James Dorso (Ruffingham Meadow) Wildlife Management Area: hunting, access and rules
James Dorso (Ruffingham Meadow) Wildlife Management Area is 651 acres of Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife land in Montville and Searsmont, inside WMD 23. MDIFW lists 1 access point for it. Hunting is allowed, with MDIFW's rules for its WMAs.
Data updated October 2026. Boundary and access points: MDIFW's WMA layers. Seasons: MDIFW 2026-27 Maine hunting seasons.
State public lands and parks (BPL)MDIFW land (WMAs)James Dorso (Ruffingham Meadow) WMAMDIFW access pointWMD lineHighway
| Size | 651 acres (MDIFW) |
|---|---|
| Towns (MDIFW) | Montville, Searsmont |
| Wildlife Management District | WMD 23 |
| MDIFW region | Region B |
| Access points | 1 |
| What MDIFW lists to do here | Walking, Canoeing, Wildlife Watching (Eagles and Osprey, Deer, and Water Birds), Hunting (Big Game, Small Game, Upland Game, Waterfowl), Trapping, Fishing (Warm Water Species), Ice Fishing |
| Not allowed (MDIFW) | Camping, fires, and swimming are prohibited. |
| Nearest towns | Belfast (10 mi), Unity (15 mi) and Camden (15 mi) |
Where do you get into James Dorso (Ruffingham Meadow) WMA?
MDIFW lists 1 access point for James Dorso (Ruffingham Meadow) WMA:
| Point | Where (MDIFW) | Latitude, longitude | Directions (MDIFW) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Route 3, Searsmont | 44.40817, -69.21973 | Approximately 5 miles east of the intersection of Route 220 and Route 3 on the north side of Route 3 |
Source: MDIFW WMA access points.
What are the rules on James Dorso (Ruffingham Meadow) WMA?
MDIFW: "Camping, fires, and swimming are prohibited. Some WMAs have recreational vehicle trails which are managed by local ATV and snowmobile clubs. Please visit the local ATV or snowmobile club's website for trail information." Hunting and trapping are welcome under MDIFW's rules for its WMAs: stands or blinds left more than one day need a permit and the owner's name and address, permanent structures are not allowed, trapping and hunting over bait need a permit, and game cameras may be used if labeled.
From MDIFW WMA access points.
When can you hunt James Dorso (Ruffingham Meadow) WMA in 2026-27?
Seasons follow WMD 23: deer firearms November 2 to 28 (residents only day October 31), archery October 3 to 30, muzzleloader November 30 to December 5 and December 7 to 12.
| WMD | WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Moose, 2025 | Bears, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WMD 23 | 649 | 5,108 | 0 | 7 |
Seasons: MDIFW 2026-27 Maine hunting seasons. Harvest: MDIFW's figures by town, added up by district. Added up by FilledTag from MDIFW's figures by town: each town is counted in the district that holds its centre, so a town on a district line counts wholly on one side.
How do you get to James Dorso (Ruffingham Meadow) WMA?
Highways within five miles: ME 3, ME 220, ME 131 and ME 173. Nearest towns: Belfast (10 miles), Unity (15 miles), Camden (15 miles) and Searsport (16 miles).
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on James Dorso (Ruffingham Meadow) WMA?
Yes. MDIFW welcomes hunting and trapping on its WMAs, with rules: a removable stand or blind left more than a day needs a permit and the hunter's name and address, permanent stands are not allowed, and trapping or hunting over bait needs a permit. James Dorso (Ruffingham Meadow) WMA lies in WMD 23, so its seasons follow that district's.
Where do you get into James Dorso (Ruffingham Meadow) WMA?
MDIFW lists 1 access point: Route 3, Searsmont (44.4082, -69.2197).
Can you camp on James Dorso (Ruffingham Meadow) WMA?
No. MDIFW lists camping, fires and swimming as prohibited on the area.
What WMD is James Dorso (Ruffingham Meadow) WMA in?
WMD 23. Hunters registered 5,108 deer and 0 moose in WMD 23's towns in 2025, adding up MDIFW's town figures.
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Where these facts come from
- Boundary, acres and towns: MDIFW Wildlife Management Area boundaries. Access points, rules and directions: MDIFW WMA access points.
- Seasons: MDIFW 2026-27 Maine hunting seasons. District harvest: MDIFW white-tailed deer harvest by town; MDIFW moose harvest by town; MDIFW black bear harvest by town.
- Public land around it: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US 4.1). Highways and towns: U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line 2024 primary and secondary roads; U.S. Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer, places.
FilledTag is not part of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.