Me. Rev. Stat. » Title 12
Maine Revised Statutes

Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 12, § 10652 (2026)

Abuse of another person's property

✓ current as of May 2026
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1.  Prohibitions.  Prohibitions on the abuse of another person's property are as follows.  
A. A person may not:  
(1) Tear down or destroy any fence or wall on another person's land;  
(2) Leave open any gate or bars on another person's land;  
(3) Trample or destroy any crop on another person's land;  
(4) Damage or destroy a tree on another person's land by inserting into that tree any metallic or ceramic object to be used as, or as part of, a ladder or observation stand unless the person has the permission of the landowner or the landowner's representative;  
(5) Erect or use either a portable or permanent ladder or observation stand on the land of another person unless:  
(a) That person has obtained oral or written authorization to erect and use a ladder or observation stand from the landowner or the landowner's representative; and  
(b) The ladder or observation stand is plainly labeled with a 2-inch by 4-inch tag identifying the name and address of the person or persons authorized by the landowner or the landowner's representative to use the ladder or observation stand.  
This subparagraph does not apply to a portable ladder or observation stand that is located on land within the jurisdiction of the Maine Land Use Planning Commission and attended by the person who owns the ladder or observation stand. For purposes of this subparagraph, "observation stand" does not include a portable blind utilized at ground level that remains in the physical possession of the hunter.  
If the landowner or the landowner's representative finds an abandoned ladder or observation stand on the landowner's land in violation of this subparagraph and the owner of the abandoned ladder or observation stand is unknown, the landowner or the landowner's representative may take ownership of the abandoned ladder or observation stand. The landowner or the landowner's representative may remove, destroy, sell or possess the abandoned ladder or observation stand. For the purposes of this subparagraph, "abandoned ladder or observation stand" means a ladder or observation stand left on property not owned by the person who owns the ladder or observation stand without permission of the landowner or the landowner's representative; or  
(6) Destroy, tear down, deface or otherwise damage a property posting sign under Title 17‑A, section 402, subsection 4.   [PL 2025, c. 267, §1 (AMD).]
B. [PL 2021, c. 54, §2 (RP).]
C. [PL 2021, c. 54, §2 (RP).]
Except as otherwise provided, a person may not possess any wild animal or wild bird taken by hunting or trapping in violation of this subsection.  
[PL 2025, c. 267, §1 (AMD).]
2.  Penalty.  A person who violates this section commits a Class E crime and may be ordered to pay restitution to the landowner for damages.  
[PL 2021, c. 54, §2 (AMD).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 2003, c. 414, §A2 (NEW). PL 2003, c. 414, §D7 (AFF). PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF). PL 2003, c. 655, §B68 (RPR). PL 2003, c. 655, §B422 (AFF). PL 2011, c. 253, §7 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 682, §38 (REV). PL 2017, c. 50, §1 (AMD). PL 2021, c. 54, §2 (AMD). PL 2025, c. 267, §1 (AMD).
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Notes of Decisions
Cited in 1 case, 2016–2016 · leading case: State of Maine v. Harvey Austin Jr., 2016 ME 14 (Me. 2016).
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State of Maine v. Harvey Austin Jr., 2016 ME 14 (Me. 2016). · cites it 3× “BACKGROUND [¶ 2] On January 21, 2014, two Maine game wardens summonsed Austin for failing to label a tree stand pursuant to 12 M.R.S. § 10652(1)(B)(2), which provides: A person may not while hunting any wild animal or wild bird: (2) Except as provided in this paragraph, erect or…”
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 12, § 10652(1)(B)(2) — 1 case
State of Maine v. Harvey Austin Jr., 2016 ME 14 (Me. 2016). “BACKGROUND [¶ 2] On January 21, 2014, two Maine game wardens summonsed Austin for failing to label a tree stand pursuant to 12 M.R.S. § 10652(1)(B)(2), which provides: A person may not while hunting any wild animal or wild bird: (2) Except as provided in this paragraph, erect or…”
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 12, § 10652(l)(B)(2)(a) — 1 case
State of Maine v. Harvey Austin Jr., 2016 ME 14 (Me. 2016). “BACKGROUND [¶ 2] On January 21, 2014, two Maine game wardens summonsed Austin for failing to label a tree stand pursuant to 12 M.R.S. § 10652(1)(B)(2), which provides: A person may not while hunting any wild animal or wild bird: (2) Except as provided in this paragraph, erect or…”
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