This is the Official Maine hunting Information and Regulations navigation page for the Maine state rules and regulations guidebook overviews.
You can access each individual state regulation guidebook by clicking the links below.
These are just the overviews of the official state regulations.
The Actual state Maine hunting regulation guidebooks are accessible by clicking on the state you would like to see from the home page map then clicking on the Maine state hunting regulations books.
They are also accessible by clicking on the Maine hunting reg. books below and accessing the Maine hunting regs link in the Maine Guidebooks listed below.
Enjoy be safe and have a great time exploring the site and remember to check back often to keep updated on all the new laws, rules, and Maine regulations pertaining to the hunting, fishing, trapping, and wildlife sports. Also remember Maine hunting Licenses, hunters education Information, hunting maps and much more are available at the Maine Home Page.
Weather its,
Maine bear hunting,
Maine Turkey Hunting,
Maine deer hunting,
Maine dove hunting,
Maine Duck Hunting,
Maine Elk Hunting,
Maine goose hunting,
Maine grouse hunting,
Maine javelina hunting,
Maine mule deer hunting,
Maine pheasant hunting,
Maine predator hunting,
Maine quail hunting,
Maine rabbit hunting,
Maine pronghorn/antelope hunting,
Maine raccoon hunting,
Maine moose hunting,
Maine whitetail deer hunting We have the Maine state hunting regulations for your trip into the wilderness or on the water covered in one easy to location.
Hunting is regulated in Maine by the fish and game department. You can check there website for current hunting information including Hunters education coarses and requirements.
Maine hunting opportunities are diverse. Everything from antelope, deer, elk, wild pig and bear. Most hunting opportunities are established using the zone system with varying dates and bag limits. Special muzzleloader and archery seasons are available for most upland game and big game species.
For The Maine State Hunting Regulations Summary Guidebook Click Here
Maine Hunting Information
Spring wild turkey hunting season is upon us with a significant change in the spring bag limit.
The regular season for spring wild turkey hunting opens on Monday, May 3, and ends on Saturday, June 5. This will be a full five-week season for all turkey permit holders.
A new regulation regarding the spring bag limit goes into effect this year. An initial permit for $20 will allow turkey hunters to take only one bearded wild turkey in the spring and a wild turkey of either sex in the fall. A second permit for $20 can be purchased anytime after the purchase of the first permit that would allow for the harvest of another bearded wild turkey in the spring only.
Youth Day will be held on Saturday, May 1. Kids ages 10-15 with a junior hunting license are allowed to hunt on this day with adult supervision. Youths will be allowed to take up to two (2) bearded wild turkeys during the spring season without any additional permit fees.
The Wildlife Management Districts open for spring wild turkey hunting are 7, 10-18 and 20-26.
Hunters must have a valid spring wild turkey permit and a valid Maine big game hunting license in order to hunt wild turkey. Licenses and permits are available at IF&W’s Augusta headquarters, at licensing agents statewide.
The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife urges hunters to review the following safety tips:
Ø Never try to stalk a gobbling turkey. Your chances of getting close are poor, and you may be sneaking up on another hunter.
Ø Avoid hunting the same gobbler as your hunting companion or other hunters. Pick a different area to hunt.
Ø Stick with hen calls. A gobbler call is intended for special situations and might attract other hunters.
Ø Don’t be patriotic. Avoid red, white or blue. A tom turkey’s head has similar colors.
Ø Avoid unnecessary movement. This could alert turkeys and attract hunters.
Apprentice Hunters License. A new license is available for first time hunters. This license may only be held once and is intended to introduce a person to hunting for the first time. A person holding this license may not hunt other than in the presence of a supervising person at least 18 years of age who has held a valid Maine hunting license for the prior 5 consecutive years. The supervisor is responsible for ensuring that the holder of an apprentice license follows safe hunting protocol as well as all hunting laws.
