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- Maine
Everything you need to plan your hunting trips in Maine, from maps and regulations to season dates, game animals, quotas, and wildlife management districts. Plus much more! Start your research right here.
Overview
Known For
Maine is known for exceptional waterfowl hunting, especially for sea ducks. It’s also been one of the most-improved states for whitetail deer hunting that features five seasons and 79 days of hunting opportunity. When you include moose and black bear, hunters can get a lot from hunting in Maine.
Terrain
Maine’s terrain is heavily forested. More than four-fifths of Maine’s total land area is under forest cover. But it also features rocky coastlines, 2,300 square miles of inland water, and is the northernmost tip of the Appalachian Mountains within the United States.
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Maine Hunting Seasons
Filter By:
Season
Start Date
End Date
Aug 28, 2023 – Nov 25, 2023
Bear – General
All WMDs.
Aug 28, 2023
Nov 25, 2023
Aug 28, 2023 – Sep 23, 2023
Bear – Hunting with Bait
Bait can be placed July 30th, 2022.
Aug 28, 2023
Sep 23, 2023
Sep 1, 2023 – Oct 31, 2023
Bear – Trapping
All WMDs
Sep 1, 2023
Oct 31, 2023
Dec 1, 2023 – Feb 21, 2024
Bobcat
Statewide. No limit.
Dec 1, 2023
Feb 21, 2024
Jan 1, 2023 – Dec 31, 2023
Coyote – During Daylight Hours
Statewide. No limit.
Jan 1, 2023
Dec 31, 2023
Sep 9, 2023 – Dec 9, 2023
Deer – Expanded Archery
Designated areas only.
Sep 9, 2023
Dec 9, 2023
Sep 30, 2023 – Oct 27, 2023
Deer – Archery & Crossbow
All WMDs.
Sep 30, 2023
Oct 27, 2023
Oct 20, 2023 – Oct 21, 2023
Deer – Youth
All WMDs
Oct 20, 2023
Oct 21, 2023
Oct 28, 2023 – Oct 28, 2023
Deer – Maine Resident only Day
All WMDs.
Oct 28, 2023
Oct 28, 2023
Oct 30, 2023 – Nov 25, 2023
Deer – Firearms
All WMDs.
Oct 30, 2023
Nov 25, 2023
Nov 27, 2023 – Dec 2, 2023
Deer – Muzzleloader Statewide
All WMDs.
Nov 27, 2023
Dec 2, 2023
Dec 4, 2023 – Dec 9, 2023
Deer – Late Muzzleloader
District 12, 13, 15-18, 20-26, 29.
Dec 4, 2023
Dec 9, 2023
Sep 25, 2023 – Dec 2, 2023
Duck – North Zone
Daily bag limit of 6.
Sep 25, 2023
Dec 2, 2023
Sep 30, 2023 – Oct 14, 2023
Duck – South Zone 1
Daily bag limit of 6, Species-specific bag limits may differ, see regulations for more details.
Sep 30, 2023
Oct 14, 2023
Sep 30, 2023 – Oct 7, 2023
Duck – Coastal Zone 1
Daily bag limit of 6, Species-specific bag limits may differ, see regulations for more details.
Sep 30, 2023
Oct 7, 2023
Nov 1, 2023 – Dec 25, 2023
Duck – South Zone 2
Daily bag limit of 6, Species-specific bag limits may differ, see regulations for more details.
Nov 1, 2023
Dec 25, 2023
Nov 9, 2023 – Jan 9, 2024
Duck – Coastal Zone 2
Daily bag limit of 6, Species-specific bag limits may differ, see regulations for more details.
Nov 9, 2023
Jan 9, 2024
Oct 16, 2023 – Feb 28, 2024
Fox
Statewide. No limit.
Oct 16, 2023
Feb 28, 2024
Sep 1, 2023 – Sep 25, 2023
Goose – Early Canada Goose
Statewide.
Bag limits vary by zone. Please check regulations to ensure accurate bag limits.
Sep 1, 2023
Sep 25, 2023
Sep 25, 2023 – Nov 28, 2023
Goose – North Brant
Bag limit: 1
Sep 25, 2023
Nov 28, 2023
Oct 2, 2023 – Dec 9, 2023
Goose – North Canada Goose
Daily bag limit of 2.
Oct 2, 2023
Dec 9, 2023
Oct 2, 2023 – Oct 14, 2023
Goose – South Canada Goose 1
Daily bag limit of 2.
Oct 2, 2023
Oct 14, 2023
Oct 2, 2023 – Oct 7, 2023
Goose – Coastal Canada Goose 1
Daily bag limit of 2.
Oct 2, 2023
Oct 7, 2023
Oct 2, 2023 – Jan 31, 2024
Goose – Snow Goose
Statewide. Daily bag limit of 25.
Oct 2, 2023
Jan 31, 2024
Oct 2, 2023 – Oct 14, 2023
Goose – South Brant 1
Bag Limit: 1
Oct 2, 2023
Oct 14, 2023
Oct 2, 2023 – Oct 7, 2023
Goose – Coastal Brant 1
Bag Limit: 1
Oct 2, 2023
Oct 7, 2023
Oct 27, 2023 – Jan 9, 2024
Goose – Coastal Canada Goose 2
Daily bag limit of 2.
