Maine Hunting Laws Licensing & Regulations

Hunting in Maine

Maine boasts one of the best hunting environments in the eastern United States. Deer, bears, and moose are common game species in the state, as are various minor game animals.

The state also has a number of programs to assist farmers. There are Maine Outdoor Partner Programs that allow hunters to hunt on private lands and woods. Although private areas in the state are open to public hunting, hunters must still obtain permission from landowners.

Another notable hunting initiative in Maine is Hunters for Hunger, which donates some of the game harvested to poor families.

Regulations for Hunting in Maine

Maine has hunting rules, regulations, and standards that everyone who wants to hunt in the state must follow. The following are some of the most essential hunting requirements in the state:

Unlawful hunting behavior

Unlawful hunting activity in Maine is defined as taking, transporting, or possessing game animals, wildlife, or any part of the body when the animal’s specific season is not in effect, unless approved by Maine wildlife and fishing regulations.

Unlawful hunting behavior in Maine also includes the unlawful possession, taking, or destruction of a wild bird’s nest or eggs.

In Maine, games are being sold.

In Maine, the following game birds and animals are prohibited from being sold:

Buying and selling wild birds

It is prohibited to sell or have in your possession a wild, illegally purchased bird. Exceptions are made for game bird plumage that was properly taken and sold in accordance with the Maine Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

offering finished wildlife products for sale

It is not illegal to buy, trade, or sell wildlife goods that you have lawfully in your possession. There is an exception for wildlife and wild bird goods protected by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

Buying and selling deer, bears, and moose

Natural shed antlers of deer or moose are legal to own, buy, and sell in Maine. In addition, anyone who legally takes or kills a bear, moose, or deer, even if they do not have a valid Maine hunting license, can sell the following body parts:

Deer head, antlers, feet, and hide
Moose head, hide, bones, antlers, and feet
Bear’s head, hide, teeth, claws, and gallbladder

It is illegal to sell raw antlers and gallbladders of bears to anyone who is not a Maine licensed hide dealer.

Maine Hide Permit

A Maine Hide License is required before you can commercially buy, sell, or exchange untanned hides of game animals, including those of fur-bearing games or other body parts of wildlife and birds. Furthermore, any portion of wildlife or game animals you buy or sell cannot be tied to wildlife or wild birds that are banned from being sold in Maine.

Maine night hunting

The capture of wild birds and animals in Maine is prohibited between the hours of 30 minutes after sunset and 30 minutes before daybreak the next day.

However, during the open season in Maine, raccoon night hunting is permitted. The following are the conditions for raccoon night hunting:

The hunter must be accompanied by a hunting dog.
The hunter must use a hunting rifle or handgun with a capacity no bigger than the.22 caliber rifle.
The hunting rifle or handgun will only be loaded when the hunter can see with a flashlight and is attempting to discharge at a treed raccoon or one that has been held by a dog.

Baiting for Maine Hunting

According to Maine hunting regulations, bait is defined as any animal, plant, or part of an animal that can be used to attract game animals and wildlife for the purpose of hunting them. In Maine, the following requirements must be followed while baiting game animals:

You must obtain the authorization or permission of the landowner or anybody acting on behalf of the landowner. Permission might be given orally or in writing.
The bait must be well labeled with a 2 by 4 inch tag. The tag must include information about the person who placed the bait, such as their address and name.
The bait must be cleaned up immediately if a landowner requests it. If the landowner does not make a request, the bait must be cleaned up within 20 days of the final day of hunting on the property.
Baiting is prohibited while hunting in Maine for the following reasons:
It is illegal to hunt on another person’s baiter site unless you have the baiter’s permission.
It is illegal to employ poison, drugs, or any other therapeutic agent to attract game animals.
Between the first of June and the 15th of December, it is illegal to feed or bait deer in Maine.
Between the 1st and 15th of December, it is illegal to bait or feed turkeys or moose.
It is illegal in Maine to feed or bait wild turkeys during the spring wild turkey hunting season.

Maine Hunting and Shooting Distances

It is illegal to shoot a hunting firearm, muzzleloader, or archery equipment within 100 yards of a residential building without the permission of the owner. If the owner is not there, you must acquire permission from an adult occupant of the building.

This regulation does not limit construction to residential structures. It includes retail, educational, religious, farm, and commercial facilities designed to house humans or domestic animals or to house equipment and harvested crops.

While hunting, open carry is permitted.

In Maine, open carry is legal while hunting. However, if you need to open carry when bow hunting, you must get a license.

In addition, when bow hunting, you must not use a rifle to take animals.

Hunter harassment laws in Maine aim to safeguard these activities.

According to the law:

Nobody should intentionally interfere with any legitimate hunting, fishing, or trapping of wildlife.
Nobody shall willfully interfere with or attempt to interfere with wild animals or aquatic bodies in order to disrupt hunting activities.

Licenses, permits, and tags for hunting in Maine

In Maine, hunting licenses are issued based on the age and residency of the hunter, whereas permits and tags are issued based on the game animal. In order to take various games in Maine, you must have both a valid state hunting license and a game permit.

