Maine promises exciting hunting opportunities for enthusiasts across the state. Explore the schedule, rules, requirements, and valuable tips to ensure a successful deer game experience.
Maine Deer Hunting Season Dates
| Method | Areas | Start | End |
| Expanded Archery | Designated zones only | 7-Sep-24 | 14-Dec-24 |
| Regular Archery | All WMD | 5-Oct-24 | 1-Nov-24 |
| Youth Hunt | All WMD | 25-Oct-24 | 26-Oct-24 |
| Firearms | All WMD | 4-Nov-24 | 30-Nov-24 |
| Muzzleloader | All WMD | 2-Dec-24 | 7-Dec-24 |
| Muzzleloader | Zones 12, 13, 15-18, 20-26, 29 | 9-Dec-24 | 14-Dec-24 |
| Resident Only Day | 2-Nov-24 |
MDIFW Deer Bag Limits
- Expanded Archery: 1 antlered/year.
- Regular Archery: Antlered statewide; Antlerless allowed in certain areas.
- Youth Hunt: Antlered/antlerless allowed without permit in any area.
- Firearms: 1 antlered ; Antlerless by permit in most areas.
- Muzzleloader: 1 deer with antlers ≥ 3 inches; Antlerless by permit in most areas.
Moose Schedule
| Hunt Type | Zone Range | Start | End |
| Bull-Only | 1-6, 10, 11, 18, 19, 27, 28 | 23-Sep-24 | 28-Sep-24 |
| 1-15, 17-19, 27, 28 | 14-Oct-24 | 19-Oct-24 | |
| Antlerless-Only | 1-6, 8 | 28-Oct-24 | 2-Nov-24 |
Each year, the application for moose permits runs from February through May. Lottery draws are used to award permits.
Licenses & Permits
Deer may be hunted using guns, muzzleloaders, and archery.
- Expanded Archery Permit: During the extended archery , requires a permit under it. One either-sex permit and several antlerless permits are available.
- Antlerless Permit: Necessary for the majority of WMDs throughout the firearms and muzzleloader in order to take an antlerless deer. bought via a lottery or online at the MDIFW store.
- Muzzleloader Permit: Necessary to hunt deer during muzzleloader in addition to a valid large game license. Junior and 70+ lifetime permits come with this.
Licenses Fees
| License Type | Resident Fee | Non-Resident Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Big Game | $26 | $115 |
| Junior (Under 16) | $8 | N/A |
| Apprentice Hunter | $26 | $115 |
| Archery | $26 | $75 |
| Crossbow Permit | $26 | $56 |
| Muzzleloader Permit | $13 | $69 |
Junior hunters and anyone with apprentice licenses need to have an adult supervisor with them. The standard hunting license comes with two add-on permits: one for crossbows and one for muzzleloaders. To get a detailed breakdown of licensing choices and costs, be sure to check out the MDIFW charge table.
Regulations
Hunters must adhere to a number of significant rules:
- Wear orange apparel.
- From June 1 to December 15, deer baiting is forbidden.
- It’s against the law to hunt using dogs, snares, traps, or certain weapons like airguns.
- With the proper permissions, antlerless game is permitted.
- Transporting without the required tagging and registration is prohibited.
- Driving deer at night and nighttime are prohibited
My Top 5 Deer Location in Maine
| Location | Description |
|---|---|
| York | A top 10 town in Maine with a total deer harvest of 2,232. |
| Downeast Maine | Known for excellent white-tail hunting, with historic hunting spots. Grand Lake Stream has some of the state's best white-tail hunting. |
| Vassalboro | Features large deer populations west of the Kennebec River. |
| Northern Counties | Top producing states for bigger-antlered deer include Aroostook, Hancock, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Waldo, and Washington. |
| Rangeley, Moosehead, Katahdin areas | Provide camping, housing, and a variety of hunting options to draw in hunters. |
Field Dressing and Transporting
When the deer falls on the ground, the successful hunt is not over. Quality venison is ensured by proper field dressing and shipping. Here are a few advices:
• It should be field dressed as quickly as possible to chill the internal organs and stop meat deterioration.
• Field Dressing and Transporting by using rubber gloves and steer clear of organ punctures.
• Thoroughly clean blades and other equipment to avoid CWD infection.
• Before shipment, tag or register the harvest in accordance with MDIFW requirements.
• Hang the animal for skinning using a gambrel and chain.
• Keep the meat clean and the animal cold while being transported from the field.
• If you have any questions concerning transporting harvest, get in touch with your neighborhood MDIFW office.
Additional Resources
- Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife
- MDIFW Resource Page
- Biggest Bucks in Maine Club Records (potential state record alerts)
Frequently Asked Questions
When can I start deer hunting in Maine?
Only in certain places, commencing September 7, 2024, hunting of deer is permitted under the extended archery.
What is the youth deer hunting weekend and what are the rules?
On October 25–26, 2024, Maine will have a special statewide youth hunt. One deer may be taken by qualified junior hunters, either with or without antlers (no permits are required). Under-16s must be accompanied by an adult and wear blazing orange. Young hunters now get a chance before the official weapons period.
Can I go moose hunting without a permit?
Unfortunately, Maine only allows moose hunting with a permission. In 2023, it will be illegal to shoot moose in Maine if you didn’t win a permit in the lottery held earlier that year. For the moose lottery in 2024, you may reapply the following winter.
How late can I hunt deer with a muzzleloader in Maine?
The muzzleloader period lasts through December 2–14, 2024, but only in the northern and eastern WMD zones.
What is the bag limit for deer in Maine?
The annual bag limit for all seasons is one antlered deer.
Can I hunt deer with a crossbow in Maine?
Crossbows are permitted both during the regular and the statewide extended archery. Coastal islands that forbid crossbows are an exception.
How many antlerless deer can I take with a super pack?
With the exception of the extended archery, the super pack permits you to take up to 4 antlerless deer overall throughout.
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