Oct 27, 2023
Jan 9, 2024
Oct 31, 2023 – Nov 20, 2023
Goose – South Brant 2
Bag Limit: 1
Oct 31, 2023
Nov 20, 2023
Nov 1, 2023 – Dec 25, 2023
Goose – South Canada Goose 2
Daily bag limit of 2.
Nov 1, 2023
Dec 25, 2023
Dec 13, 2023 – Jan 9, 2024
Goose – Coastal Brant 2
Bag Limit: 1
Dec 13, 2023
Jan 9, 2024
Sep 30, 2023 – Dec 30, 2023
Ruffed Grouse
Statewide. Daily bag limit of 4.
Sep 30, 2023
Dec 30, 2023
Sep 25, 2023 – Sep 30, 2023
Moose 1
District 1-6, 10, 11, 18, 19, 27, 28. By permit only. Bull only
Sep 25, 2023
Sep 30, 2023
Oct 9, 2023 – Oct 14, 2023
Moose 2
District 1-15, 17-19, 27, 28. By permit only. Bull only.
Oct 9, 2023
Oct 14, 2023
Oct 16, 2023 – Oct 21, 2023
Moose – Adaptive Unit Hunt
District 4A. Antlerless only
Oct 16, 2023
Oct 21, 2023
Oct 23, 2023 – Oct 28, 2023
Moose – Adaptive Unit Hunt 2
District 4A. Antlerless only
Oct 23, 2023
Oct 28, 2023
Oct 23, 2023 – Oct 28, 2023
Moose 3
District 1-6, 8. By permit only. Antlerless only.
Oct 23, 2023
Oct 28, 2023
Oct 30, 2023 – Nov 4, 2023
Moose – Adaptive Unit Hunt 3
District 4A. Antlerless only.
Oct 30, 2023
Nov 4, 2023
Nov 6, 2023 – Nov 11, 2023
Moose – Adaptive Unit Hunt (Late)
Hunters that are issued a moose permit for the Adaptive Unit/WMD 4A moose hunt who do not harvest a moose during the first week listed on their permit may hunt in their respective zone 11/6/2023-11/11/2023.
Nov 6, 2023
Nov 11, 2023
Sep 30, 2023 – Dec 30, 2023
Pheasant
Statewide. Daily bag limit of 2.
Sep 30, 2023
Dec 30, 2023
Sep 30, 2023 – Dec 30, 2023
Bobwhite Quail
Statewide. Daily bag limit of 4.
Sep 30, 2023
Dec 30, 2023
Sep 30, 2023 – Mar 30, 2024
Rabbit – Snowshoe Hare
Daily bag limit of 4.
Vinalhaven Island season closes on Feb 28th.
Sep 30, 2023
Mar 30, 2024
Sep 18, 2023 – Nov 7, 2023
Turkey – Fall General
Districts 6-8 and 10-29.
Bag limits vary by district. Please Check Regulations to ensure proper bag limit.
Sep 18, 2023
Nov 7, 2023
Apr 27, 2024 – Apr 27, 2024
Turkey – Spring Youth Day
May take up to 2 bearded Wild Turkeys from WMDs that have a 2 bird limit.
Apr 27, 2024
Apr 27, 2024
Apr 29, 2024 – Jun 1, 2024
Turkey – Spring District 7, 9-29
2 bearded turkeys.
Apr 29, 2024
Jun 1, 2024
Apr 29, 2024 – Jun 12, 2024
Turkey – Spring District 1-6, 8
1 bearded turkey.
Apr 29, 2024
Jun 12, 2024
Maine Licenses, Permits, and Regulations
Maine hunting licenses, permits, and regulations for resident and non-resident hunters can be purchased on the official website of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife. Click below to view the website.
Hunting GPS Maps
Every Maine hunter should have hunting GPS maps on hand. Maine hunting maps are available from onX Hunt. With a paid membership you can access Satellite, Topo, or Hybrid Basemaps, over which you can view maps of wildlife management districts, along with State, Forest Service, and other public and private property boundaries. You can view trails and roads, and even download maps to the Hunt App for use offline. Click below to get onX Hunt for Maine.
Learn More
Wildlife Management Districts
Maine’s ability to manage its wildlife is helped by coordinating 29 Wildlife Management Districts (WMDs). Maine’s Wildlife Management Districts are defined geographical sections of the state that have biological and geophysical similarities. They are broken up by geographies, such as western mountains or down-east coastal plain, as well as by temperature ranges, human population densities, and land use. Click below to view Maine’s wildlife management districts in more detail through an interactive map.
Learn More
Hunting Layers
ME Private Lands
Over 650,000 parcels mapped by the onX team, this layer helps you know who the property owners are in Maine. Tap any parcel to learn more info about the owner and acreage.
ME Gov Lands
onX has the most accurate maps of Gov Lands, covering over 1,900,000 acres in Maine. Not all Gov Lands offer access opportunities, check regulations before recreating.
ME Possible Access
onX has mapped 270,000 acres of possible access lands in Maine including timber companies and land conservation groups. Research rules on these private lands before recreating.
SUBLAYERS (2)
ME Hunt Areas
Maine Hunting Areas and Districts
Includes 2 Sublayers
- ME Wildlife Mgmt Districts
- Deer Expanded Archery Area
The #1 GPS Hunting App
- 975 million acres of public land
- 10,668 unique hunting units
- 421 map overlays and counting
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