The following are some of the most important hunting licenses, permits, and tags in Maine:

Apprentice Hunting Permit

This license is accessible to Maine citizens and non-residents who are 16 years old or older and have never had an adult hunting license.

Apprentice hunting licenses in Maine include the following:

Apprentice Hunting License for Residents

This hunting license is exclusively available to Maine citizens. It contains hunting licenses for bears and turkeys in the state. It will set you back $26.

Permit for a Resident Apprentice Cross-Bow

This permission allows resident apprentice hunters to hunt with crossbows. It will set you back $26.

Apprentice Hunting License for Non-Residents

Non-residents can only purchase this hunting license. It contains hunting licenses for bears and turkeys in the state. It will set you back $115.

Apprentice Small Game License for Non-Residents

Non-resident hunters will be able to take small game animals in Maine with this hunting license. It costs $75 and includes turkey permits.

Non-resident Cross-Bow Apprentice Permit

This permission allows non-resident apprentice hunters to hunt with crossbows. It will set you back $56.

Non-residents who have obtained an apprentice archery permit

Non-residents with this authorization may hunt with archery devices in Maine. It will set you back $75.

Other Residents’ Hunting Permits

The following Maine hunting licenses are valid for inhabitants of the state:

Big Game Hunting Permit

This license is available to Maine residents who are at least 16 years old. It enables them to hunt large game animals. It will set you back $26.

Junior Hunting Permit

This license is available in Maine for junior resident hunters. To apply, you must be at least 15 years old. It will set you back $8.

Small Game Hunting Permit

This license is available to Maine residents who are at least 16 years old. It enables them to hunt tiny game. It is priced at $15.

License for Hunting and Fishing

In Maine, this is a combo hunting and fishing license. To apply for this license, you must be at least 16 years old, and it costs $43.

Archery and fishing license

In Maine, this is a combined archery hunting and fishing license. To apply for this license, you must be at least 16 years old, and it costs $43.

License for Disabled War Veterans

This hunting license is offered to disabled veterans in the state. It is completely free.

Non-resident Hunting License in Maine

This is a non-resident Maine out-of-state hunting license. Among them are the following:

Big Game Hunting Permit

Non-resident hunters in Maine must be at least 16 years old to purchase this license. It enables them to hunt large game animals. It will set you back $115.

License for Hunting and Fishing

This is a non-resident combo hunting and fishing license. To apply for this license, you must be at least 16 years old, and it costs $150.

Hunting Permit

This is a basic hunting license that is available to non-residents aged 16 and up. It will set you back $75.

Small Game Hunting License for 3 Days

Non-residents can purchase this license for small game hunting for three consecutive days. It will set you back $50.

Junior Hunting Permit

This license is available in Maine for junior non-resident hunters. To apply, you must be at least 15 years old. It will set you back $35.

Archery Hunting Permit

Non-residents who want to play archery games in Maine must first obtain this license. The minimum age to purchase a license is 16 years old. It will set you back $75.

Archery License for 6 Days

This archery license is only valid for 6 days and is only available to non-resident hunters. The minimum age to apply is 16 years old, and the application fee is $26.

Maine Hunting Licenses for Life

Maine provides lifelong licenses dependent on the age of the applicant. Among them are the following:

0 to 5 years of age

Residents and non-residents can purchase a lifetime hunting license for this age group for $150 and $450, respectively.

6 to 15 years of age

Residents and non-residents can purchase a lifetime hunting license for this age group for $300 and $900, respectively.

Only residents’ lifetime licenses are available for the other age groups. The costs are as follows:

65 years of age ($50)
66 Years of Age ($40)
67 Years of Age ($30)
($20) 68 Years Old
69 Years of Age ($10)
Aged 70 and Up ($8)

Licenses, permits, and tags for fishing in Maine

Maine fishing licenses, permits, and tags include the following:

Seasonal Fishing Permit

This license allows the holder to catch fish during particular seasons. It is offered to both Maine citizens and non-residents for $25 and $64, respectively.

Combination Hunting and Fishing License

This license allows holders to participate in Maine’s hunting and fishing seasons. It is offered for $43 and $150 for locals and non-residents, respectively.

Archery and fishing license combined

This license allows holders to participate in Maine archery hunting and fishing seasons. It is exclusively available to locals and costs $43.

15-Day Fishing Permit

This license only lasts 15 days. It is offered to non-residents for $47.

One-Day Fishing Permit

This fishing permit is only good for one day. It costs $11 and is available to both residents and non-residents.

7-Day Fishing Permit

This fishing permit is only good for seven days. It is offered to non-residents for $43.

Combination Serviceman Dependent License

Members of the United States Armed Forces or the National Guard may apply for this combo hunting and fishing license in Maine. It is priced at $20.

Military Dependent Fishing License

Members of the United States Armed Forces or the National Guard are eligible to apply for this license to fish in Maine. It costs ten dollars.

Seasons for Hunting in Maine

In Maine, hunting seasons and the sort of hunting rifles required to take game animals differ.

