Deer
Seasons WMDs Dates Limits First Day Last Day Annual Bag & Possession Expanded Archery Designated areas only September 7, 2024 December 14, 2024
1 Antlered Deer Per Year* See exceptions
Regular Archery All October 5, 2024 November 1, 2024 Youth Deer Hunt All October 25, 2024 October 26, 2024 Maine Resident Only Day** All November 2, 2024 Firearms Season All November 4, 2024 November 30, 2024 Muzzleloader Statewide All December 2, 2024 December 7, 2024 Muzzleloader 12, 13, 15-18, 20-26, 29 December 9, 2024 December 14, 2024
* Only deer with antlers at least 3 inches long may be taken from November 2, 2024-December 14, 2024, except that antlerless deer may be taken in designated WMDs/subunits by hunters with Antlerless Deer Permits and expanded archery hunters with appropriate 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.
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Bear
Seasons WMDs Dates Limits First Day Last Day Annual Bag & Possession Youth Bear Day All August 24, 2024 2 Bears Per Year 1 by hunting, 1 by trapping General Hunting Season All August 26, 2024 November 30, 2024 Hunting with Bait Bait can be placed July 27, 2024 All August 26, 2024 September 21, 2024 Bear Trapping All September 1, 2024 October 31, 2024 Hunting with Dogs All September 9, 2024 November 1, 2024
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Moose (by permit only)
Seasons WMDs*** Seasons*** Limits First Day Last Day Annual Bag & Possession Antlerless-Only 4A (Adaptive Unit Hunt) October 21, 2024 October 26, 2024 1 Moose Per Year by either permittee or sub-permittee, a person may only harvest one moose regardless of how many permits they may be listed on. October 28, 2024 November 2, 2024 November 4, 2024 November 9, 2024 Bull-Only 1- 6, 10, 11, 18, 19, 27, 28 September 23, 2024 September 28, 2024 Bull-Only 1-15, 17-19, 27, 28 October 14, 2024 October 19, 2024 Antlerless-Only 1-6, 8 October 28, 2024 November 2, 2024
Permit application period: April – May of each year.
*** Moose hunting season dates and WMDs subject to change.
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Spring Wild Turkey (Archery equipment or shotgun)
Seasons WMDs Dates Limits First Day Last Day Seasonal Bag & Possession All Hunters 7 and 9-29 April 28, 2025 May 31, 2025 2 bearded Wild Turkeys* 1-6 and 8 April 28, 2025 May 31, 2025 1 bearded Wild Turkey* Youth Spring Wild Turkey Day April 26, 2025 May take up to 2 bearded Wild Turkeys from WMDs that have a 2 bird limit.
*May take up to 2 turkeys for the spring season, but an individual WMD bag limit cannot be exceeded. The order in which they are taken does not matter.
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Fall Wild Turkey (Archery equipment or shotgun)
Seasons WMDs Dates Limits First Day Last Day Seasonal Bag & Possession General Hunting Season 15-17, 20-25 September 16, 2024 November 7, 2024 5 Wild Turkeys** No more than two wild turkeys (either-sex, any age) may be harvested per permit holder per day, but cannot exceed the WMD bag limit. 26 September 16, 2024 November 7, 2024 3 Wild Turkeys** 28 September 16, 2024 November 7, 2024 2 Wild Turkeys** 6-8, 10-14, 18, 19, 27 & 29 September 16, 2024 November 7, 2024 1 Wild Turkey** 1-5, 9 Closed to taking of Wild Turkeys Youth Fall Wild Turkey Day September 14, 2024
** May take up to five wild turkeys for the fall season, but cannot exceed an individual WMD bag limit, the order in which they are taken does not matter.
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Upland and Migratory Birds
Seasons WMDs Dates Limits First Day Last Day Daily Bag Possession Ruffed Grouse & Bobwhite Quail All September 28, 2024 December 31, 2024 4 8 Pheasant All September 28, 2024 December 31, 2024 2 4 Woodcock All See migratory game bird laws for more information Common Snipe All Ducks, Geese, Sea Ducks (Scoter, Eider, Long-Tailed Duck) Sora & Virginia Rails (and Gallinules) All Crows 1-6 August 1, 2024 September 21, 2024 No Limit February 6, 2025 April 15, 2025 7-29 August 1, 2024 September 20, 2024 January 22, 2025 March 31, 2025
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Other Species
Seasons WMDs Dates Limits First Day Last Day Daily Bag Possession Gray Squirrel All September 28, 2024 December 31, 2024 4 8 Gray Squirrel (Falconry) All September 28, 2024 February 28, 2025 4 8 Snowshoe Hare All September 28, 2024 March 31, 2025 4 8 Season on Island of Vinalhaven September 28, 2024 February 28, 2025 Bobcat All December 2, 2024 February 21, 2025 No Limit Fox All October 21, 2023 February 28, 2025 No Limit Raccoon All October 1, 2024 December 31, 2024 No Limit Skunk, Opossum All October 21, 2024 December 31, 2024 No Limit Coyote All During daylight hunting hoursNo Closed Season for Hunting No Limit Night hunting December 16, 2024 – August 30, 2025 Woodchuck, Porcupine, Red Squirrel All No Closed Season Spruce Grouse, Lynx, Cottontail Rabbit No Open Season for Hunting
Note: Except for migratory game birds, there is no hunting season on any species of bird or animal which is not listed above.
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