Available apprentice licenses
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|
|
| Resident Hunting (includes bear and turkey permits) |
$21.00
|
$25.00
|
| Resident Crossbow |
$25.00
|
$25.00
|
| Resident Archery |
$21.00
|
$25.00
|
| Nonresident Big Game (includes bear and turkey permits) |
$102.00
|
$114.00
|
| Nonresident Small Game |
$67.00
|
$74.00
|
| Nonresident Crossbow |
$48.00
|
$55.00
|
| Nonresident Archery |
$62.00
|
$74.00
|
| (Note: The apprentice licenses may not be used by a person selected to receive a moose permit.) |
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|
Game Bag Limits
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Species
|
Daily Bag Limit
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Possession Limit
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| Deer |
Only 1 may be taken annually - See exceptions (1) below.
|
| Bear |
Only 1 may be taken annually - either hunting or trapping.
|
| Ruffed Grouse (Partridge) |
4
|
8
|
| Bobwhite Quail |
4
|
8
|
| Pheasant |
2
|
4
|
| Wild Turkey (Spring hunt) One (1) bearded Wild Turkey per permit holder. See (2) below. |
| Wild Turkey (Fall hunt) One (1) Wild Turkey either sex, any age per permit holder (shotgun or bow and arrow). |
| Snowshoe Hare |
4
|
8
|
| Gray Squirrel |
4
|
8
|
| Migratory Birds (Ducks, Geese, etc.) See (3) below. |
| Other Legal Species No limit |
- Additional deer may be taken by participants in the Expanded Archery Season, or by anyone possessing a bonus antlerless deer permit or superpack antlerless deer permit.
- In 2010, a second Spring male Wild Turkey permit may be obtained by holders of the combined Spring/Fall permit for a fee of $20.00.
- Migratory bird hunting regulations are located in a separate publication which is printed in September. The following shall be considered migratory game birds: Anatidae or waterfowl, including brant, wild ducks, geese, and swans; Rallidae or rails, including coots, gallinules, sora, and other rails; scolopacidae, snipe, or woodcock; Columbidae or pigeons, including doves and wild pigeon
Superpack License: To be eligible for this license, applicants must be a Maine resident. This license permits a person who has met the eligibility requirements for each license or permit to hunt and fish for all legal game and fish species subject to all the laws covering these activities: fishing, hunting, and archery. The Superpack license also includes: muzzleloading, migratory waterfowl, pheasant, spring and fall turkey, bear, crossbow, coyote night hunt, 3 expanded archery antlerless permits, entry in any deer lottery and 6 free chances in the moose lottery.
Are There Any Other Permits Required?
There are certain permits required (in addition to the regular hunting license) as listed below:
Wild Turkey: Maine’s spring Wild Turkey season occurs in May/June (2010 hunting season dates to be determined). Hunting is allowed by permit only. There is a fall Wild Turkey season for both archery and shotgun. Anyone who possesses an archery license or a big game hunting license may obtain a combination* Spring and Fall turkey permit. In addition, a second Spring turkey permit may be purchased by those who hold the combination* Spring and Fall turkey permit.
* Effective 1/1/2010
Pheasant Permit: Required for hunters 16 years of age or older to hunt or possess pheasant in Cumberland & York Counties. Revenue derived from this permit is dedicated to the acquisition of pheasants which are raised and released by private fish and game clubs.
Migratory Waterfowl Permit: Required for hunters 16 years of age or older to hunt waterfowl. (Federal stamp also required.)
Coyote Night Hunting Permit: Required to hunt coyote at night from December 16 to June 1. Hunting under this permit is limited to 1/2 hour after sunset until 1/2 hour before sunrise and shall cease at midnight each Saturday and resume at 12:01 a.m. on Monday. Hunters must be in possession of an electronic, hand-held or mouth-operated predator calling device. The fee for this permit is $4. Artificial lights may be used.
Muzzleloading License: Required for hunters 10 years of age or older prior to hunting deer during the muzzleloading deer season.
Falconry License: A falconry license, in addition to a regular hunting license, is required of persons who engage in falconry. Copies of the regulations pertaining to this type of hunting are available upon request.
Bear Hunting Permit: Required for hunters 10 years of age or older to hunt bear outside of the firearms season on deer.
*Moose: Hunting during the annual moose hunt is allowed by permit only. Currently 3,015 permits are issued and each permittee may select a subpermittee to hunt with them. Applications are available after January 1. For more information, see Moose Hunting Permits.
Expanded Archery Permit: Restricted to designated areas .
