SUMMARY OF HUNTING LAWS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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LAWS OF THE MAINE OUTDOORS....... 2 2025-26 MAINE HUNTING SEASONS... 4
LICENSING INFORMATION.................... 6 Who Needs a License?.................................... 6
What Are the Requirements?......................... 6 How Are Licenses Obtained?.......................... 6 Residency Definitions..................................... 6 Special Licenses............................................... 7 Outdoor Safety Courses.................................. 7 Apprentice Hunter License............................. 7
2025-26 Apprentice Hunter License and Permit Fees...................................................... 7
2025-26 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 Keep Your License with You......................... 10
GENERAL HUNTING LAWS................... 11 Prohibition Regarding Selling of Wild Animals............................................. 11
Possession of Gift Bear, Deer, Moose, or Wild Turkey............................................... 11
Night Hunting.............................................. 11 Placement of Bait.......................................... 11 Target Identification While Hunting........... 11 Minimum Shooting Distances...................... 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 Harassment of Hunters................................ 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
Areas Closed to Deer Hunting....................... 19 Areas Open to Deer Hunting......................... 19 Deer Permits & Licenses................................ 20 2025 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
2025 Moose Permit Hunt Seasons & Bag Limits....................................................... 22
WILD TURKEY HUNTING...................... 23 Wild Turkey Hunting Permit......................... 23 Landowner Privileges.................................... 23 Turkey Registration....................................... 23 Legal Hunting Equipment............................. 23 Turkey Hunting with Dogs............................ 23 Wild Turkey Hunting Prohibitions............... 23
2025-26 Wild Turkey Seasons & Bag Limits....................................................... 23
FURBEARERS & OTHER SPECIES HUNTING................................................ 24 Furbearers Permits & Licenses...................... 24
Gifting Coyotes.............................................. 24 Furbearer Tagging Locations......................... 24 Other Species Permits & Licenses................. 24
IDENTIFYING RARE MAMMALS.......... 25 Canada Lynx................................................... 25
Lynx vs. Bobcat.............................................. 25 Large Coyotes................................................. 25 Large Extirpated Mammals........................... 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 2025 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
2025-26 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
2025-26 Migratory Bird Hunter’ s Legal Hunting Hours.............................................. 40
MAINE IF & W CONTACTS...................... 41