Department

Here are a few websites for kids as well as some info about hunting, fishing and recreational vehicle use. 

The State has a kids' webpage about making emergency calls with 9-1-1.  For more information, visit: http://www.maine911.com/kids/

Fire safety is important and kids can learn at Sparky the Fire Dog's website ( http://www.sparky.org/ ) or the U.S. Fire Administration's kids' website ( http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/kids/flash.shtm ).

Check out the Secretary of State's kids' page with games, information about Maine and contests for kids: http://www.maine.gov/sos/kids/     Other states have kids pages, too:  http://www.maine.gov/sos/kids/links/states.htm

The Maine foliage kids' page is at:  http://www.maine.gov/doc/foliage/kids/

The Bureau of Air Quality's BLUE SKIES FOR ME Fun Stuff page is at:  http://www.maine.gov/dep/air/education/funstuff.htm

The official kids portal for the U.S. government is at: http://www.kids.gov/

NOTE:  The below rules are copied from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries website and are summaries and excerpts only.  ALWAYS check the laws before hunting, fishing and/or operating any recreational vehicle.  Visit:  http://www.maine.gov/ifw/atv_snowmobile_watercraft/index.htm

ATV operation.  By law, a "person under 10 years of age may not operate an ATV."  The exceptions are the operation of an ATV on: the "land on which the operator is domiciled;" land "owned or leased by the operator’s parent or guardian;" or a "safety training site approved by the department."

A "person 10 years of age or older but under 16 years of age may not operate an ATV unless that person has successfully completed a training course approved by the department....and is accompanied by an adult."  The same exceptions above apply.  There are also restrictions on a "person under 16 years of age" crossing "a public way maintained for travel."  Always consult the law when in doubt.

Snowmobile operation.  "Children must be 10 years of age or older to operate a snowmobile, unaccompanied by an adult, on land other than that owned by their parent or guardian and must be 14 years of age before crossing public ways."  "'Accompanied by an adult' means within visual and voice contact and under the effective control of a child's parent or guardian or another person 21 years of age or older."  "'Public Way' means any road capable of carrying motor vehicles, including, but not limited to, any state highway, municipal road, county road, unincorporated territory road, or other road dedicated to the public."

Age Requirements for Operating a Watercraft.  "When operating a motorboat with more than 10 horsepower, a person under the age of 12 must be under the immediate supervision of a person located in the boat who is at least 16 years of age. A person under 16 years of age may not operate personal watercraft, which includes jet-skis. A person between 16 & 18 years of age may operate a personal watercraft if they have successfully completed an approved education course, or if they are accompanied by a person 18 years of age or older. Proof of age and course must be possessed while operating a personal watercraft."

Fishing License.  "Maine residents under 16 years or age and nonresidents under 12 years of age may fish without a license.  A person is required to keep his/her fishing license with him/her at all times while fishing or transporting fish and must exhibit their license for inspection by any warden, department employee, guide or landowner upon request."

"Possession of fishing tackle in the fields or forest or on the waters or ice of this State without a fishing license is prima facie evidence of fishing in violation of the law."

"Maine residents (and immediate family members who live with that person ) may fish without a license from their own land if that person owns more than 10 acres of land, lives on that particular piece of land, and the land is used exclusively for agricultural purposes."

Junior Hunting License.  

• Anyone 10 years of age and over must obtain a license to hunt wild birds or wild animals (except Maine resident landowners may hunt without a license on land they own and reside on provided the land exceeds 10 acres in size and is used exclusively for agricultural purposes).
• Children under 10 years of age are not allowed to hunt.
• Hunters between the ages of 10 and 15 must possess a junior license.
• Hunters 16 years of age and over must possess an adult license to hunt. (NOTE: A Junior License holder who turns 16 may hunt with that Junior License for the remainder of the year, but must complete a hunter safety course prior to hunting without adult supervision.
• Hunters 16 years of age and over wishing to hunt with bow and arrow during the Special or Expanded Archery Seasons must obtain and archery license and the appropriate expanded archery permits.