Archery hunting only. Hunters who have a valid archery license will be able to purchase multiple antlerless deer permits for $12.00 each, and one buck permit for $32.00 (plus agent fee). (For 2009, Junior hunters 10 years of age or older and under 16 years of age may hunt during this season with their junior hunting license but must purchase the expanded archery permits, until 1/1/2010, when they will be included.) Limit: One buck and/or multiple antlerless deer (with appropriate expanded archery permits). Deer must be legally transported and registered as required for other deer seasons. All other archery deer hunting laws apply.
*Antlerless Deer: Hunting of antlerless deer during the firearms season and muzzleloading season is restricted to those hunters who possess a valid any-deer permit, bonus antlerless deer permit, or superpack antlerless deer permit. Antlerless deer may be taken by hunters during the Expanded (September – December) and Regular (October) **Archery Seasons. Applications are available mid-June. In several WMDs, there may be more any-deer permits available than applicants. Unclaimed bonus antlerless deer permits will be allocated in a chance drawing until all permits in that district have been issued. Application deadline: To be Announced
*Maine’s moose, and antlerless deer (firearms) hunts are “permit only” hunts. For more information, see Any-Deer Permits and Moose Hunting Permits.
**During the archery season on deer, archers may not take antlerless deer in WMD’s where antlerless deer permits are not issued.
Deer Hunting Information
Youth Deer Day: 10 years of age and under 16 years of age may take one deer. Limit is one deer per year unless they receive a bonus antlerless deer permit or participate in the expanded archery season (with appropriate licenses or permits). In WMD's where no any-deer permits are issued, youth hunters on Youth Deer Day are restricted to bucks only.
Hunting of Antlered deer is legal throughout the State during any open deer hunting season.
Hunting of Antlerless deer (having antlers less than 3 inches in length measured from the skull) is prohibited except by special permit during both the firearms season and the muzzleloading season.
- Baiting deer by placing salt or any other bait or food to entice deer or hunting from an observation stand or blind overlooking salt, grain, fruit, nuts or other foods known to be attractive to deer, during any open hunting season on deer is prohibited. (Does not apply to hunting from an observation stand or blind overlooking: standing crops; foods that have been left as a result of normal agricultural operations or as a result of natural occurrence; or bear bait that has been placed at a bear hunting stand or blind in accordance with bear baiting laws.
- Deer may not be hunted with the use of dogs, artificial lights, snares, traps, set guns or any firearm using .22 caliber rimfire cartridges, except that .22 caliber rimfire magnum cartridges are permitted. Deer decoys are legal.
- Driving deer or taking part in a deer drive is unlawful, except that 3 or fewer persons may hunt together, without the aid of noisemaking devices. Driving deer is an organized or planned effort to pursue, drive, chase or otherwise frighten or cause deer to move in the direction of any person(s) who are part of the organized or planned hunt and known to be waiting for the deer.
- Wild Turkey Registration. All Wild Turkeys taken by hunters shall be presented for registration within 18 hours at one of the registration stations established for that purpose. The entire turkey, except the viscera, shall be presented. The fee to register a Wild Turkey is $5.00. All radio transmitters, leg bands and wing tags must be submitted at the time of registration.
Bear Hunting
Bait may not be used to hunt for bear from September 28 to November 28, 2009 and from September 27, 2010 to November 27, 2010. Hunting with the use of bait is defined as hunting from an observation stand, blind or other location which overlooks any bait or food except standing crops and foods that have been left as a result of normal agricultural operations or natural occurrence. *“Bear Bait” means any animal or plant, or derivative of an animal or plant, used to attract bear. “Bear bait” does not include any packaging or container materials that fall within the definition of litter under Title 17, §2263.
Bear Hunting Permit. Outside of the firearms season on deer, a special bear hunting permit (in addition to a hunting license) is required to hunt for bear. The fee for this permit is $27.00* for residents and $67.00* for non-residents and aliens. During the firearms season on deer, non-residents and aliens are required to obtain a permit to hunt bear. The fee for this permit is $40.00. The special permit is not required when trapping for bear. (*Plus agent fee).
Raccoon hunting. Raccoons may be hunted at night during the open season only when the hunter is: