20 DEER HUNTING
DEER PERMITS & LICENSES Muzzleloader Permit
• Muzzleloader means a firearm that is capable of being loaded only through the muzzle; is ignited by a matchlock, wheel lock, flintlock, or caplock, including an in-line caplock or shotgun or rifle primer mechanism; has a rifled or smooth-bored barrel capable of firing only a single charge; propels a ball, bullet, or charge of shot; and may have any type of sights, including scopes.
• New technology: There are new types of muzzleloaders on the market that allow for a pre-measured amount of factory loaded gun powder that is encapsulated and is not loaded through the muzzle as a traditional muzzleloader would require. The bullet is still loaded through the muzzle. This still meets the definition of a muzzleloader and is legal for hunting during the muzzleloader hunting season.
• A muzzleloader permit, in addition to a valid adult big game hunting license that allows the use of firearms, is required for hunters 16 years of age or older prior to hunting deer during the muzzleloader deer season. The muzzleloader permit is included in the junior hunting license and the senior( age 70 +) lifetime license.
• Except as specified, all other laws relating to the taking of deer with firearms shall apply to the taking of deer with muzzleloaders.
• Only muzzleloaders that are. 40 caliber or greater and capable of firing only a single charge are legal.
Expanded Archery Permit
• Restricted to designated areas( contact MDIFW, or visit mefishwildlife. com / expanded, for maps of areas).
• Hunting permitted with archery equipment only.
2025 DEER SEASONS & BAG LIMITS
• Hunters who have a valid archery license can purchase multiple expanded archery antlerless deer permits and one expanded archery either-sex permit.
• Antlerless deer may be harvested by hunters during the expanded archery season( Sep-Dec) with expanded archery permits.
• Deer must be legally transported and registered as required for other deer seasons.
• All other archery deer hunting laws apply.
• Junior hunters may hunt during this season with their junior hunting license. The junior hunting license includes one expanded archery either-sex permit. If the hunter wants to harvest additional deer, unlimited expanded archery antlerless deer permits may be purchased.
Antlerless Deer Permit
• Hunters with an antlerless deer permit( s) and a big game hunting license may harvest an antlerless deer in the designated WMD or subunit, in addition to a deer taken with their big game hunting license.
• For 2025, in WMDs 21-25 and 29 during the firearms and muzzleloader seasons, or statewide during the regular archery and youth hunt seasons, hunters may harvest one deer, either antlered or antlerless, under the authority of their big game hunting license. This deer counts as the hunter ' s one deer for the year.
If a hunter harvests an antlerless deer without an anterless deer permit, they are prohibited from taking additional deer unless they have an antlerless deer permit( s) or participate in the expanded archery season( designated areas only) with expanded archery permits.
• Junior hunters may harvest antlerless deer without a permit in designated
WMDs( in 2025 all WMDs / Subunits allow the harvest of antlerless deer without an antlerless permit) during the Youth Deer Hunt. If a junior hunter harvests a deer during the Youth Deer Hunt, they are prohibited from taking additional deer unless they have antlerless deer permits or participate in the expanded archery season( designated areas only) with appropriate expanded archery permits or have not yet used their hunting license to take a deer.
• Antlerless deer permits are acquired by lottery and any remaining permits are available for purchase on the MDIFW website. Hunters selected for antlerless deer permits in the antlerless deer permit lottery may claim and pay for their permits. Super pack license holders selected from the special super pack license holder category may claim their permits at no cost. If a super pack license holder is not selected from the special super pack license holder category, the hunter is eligible to receive an antlerless deer permit from the regular antlerless deer permit applicant category, and if selected may claim and pay for their permit.
Deer Management Assistance Program( DMAP) Permits
DMAP permits must be used during the regular deer hunting seasons( excluding the expanded archery season), in accordance with all rules and statutes pertaining to the regular deer hunting season during which the permit is used, and used to harvest deer on the property for which they are issued. Each DMAP permit must be used to harvest one additional antlerless deer only. Learn more at mefishwildlife. com / dmap. ■
SEASON DATES ANNUAL BAG & POSSESSION LIMIT
Expanded Archery( limited area / permit required)
September 6, 2025- December 13, 2025 Regular Archery October 4, 2025- October 31, 2025 Youth Deer Hunt October 24, 2025- October 25, 2025
Firearms( allows use of archery equipment, firearms, or muzzleloaders)
Muzzleloader
Maine Residents Only: November 1, 2025
All dates are inclusive except that hunting is prohibited on Sunday.
All Hunters: November 3, 2025- November 29, 2025
Week 1: All Wildlife Management Districts( WMDs) December 1, 2025- December 6, 2025
Week 2: WMDs 12, 13, 15-18, 20-26, 29 December 8, 2025- December 13, 2025
Only 1 antlered deer may be harvested annually
Exceptions:
• For 2025, in WMDs 21-25 and 29 during the firearms and muzzleloader seasons, or statewide during the regular archery and youth hunt seasons, hunters may harvest one deer, either antlered or antlerless, under the authority of their big game hunting license. This deer counts as the hunter ' s one deer for the year. If a hunter wants to take additional deer, an antlerless deer permit is required.
• Additional deer may be harvested by hunters possessing antlerless deer permit( s) or during the expanded archery season with appropriate permits.
2025-26 STATE OF MAINE SUMMARY OF LAWS & RULES HUNTING QUESTIONS? CALL 207 287-8000