Maine hunting regulations

Maine Hunting Regulations

We consolidated the hunting license fees, season dates and important notes from the Maine hunting regulations. The state has great public access and some very remote country. Hunters enjoy chasing black bears, moose, deer, waterfowl and small game. It’s a sportsman’s state with some excellent hunting options.

Maine Hunting License Costs

Resident:

  • Hunt license (16+) – $26
  • Junior Hunting – $8
  • Small Game Hunting (16+) – $15
  • Hunt and Fish Combo – $43
  • Archery and Fishing Combo – $43
  • Resident Serviceman Combo – $3
  • Disabled war veteran – Free
  • Archery Hunting (16+) – $26
  • Trapping – $35
  • Junior Trapping – $9
  • Superpack – $201

Non-resident:

  • Big Game Hunting – $115
  • Hunting and Fishing Combo – $150
  • Small Game Hunting – $75
  • 3-day small game hunting – $50
  • Junior hunting – $35
  • Archery Hunting – $75
  • 6-day Archery – $26

Maine Hunting Season Dates

Deer:

  • Firearm – Oct 30 – Nov 25
  • Resident Only Day – Oct 28
  • Youth Deer Day – Oct 21
  • Archery – Sept 28 – Oct 27
  • Muzzleloader Statewide – Nov 27 – Dec 2
  • Muzzleloader for units 12, 13, 15-18, 20-26, 29 – Dec 4 – Dec 9
  • Expanded Archery – Sept 9 – Dec 9

Bear:

  • General Hunting – Aug 28 – Nov 25
  • Youth Bear Day – Aug 26
  • With Dogs – Sept 11 – Oct 27
  • with Bait – Aug 28 – Sept 23

Moose: Apply Jan through April 1

  • WMD 1-6, 11, 19 – Sept 25-30
  • WMD 1-14, 17-19, 27, 28 – Oct 9 – 14
  • WMD 15, 16 – Oct 30 – Nov 25
  • Resident Only WMD 15, 16 – Oct 28
  • WMD 1-4, 19 – Oct 23-28

Spring Turkey:

  • General Season WMD 7, 8, 9-29 – April 30 – June 2
  • Season A Week 1 – WMD 1-6, April 30 – May 5
  • Season A Week 2 – WMD 1-6, May 14-19
  • Season B Week 3 – WMD 1-6, May 7-12
  • Season B Week 4 – WMD 1-6, May 21-26
  • All Hunters – WMD 1-6, May 28 – June 2
  • Youth Day – April 28

Fall Turkey:

  • WMD 15-17, 20-25, 28 – Oct 2 – Nov 7 (2 turkeys either sex)
  • WMD 10-13, 18, 19, 26, 27, 29 – Oct 2 – Nov 7 (1 turkey either sex)

Upland Bird:

  • Bobwhite Quail and Ruffed Grouse – Oct 2 – Dec 31, 4 daily, 8 in possession
  • Pheasant – Oct 2 – Dec 31, 2 daily, 4 in possession

Other Species:

  • Gray Squirrel – Oct 2 – Dec 31, 4 daily, 8 in possession
  • Snowshoe Hare – Oct 2 – March 31, 4 daily, 8 in possession
  • Bobcat – Dec 1 – Feb 21 – No Limit
  • Fox – Oct 15 – Feb 28 – No Limit
  • Raccoon – Oct 2 – Dec 31, No Limit
  • Opossum and Skunk – Oct 15 – Dec 31, No Limit
  • Red squirrel,coyote, porcupine, woodchuck – Open year-round

Maine has hunter safety courses for firearms, archery, crossbow and a trapper ed course. The state also has a lottery draw system for moose with a May 15 deadline. They have a bonus point system weighted based on years applied. You can view the full bonus point schedule in the Maine hunting regulations – https://www.maine.gov/ifw/hunting-trapping/moose-permit.html.

The state also has a lottery draw for an any-deer permit. The online application deadline is April 15 but you can mail and application by July 28. There are distinctions for landowners and superpack license holders in the drawings. In some instances, you are drawing a second deer license for antlerless only.

 

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