Hunting Season is always a special time of the year. Whether you are planning on waiting patiently in a deer stand to bag that trophy buck or sitting knee deep in the marsh hoping to bag a band. Being able to take advantage of all the hunting seasons is why The Waterfowl Hunter has put together the hunting dates for Maine.
These dates serve as a general guide for more specific hunting visit Maine Depart. of Inland Fish and Wildlife.Â
Deer Hunting Seasons
| Season | First Day | Last Day |
|---|---|---|
| Firearms Season | Oct. 30 | Nov. 25 |
| Maine Resident Only Day | Oct. 28 | Oct. 28 |
| Youth Deer Day | Oct. 21 | Oct. 21 |
| Archery | Sept. 28 | Oct. 27 |
| Muzzleloader Statewide (all WMD’s) | Nov. 27 | Dec. 2 |
| Muzzleloader WMD’s 12, 13, 15 through 18, 20 through 26, 29 | Dec. 4 | Dec. 9 |
| Expanded Archery (designated areas only) | Sept. 9 | Dec. 9 |
Bear
| Season | First Day | Last Day |
|---|---|---|
| General Hunting Seasons | Aug. 28 | Nov. 25 |
| Youth Bear Day | Aug. 26 | Aug. 26 |
| Hunting with dogs | Sept. 11 | Oct. 27 |
| Hunting with bait | Aug. 28 | Sept. 23 |
Moose (by permit only)
| WMD’s | First Day | Last Day |
|---|---|---|
| 1 through 6, 11, 19 | Sept. 25 | Sept. 30 |
| 1 through 14, 17 through 19, 27, 28 | Oct. 9 | Oct. 14 |
| 15, 16, 23, 25, 26 | Oct. 30 | Nov. 25 |
| Maine Resident Only Day – WMD’s 15, 16, 23, 25, 26 | Oct. 28 | Oct. 28 |
| 1 through 4 & 19 | Oct. 23 | Oct. 28 |
Ruffed Grouse & Bobwhite Quail
| First Day | Last Day |
|---|---|
| Oct. 1 | Dec. 31 |
Pheasant
| First Day | Last Day |
|---|---|
| Oct. 1 | Dec. 31 |
Spring Wild Turkey (bow & arrow, crossbow or shotgun)
| Hunt Type/WMD’s | First Day | Last Day |
|---|---|---|
| 7, 9 through 29 | May 1 | June 3 |
| 8 | May 1 | June 3 |
| 1 through 6 Season A Week 1 (odd year birth) | May 1 | May 6 |
| 1 through 6 Season A Week 2 (odd year birth) | May 15 | May 20 |
| 1 through 6 Season B Week 3 (even year birth) | May 8 | May 13 |
| 1 through 6 Season B Week 4 (even year birth) | May 22 | May 27 |
| 1 through 6 All Hunters | May 22 | May 27 |
| 1 through 6 Youth Spring Wild Turkey Day | April 29 | April 29 |
Crow
| WMD’s | First Day | Last Day |
|---|---|---|
| 1 through 6 | Feb. 4 | April 15 |
| 1 through 6 | Aug. 1 | Sept. 22 |
| 7 through 29 | Jan. 20 | March 31 |
| 7 through 29 | Aug. 1 | Sept. 22 |
Gray Squirrel
| Hunt Type | First Day | Last Day |
|---|---|---|
| Oct. 1 | Dec. 31 | |
| Falconry | Oct. 1 | Feb. 28 |
Snowshoe Hare
| Region | First Day | Last Day |
|---|---|---|
| Oct. 1 | March 31 | |
| Vinalhaven Island, Knox County | Oct. 1 | Feb. 28 |
Bobcat
| First Day | Last Day |
|---|---|
| Dec. 1 | Feb. 21 |
Fox
| First Day | Last Day |
|---|---|
| Oct. 16 | Feb. 28 |
Raccoon
| First Day | Last Day |
|---|---|
| Oct. 1 | Dec. 31 |
Skunk, Opossum
| First Day | Last Day |
|---|---|
| Oct. 16 | Dec. 31 |
Coyote Night Hunt
| First Day | Last Day |
|---|---|
| Dec. 16 | Aug. 31 |
Coyote, Woodchuck, Porcupine, Red Squirrel
| Notice |
|---|
| No Closed Season for Hunting |
Spruce Grouse, Lynx, Cottontail Rabbit
| Notice |
|---|
| No Open Season for Hunting |
Woodcock, Common Snipe, Ducks, Geese, Sea Ducks (scoter, eider, long-tailed duck), Sora & Virginia Rails (and Gallinules)
| Notice |
|---|
| Seasons set in late August/early September. Regulations available mid-september. |