Maine Guides

The first Maine Guide “Fly Rod” Crosby

Maine Guide

**Maine Guide **means any person who receives any form of remuneration for his services in accompanying or assisting any person in the fields, forests or on the waters or ice within the jurisdiction of Maine while hunting, fishing, trapping, boating, snowmobiling or camping at a primitive camping area.

Maine Guides History

• Maine Guides were first licensed in 1897
• The first licensed Maine guide was a woman – “Fly Rod” Crosby
• 1700 Maine guides were licensed in the first year
• Maine guides were primarily for hunting and fishing
• For many years, a Maine guide was not required to submit to any standardized testing. Interested parties had to be approved by the local game warden.
  If he considered you qualified and fit to guide in the Maine outdoors, you were duly registered as a Maine guide!
• In 1975, a standardized test and procedure was established for licensing of Maine guides.
• Presently there are approximately 4000 licensed Maine guides.
• Maine Guides shall be licensed in one or more specialized classifications.

Specialized Maine Guide classification means that a person has met the qualifications to guide one or more specific types of activities as follows:

1. Maine Hunting classification means that a Maine guide has met the qualifications to guide hunting and trapping activities, including overnight camping trips in conjunction with those hunting and trapping activities.

2. Maine Fishing classification means that a Maine guide has met the qualifications to guide fishing activities, including overnight camping trips in conjunction with those fishing activities on inland waters.

3. Maine Recreational classification means that a Maine guide has met the qualifications to guide boating, snowmobiling and camping activities.

4. Maine Sea-Kayaking classification means that a Maine guide has met the qualifications to guide sea-kayaking activities on Maine’s territorial seas and tributaries of Maine up to the head of tide and out to the three mile limit, including overnight camping trips in conjunction with those sea-kayaking activities.

 5. Maine Tide-Water Fishing classification means that a Maine guide has met the qualifications to guide sport fishing activities on the State’s territorial seas and tributaries of the State up to the head of tide out to the three mile limit, including overnight camping trips in conjunction with those tide-water fishing activities.

Note: Any person operating a motorboat on Maine’s territorial seas and tributaries for the purpose of guided Maine hunting and fishing activities must obtain U.S. Coast Guard license authorizing the carriage of passengers for hire.
Maine Guide application

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