BANGOR DAILY NEWS • October 29, 2026
When a landowner allows public access for hunting, there is still just one person who owns the land and has final say on who uses it and who doesn’t. Maine law allows public access to private land if the landowner does not post the property. But hunters who care that public access to private land is shrinking make extra efforts to keep landowners happy. One unwritten rule among ethical hunters is to find out who the owner is, knock on the person’s door and ask for permission to hunt on the land. When a hunter who hasn’t done any homework makes inaccurate assumptions about ownership and his own rights, and also is belligerent and confrontational, it can ruin your day.