Maine Muzzleloader Hunting Season 2022-2024
Maine Muzzleloader Hunting Season Regulations
Maine Muzzleloader Hunting Season – Only muzzleloading firearms that are 40 caliber or greater and capable of firing only a single charge. Muzzleloading firearm means a firearm that is capable of being loaded only through the muzzle; is ignited by a matchlock, wheel lock, flintlock, or caplock, including an in-line caplock or shotgun or rifle primer mechanism; has a rifled or smooth-bored barrel capable of firing only a single charge; propels a ball, bullet, or charge of shot; and may have any type of sights, including scopes.
* Only deer with antlers at least 3 inches long may be taken from October 29, 2022-December 10, 2022, except that antlerless deer may be taken in designated WMDs/subunits by hunters with Antlerless Deer Permits. Please see Antlerless Deer Permits for more information.
** A non-resident who owns 25 or more acres of land in Maine and leaves land open to hunting, holds a valid hunting license, and is not otherwise prohibitedby law, may hunt deer on the Resident only day, anywhere in the state. A verification form must be completed and can be located on the Hunting License Information page.
During the Maine Muzzleloader Hunting Season, hunting of antlered deer is legal throughout the State .
Hunting of antlerless deer (a deer that has no antlers or has 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.
In WMDs where no any-deer permits are issued, archers and junior hunters are also not allowed to harvest antlerless deer.
Multiple deer may be taken during the expanded archery season, and one may be taken during any one of the remaining seasons (with appropriate licenses or permits).
Prohibitions during Maine Muzzleloader Hunting 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 .17 or .22 caliber rimfire cartridges, except that .22 caliber rimfire magnum cartridges are permitted. Deer decoys are legal.
- A person may not participate in a hunt for deer during which an organized or planned effort is made to drive deer. Four or more persons working together to move deer constitutes an organized or planned effort to drive deer.
- It is unlawful to hunt deer after having killed or registered one during the open season of that calendar year (except for participants in the expanded archery season on deer — see below, or by individuals in possession of a valid bonus antlerless deer permit or superpack antlerless deer permit).
- Gift deer may not be possessed unless clearly labeled with the name and address of the person who registered the animal, and the year it was registered.
- For information on buying, selling or bartering animals, see General Hunting Provisions.
This information is subject to change, for more information visit: https://www.maine.gov/ifw/
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