Maine’s shooting season for various wildlife in 2020-21 includes the following:

Seasons for hunting deer in Maine

Resident Only Hunting Season (October 31st)
Youth Hunting Season (October 24th)
Firearms Hunting Season (November 2nd to November 28th)
Archery Hunting Season (October 3rd to October 30th)
Muzzleloader Hunting Season (Statewide: November 30th to December 5th, and Selected Regions: December 7th to December 12th)
Extended Archery Season (September 12th to December 12th)

Deer hunting seasons in Maine may differ depending on hunting zones and wildlife management regions. Deer licenses must be purchased in order to participate in a deer hunting season. Hunters may also consult the websites of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife for more information on deer hunting in specific locations of the state.

Bear Hunting Season in Maine

General Hunting Season (August 31st to November 28th)
Dog Hunting Season (September 14th to October 30th)
Bear Bait Hunting Season (August 31st to September 26th)
Youth Hunting Day/Season (August 29th)
Moose Hunting Season in Maine
General Hunting Season (September 28th to November 28th)
Resident Only Day/Season (October 31st)

The dates for moose hunting in Maine vary depending on the hunting zone. Only hunters with a valid state permission will be able to capture moose, and most states have a bag restriction of one moose per year. Moose hunting seasons may also differ depending on where you live in the state.

Wild Turkey Season in Maine

Fall Hunting Season (September 14th to November 7th)
Spring Hunting Season (March 3rd to June 6th)
Spring Youth Hunting Season/Day (May 1)

Turkey hunting in Maine may differ depending on the hunting region. This means that some areas of the state may still be closed to turkey hunting during the open season. For more information, hunters should visit the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife’s website.

Small Game Hunting Season in Maine

Gray Squirrel Hunting Season (September 26th to December 31st)
Snowshoe Hare Hunting Season (September 26th to March 31st)
Bobcat Hunting Season (December 1st to February 29th)
Open Season for Woodchuck Hunting
Open Season for Coyote Hunting
Open Season for Porcupine Hunting
Hunting Season for Red Squirrels (Open Season)
Coyote Night Hunting Season (December 16th to August 31st)
Hunting Season for Ruffed Grouse and Bobwhite Quail (September 26th to December 31st)

It is critical to understand that bag limits, hunting standards and rules, and unique hunting seasons will be determined by the game animals and their season. Hunters should ensure that they are aware of the exact date for the wildlife they wish to take in their hunting zone. They should also check the Department’s website for more information on hunting season laws.

Maine Wildlife, Recreation, and Fishing

The following are some of the most popular hunting games in Maine:

Deer hunting in Maine

Aside from the state’s WMAs, deer hunting is popular in wetland ecosystems, forest land areas, active farmlands, and declining agricultural fields in Maine. White-tailed deer are the most prevalent variety of deer in Maine, and they can be found in forest stands with no canopy features and farmlands with feed for the animals.

Bear hunting in Maine

Bear hunting is popular in Maine since bears are found across the state. Black bears, on the other hand, are more concentrated in the eastern and northern portions of Maine, and they are rarely found in the south of central Maine with a human population.

Moose Hunting in Maine

Moose hunting is permitted in practically every WMA in Maine. They are found across the state, but the majority of them live in hilly terrain and lakes in western Maine. Moose can be seen best at dark and dawn, especially between May and July.

Turkey Hunting in Maine

Turkey hunting in Maine dates back to 1977, when the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife introduced it to the state. Furthermore, because to the transfer, capturing, and dissemination of wildlife in the state, wild turkeys are now widely scattered across Maine, particularly in the east. Cumberland, Hancock, Penobscot, Kennebec, Lincoln, Oxford, Somerset, and other counties may have them.

Grouse Hunting in Maine

In Maine, grouse hunting is practiced throughout the state. The ruffed grouse is the most common species. They primarily dominate the state’s forest areas, including as highland hardwoods, softwood areas, orchards, and so on.

Duck Hunting in Maine

Ducks are waterfowl that are mainly found in wetlands remote from human settlements. The majority of Maine’s public hunting properties will include ducks in their ponds and lakes, particularly in the shallow areas of these bodies of water.

Shooting Ranges in Maine

The following shooting ranges in the state are open to the general public for practice:

Association of Arnold Trail Sportsmen
Hermon Skateboard Club
Pleasant River Fish and Game Conservation Association (PRFGC)
The Presque Isle Fish and Game Club
Rangeley Region Skeet & Trap Club
Fish and Game Association of York County
Western Maine Fish & Game Association
Clay Sports by Varney’s

Hunting Lands in Maine for Sale and Lease

Maine hunting lands for sale and lease include the following:

22 acres in Wilton, Maine (Franklin County).
27.2 acres in Gouldsboro, Maine (Hancock County).
264 acres in Patten, Maine (Penobscot County).
2,760 acres in Mexico, Maine (Oxford County).
89 acres in Roxbury, Maine (Oxford County).
35.33 acres in Wellington, Maine (Piscataquis County).
15.22 acres in Lynchtown Township, Oxford County, Maine.
167 acres in Linneus, Maine (Aroostook County).
214 acres in Livermore, Maine (Androscoggin County).
58 acres in Springfield, Maine (Penobscot County).

There are currently no hunting leases available in Maine.