I have not trapped in Maine for over 50 years so by the Maine state laws I will have to take a refresher class to receive my license. My home is in Maine but I am presently living/ working in California so it is not possible to get home before the season to take this class. I asked the F&G Department if it could be taken on line or if they had any other ideas, which they did not. All I want to do is set a couple coyote traps around my deer camp in West Bethel area the next time I am home.
Any ideas?

Will they honor a course they teach out there or is trapping even a thing out there anymore?

You can mention trapping in Calf without rocks being thrown at you.

If you plan to trap with someone who already holds a Maine trapping license then you could get an apprentice license. I know you're not an apprentice, but it would allow you to legally trap as long as you were with that person.

In the meantime, get signed up for a trapper education class. While the classes are not offered online, the list of class dates are.

Great! My hunting buddy has a license.

Not sure if it includes trapping?

Apprentice Hunter License Fees
An apprentice hunter license is available to a resident or nonresident 16 years or older who has never held a valid adult hunting license. A person may not obtain an apprentice hunter license more than five times. A person holding this license may not hunt other than in the presence of an apprentice supervisor at least 18 years of age who has held a valid hunting license for the prior three consecutive years. The supervisor is responsible for ensuring that the holder of an apprentice hunter license follows safe hunting protocol as well as all hunting laws.

Apprentice Licenses Fee
Resident Hunting (includes bear & turkey permits) $26.00
Resident Crossbow Permit $26.00
Resident Archery $26.00
Nonresident Hunting (includes bear & turkey permits) $115.00
Nonresident Small Game (includes turkey permit) $75.00
Nonresident Crossbow Permit $56.00
Nonresident Archery $75.00

The apprentice trapping license is different. It's $36, the same price as the regular resident license. If you Google "Maine trapping license application" it should show up as a PDF. Either bring it to Augusta, or mail it in. You can get it for 2 years I think, maybe it's 3, I can't remember. After that you need to take a trappers ed class.

The state offers online options for everything but trapping. When it comes to trapping licenses you have to do everything the old school way. The same thing with the trappers ed course. It's a day and a half of in person instruction/lecture, plus a workbook that you have to complete at home. I think the MTA is working with the State to make trapping licenses sales available online though.

Are you planning on trapping this year here in Maine? If so, and you go the apprentice route, I'd go to Augusta in person and talk to the guy who issues the license. It usually takes him a couple of weeks to get my license to me.

Possible private class?

When I was the WTA/WTCP statewide coordinator I had a contact from a MA wildlife official stating he was following up on an Amish person who took our course and moved to MA. I do believe our course would meet your needs. We offer the course online or correspondence. Go to the WI DNR website and click on the safety class link and choose Trapper Ed. You could contact the MA person again to see if completion of our course would meet their requirements first.

Bryce

Thanks Bryce. I will try calling on Monday.

That really stinks that they make it so hard to enjoy trapping in Maine. Pretty easy to see why less and less people are hunting and trapping when you have to deal with nonsense like that just to legally hunt or trap. Sorry this doesn't contribute anything to your question, but it's a real eye opener hearing some of the rules and regs from different states through discussions on this site.

I spoke to the MF&G department to see if I could take an on line Trapper's Education Class from another state as suggested by a member above.

The lady I spoke to was very blunt, clear and to the point. She said "If you do not take the Maine State Trapping Course, no license. No other state class' will be excepted No exceptions".

The only other option would be the apprentice license which I will apply for.

Maine's laws are terrible.

Unreal

Was trying to get my crossbow course done earlier this year but due to the virus all classes were canceled. I had already taken the archery course that for some reason you have to have also to hunt with a crossbow.Was told I could get a apprenticeship crossbow hunting license and hunt with another hunter with a crossbow license. I'm 59 years old.

In 2009 I got a PA trapping license no class required because I held a PA license previously. In 2010 I bought a Maine Trapping License no class required because i held a trapping license previously. So get a license in another state and use that to get your Maine License.

You better hurry as coyote trapping season ends in three weeks + 1 day.

Maine's rule is:

"When applying for any Maine trapping license (except a junior license), proof of having successfully completed a state-approved trapper education course is required or proof of having held an adult trapping license (in Maine or in some other state, province or country) at some time since 1978 "

I hate Maine more and more every day.

So she was incorrect? I can take an out of state course??

"When applying for any Maine trapping license (except a junior license), proof of having successfully completed a state-approved trapper education course is required or proof of having held an adult trapping license (in Maine or in some other state, province or country) at some time since 1978 "