SUMMARY OF HUNTING LAWS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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LAWS OF THE MAINE OUTDOORS ...... 2 2024-25 MAINE HUNTING SEASONS . 4
LICENSING INFORMATION ................... 6 Who Needs a License ?.................................... 6
What Are the Requirements ?......................... 6 How Are Licenses Obtained ?.......................... 6 Definitions ...................................................... 6 Special Licenses ............................................... 7 Outdoor Safety Courses .................................. 7 Apprentice Hunter License ............................. 7
2024-25 Apprentice Hunter License and Permit Fees ...................................................... 7
2024-25 License and Permit Fees .................. 8 Lifetime License Fees ...................................... 9 Maine Lifetime License ................................... 9 Super Pack License .......................................... 9 License & Permit Revocation Information . 10 Disturbing Traps ........................................... 10
GENERAL HUNTING LAWS ................... 11 Prohibition Regarding Selling of Wild Animals ............................................. 11
Night Hunting .............................................. 11 Raccoon Hunting .......................................... 11 Placement of Bait .......................................... 11 Target Identification While Hunting ........... 11 Minimum Shooting Distances ...................... 12
Possession of Gift Bear , Deer , Moose , or Wild Turkey ............................................... 12
Hunting with Dogs and Dog Training .......... 13 Releasing Dogs from Traps ........................... 13 Tagging , Transportation & Registration ..... 14 Tagging Requirements .................................. 14 Time Limits for Registering ......................... 14
Condition of Animal Presented for Registration ............................................. 14
Reporting Accidents & Aiding Victims ......... 14 Consumption Advisories ............................... 14
LAWS PERTAINING TO HUNTING EQUIPMENT ............................................ 15 General Laws ................................................. 15
Municipal Ordinances ................................... 15 Firearms Laws ............................................... 15 Archery Information ..................................... 16 Trail / Game Cameras Law .............................. 16
Observation Stands ...................................... 16 Hunter Orange Clothing Requirement ........ 17
JUNIOR HUNTERS ................................. 18 Junior Hunting Licenses ............................... 18
Supervision of Junior Hunters ...................... 18 Youth Hunting Days ...................................... 18
DEER HUNTING ..................................... 19 Deer Hunting Prohibitions ............................ 19
Deer Hunting Special Regulations and Closures .......................................................... 19
Harassment of Hunters ................................. 19 Deer Permits & Licenses ................................ 20 2024 Deer Seasons & Bag Limits .................. 20
CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE ............. 21 What is CWD ?................................................ 21
Regulations on Feeding Deer ......................... 21 MDIFW Check Stations ................................. 21 Waste of Game ............................................... 21
MOOSE HUNTING .................................. 22 Moose Hunting Permit .................................. 22
2024 Moose Permit Hunt Seasons & Bag Limits ....................................................... 22
WILD TURKEY HUNTING ...................... 23 Landowner Privileges .................................... 23
Wild Turkey Hunting Prohibitions ............... 23 Wild Turkey Legal Hunting Hours ................ 23
Wild Turkey Licensing , Permit , & Who May Hunt ........................................... 23
Spring Wild Turkey Hunting ......................... 24 Fall Wild Turkey Hunting .............................. 24
2024-25 Wild Turkey Seasons & Bag Limits ....................................................... 24
FURBEARERS & OTHER SPECIES HUNTING ................................................ 25 Furbearers Permits & Licenses ...................... 25
Gifting Coyotes .............................................. 25 Other Species Permits & Licenses ................. 25 New England Cottontail Rabbits ................... 25
BEAR HUNTING ..................................... 26 Bear Hunting Permit ...................................... 26
Landowner Privileges .................................... 26 Bait .................................................................. 26 Legal Hunting Equipment ............................. 26
Bear Hunting Prohibitions ............................ 26 Bear Hunting with a Maine Guide ................ 26 Hunting with Dogs ......................................... 27 2024 Bear Seasons & Bag Limits .................. 27
Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Program ......................................................... 27
BEAR TRAPPING .................................. 28 Bear Trapping Permit and Bag Limits .......... 28
Bear Trapping Laws ....................................... 28 Design & Deployment Standards ................. 28 Commercially Available Cable Traps ............ 28
HUNTING AREAS .................................. 29 Wildlife Management Areas ........................ 29
Bureau of Public Lands ( BPL )....................... 29 National Wildlife Refuges ( NWR )................ 29 White Mountain National Forest ................. 30 National Park Service .................................... 30 Baxter State Park ........................................... 30 Closed and Special Regulation Areas ........... 30 Railroad Tracks .............................................. 30 Maine Indian Territory ................................. 31
HUNTING / TRAPPING ON PRIVATE PROPERTY .............................................. 31 Commercial Shooting Areas ......................... 32
LEGAL HUNTING HOURS .................... 33 MIGRATORY GAME BIRDS ................... 34 Summary of Federal Regulations ................. 35 Aquatic Invasive Species ............................... 35 Maine Migratory Hunting Zones Map ......... 35
2024-25 Migratory Game Birds Seasons & Bag Limits .................................................. 36
Laws Specific to Merrymeeting Bay ............. 38
Laws Specific to Merrymeeting Bay Game Sanctuary ....................................................... 38
Stamp Requirements .................................... 38 Field Possession Limit .................................. 38 Importation ................................................... 38 Band Recovery Reports ................................. 39 Harvest Information Program ..................... 39 Barrow ’ s Goldeneye ....................................... 39
2024-25 Migratory Bird Hunter ’ s Legal Hunting Hours .............................................. 40
MAINE IF & W CONTACTS ...................... 41