Maine Hunting Seasons 2024 New Dates & Limits

Normal bear season runs from August 28 to November 25, 2023. Before this, on August 26, 2023, there is a Youth Bear Day with an annual bear hunting and trapping limit of two bears. Bait may be positioned beginning on July 29, 2023, and baiting is permitted between August 28 and September 23, 2023. While chasing with dog is permitted from September 11, 2023, to October 27, 2023, bear trapping lasts from September 1 to October 31, 2023.

Opportunities include Muzzleloader, Firearms, Expanded Archery, and Youth Deer days, and Regular Archery and Crossbow. The four bear seasons are Youth Bear Day, General, Bait and Dog Hunting. The dates for shooting moose are location-specific and need a permit. You may participate in the spring wild turkey days in certain Wildlife Management Districts. There are schedules for taking gray squirrels, snowshoe hares, and bobcats.

The general hunting and the youth fall wild turkey day are when the fall turkey will be open for 2023. There is a general schedule for fall wild turkeys in a number of Wildlife Management Districts (WMDs) from September 18, 2023, to November 7, 2023. The state allows for hunting with a bow and arrow, crossbow, or shotgun. Up to five wild turkeys may be taken throughout the fall period, but there are individual WMD bag limitations that cannot be surpassed. On September 16, 2023, there will also be a Youth Fall Wild Turkey Day.

An annual lottery called “Any Deer Permit Maine,” commonly referred to as the Antlerless Deer Permit Lottery. June 27, 2023, until August 1, 2023, was the application period for 2023. Except for landowners who live in the state and license holders who are paraplegic, large game is only eligible with a current hunting license. The $12 permit + $2 agent charge goes toward the purchase and administration of wintering habitats in northern zone. The deadline for claiming and purchasing permits was September 12, 2023, and lottery winners were notified on August 15, 2023. Permits that were not claimed on September 19, 2023, might be bought.

Expanded archery and normal archery and crossbow are the two categories of the archery and bow season. The extended archery, which is only permitted in certain locations, runs from September 9 to December 9 of 2023 and has a yearly deer bag restriction of one antlered animal. The normal archery and crossbow game runs from September 30, 2023, through October 27, 2023, and is open to everyone.

Deer with antlers at least three inches long are legal to take during the general guns season and one antlered may be taken annually in Expanded Archery zones; normal archery and crossbow have separate dates and rules. Muzzleloader period, ME Residents Only Day, and Youth Deer all have their own bag limitations and dates.

The youth deer will run from October 20 to October 21. All regions where deer hunting is authorized are accessible to youths under the age of 16 with a valid junior license during this special two-day session. It’s crucial to remember that they must be accompanied by an adult supervisor, and those under the age of 10 must have an adult supervisor within 20 feet of them, with the adult supervisor satisfying any applicable license or education requirements.

The deer rifle is part of the firearms season, taking place from October 30, 2023, to November 25, 2023. With Antlerless and extended archery licenses may harvest antlerless buck in selected locations throughout this year provided they have antlers that are at least 3 inches long.

Regular Archery and Crossbow begins on September 30, 2023, while Expanded Archery begins on September 9, 2023. On October 20–21, 2023, the Youth Deer Hunt will take place. On October 28, 2023, the Resident Only Day will take place. Firearms begins on October 30 and lasts until November 25. Many muzzleloader game occur from late November to early December.

The partridge season starts on September 30 and ends on December 30. Since this is open to all of the residents, you are free to pursue partridges anywhere in the state. The daily bag limit during this period is four partridges.

Yes, non-residents shall be able to hunt in Maine. A deer license costs $140, a bear license is $74, and a chance at a moose permit lottery is $55.

From September to December, deer hunting includes extended archery, regular archery and crossbow, youth, Maine resident only day, guns, and muzzleloader season. Bear hunting includes youth bear day, regular , baiting, and bear trapping from August to November. Permit-only moose occurs in October and November throughout Pursuit zones. Duck game runs from September to December, with zone-specific dates and bag limitations.

Moose, black bear, and white-tailed deer are pursued in the state’s diverse geography and wooded regions. The state’s various environments support turkey, quail, grouse, and snowshoe hare for small game. Marshes, lakes, and rivers provide different duck hunting across the state. Guided outdoor tours and comfortable camps and lodging facilities provide immersive wildlife experiences.

Yes, it offers a lifetime hunting licenses. A a lifetime license’s price is determined by the buyer’s age at the time of purchase. One may get a combo license for $11 if they are over 65.