monitor activity and call out mile markers to oncoming truck traffic.
“If you encounter a logging truck, pull over and stop,” Pelletier said.
ATVs are forbidden
One of the most important things to know about the North Maine Woods in regard to hunting is that all-terrain vehicles are not allowed. That means hunters who shoot a moose must be able to extract the animal using their vehicles and other equipment.
Should visitors arrive at one of the entry points with an ATV in tow, they will be required to leave it behind.
There also are restrictions on the size of vehicles allowed into the North Maine Woods. Only vehicles less than 28 feet in length, or that have a combined length of less than 44 feet when towing a trailer, are permitted. Mobile homes are not allowed.
Restrictions on camper trailers and mobile homes
Mobile homes are not allowed in the NMW for recreational use. Only single vehicles (motorhomes and RV’s) less than 28 feet in length and vehicle and trailers with a combined length of less than 48 feet will be allowed entrance.
Fire permits
Fires may only be built in the authorized steel fire rings provided at campsites. Any fire outside one of those rings requires a written permit from the Maine Forest Service.
“Our North Maine Woods campsites are very well taken care of and our folks that maintain them take a lot of pride in making sure that they are presentable,” Pelletier said.
Hunters who wish to camp elsewhere in NMW also may use gravel pits that are not being used, some of which have been equipped with outhouses, along with other yards and open areas that are off the road and do not interfere with work crews or traffic.
You’re not allowed to park vehicles in any way that blocks a road or prohibits anyone from getting from one place to another.
“Don’t be blocking off 4 miles of prime hunting area just because you saw a moose down that road,” said Pelletier, who said the Maine Warden Service will be notified in such cases.
Know the conditions
Driving Safely on Woods 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.
Weather
Northern Maine weather changes fast — locals say, “if you don’t like it, wait a minute.”
By mid-September, temperatures dip below freezing, with November highs in the 40s and lows near zero. Snow can pile up anytime after early November, with storms dropping up to 30 inches. Hunters should camp near main roads and monitor forecasts — deep snow has stranded vehicles in remote areas.
Navigation
U.S.G.S. maps or the Maine Atlas and Gazetteer are recommended sources for more detailed maps of the NMW area, and these maps are available at many sporting and retail centers in Maine. Do not rely on your phone or vehicle GPS.
Be prepared to pay
Access to the North Maine Woods is not free. You can find the entire rate schedule here, but these are the basics:
— Visitors who are Maine residents pay $13 per day of use, while the cost is $18 for nonresidents.
— There is an additional fee for camping of $12 per night (residents) or $15 per night (nonresidents).
— Regardless of residence, anyone under the age of 18 may use the North Maine Woods for free, along with anyone 70 and over.
— Fees are payable by cash, check and credit cards. Credit cards are only available at staffed checkpoints during normal operating hours.