Notice: Paper applications are no longer mailed. Please see Application Information.

The Department will no longer be mailing the Any-Deer, Bonus Antlerless Deer, or Superpack Antlerless Deer permits/transportation tags.

Instead, permit winners will need to record their permit number that can be found online after the drawing, and report the permit number to the registration station when tagging their deer.

The Department suggests that permit winners write their permit number down and keep the number with your license, so it is readily available when needed at the registration station.

During the regular firearms, and muzzle-loading seasons, only those hunters possessing a valid Maine Any-Deer permit may hunt antlerless deer and bucks with antlers less than three inches in length.

During the archery season on deer, bucks may be taken statewide. (Although an Any-Deer permit is not required during the archery season, antlerless deer may only be taken in WMD's that have Any-Deer permits.

Any-Deer permits are valid only for a specific wildlife management district. A permit holder may kill an antlerless deer in the wildlife management district for which his or her permit is valid.

Hunters not possessing an Any-Deer permit may hunt "bucks only" (antlers three inches or longer) anywhere in the State.

How to Apply for an Any-Deer Permit

There is no application fee to apply for an Any-Deer permit.

To apply for an Any-Deer permit, you must possess a valid Maine license to hunt big game. Exceptions: See Maine resident landowners. You may enter up to three (3) Wildlife Management District choices in order of preference.

Everyone is strongly encouraged to help the Department in its efforts to save money by applying for the Any-Deer permit lottery using the online application. The online application process is quick and easy. Applicants will get instant confirmation of their entry into the lottery.

Residents applying to hunt on their own land without a license, and applicants with a legal residence outside the U.S. or Canada must use the paper application and may not apply for an Any-Deer permit online.

If an applicant does not have access to a computer or the Internet at home, the Department has the following suggestions for applying online:

Use a computer at work during lunch or a break.
Use a computer at your local library or Internet café.
Ask a friend or relative with a computer for help in applying.

If you have no way to apply online, the Department is offering the following options to apply for the Any-Deer permit lottery:

Print out a paper application. You can then fill out the application and mail it to us.
Come to our main office in Augusta where you can fill out a paper application.
Send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to the address given below. Department personnel will mail you a paper application that you can then fill out and mail back to us.

Any-Deer Permit Application Request
Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife
41 State House Station
284 State Street
Augusta, Maine 04333-0041

Maine resident landowners may hunt without a license on their own land if they live on that particular piece of land, the piece of land exceeds 10 acres in size, and the land is used exclusively for agricultural purposes. A landowner whose hunting privilege is under revocation is not eligible to receive an Any-Deer permit or Bonus Deer permit. Landowners planning to hunt on their own land without a license may enter the drawing by submitting a signed, hunting license exemption affidavit form with a paper any-deer permit application. Landowner affidavits are mailed to all landowners who applied with one the previous year. If you would like to receive a landowner affidavit form by mail, you may request an affidavit to be mailed to you. An unlicensed resident landowner may apply for an Any-Deer permit or Bonus Deer permit only in the district where his or her qualifying land is located. If an unlicensed landowner is selected to receive a permit, the permit is valid only on the qualifying land, even if a hunting license is later acquired. In order for a permit to be valid anywhere in a district, a hunting license must be acquired prior to application and that license number used on the application.

Special antlerless deer permit. The commissioner shall issue a special antlerless deer permit to an eligible person who is suffering from the loss of or the permanent loss of use of both lower extremities. The commissioner shall issue a permit upon application and after the applicant verifies that person's ambulatory disability with a letter signed by a physician confirming the person's condition. A person who is issued a special antlerless deer permit under this subsection may take an antlerless deer in any part of the State open to the taking of antlerness deer. When registering the antlerless deer, use your MOSES ID Number as your permit number.

To apply for a Bonus Deer permit, you must possess a valid Maine license to hunt big game. Exceptions: See Maine resident landowners. You may enter one (1) WMD choice in the "Bonus Deer Permit WMD Choice" box. Selection of permit holders will be done by WMD. Permittees will be chosen through chance drawings and will be assigned to a WMD using their preferences as indicated on their application. If you do not want to apply for an Any-Deer permit, but would like to apply for a bonus deer permit should bonus deer permits be available, designate a WMD choice for a bonus deer permit.

To apply for a Superpack Deer permit (Maine residents only), you must possess a valid Maine resident superpack license. Enter your WMD choices in order of preference. The same application is used to enter the Any-Deer permit lottery. A Superpack license holder cannot enter and win a Bonus Deer permit. More information on Superpack License/Permits.

Purchase your fishing or hunting license online.

Bonus Deer Permits

Bonus Deer permits will only be awarded in WMD's where there are more permits available than applications received. If you do not want to apply for an Any-Deer permit but would like to apply for a Bonus Deer permit should bonus permits be available, make sure you designate a WMD choice for a Bonus Deer permit. No WMD changes can be made after the drawing.

A Bonus Deer permit entitles a hunter to an additional antlerless deer.
Bonus Deer permits are for antlerless-deer only. An applicant may choose to apply for a Bonus Deer permit and not apply for an Any-Deer permit.
Bonus Deer permits will be distributed to hunters who applied for a Bonus Deer permit in the WMD where Any-Deer permits went unused. If selected to receive a Bonus Deer permit, there will be a $12.00 fee.
Successful Bonus Deer permit applicants will be listed online with the Any-Deer permit and Superpack Deer permit winners. There is a $12.00 fee for a Bonus Deer permit.
Bonus Deer permits may be used at any time during the archery, expanded archery (designated areas only), firearm, or muzzle-loading seasons on deer, but only in the assigned WMD. Hunters are not required to fill their Any-Deer permit prior to using a Bonus Deer permit.
Bonus Deer permits are available to residents and nonresidents and will be allocated in the same proportion of residents to nonresidents as the regular Any-Deer permit drawing.
Bonus Deer Permits may be transferred to a junior hunter, a hunter 65 years of age or older, or to a person with ambulatory disabilities (suffering from the loss of, or the permanent loss of use of, both lower extremities) in the same manner as Any-Deer permits. (See Transfer of Deer Permits).

These permits will help achieve population goals for the Wildlife Management District by requiring the hunter to take only an antlerless deer. The benefit to the hunter is being able to take a second deer during any open season, greatly increasing opportunity. We assume that hunters who apply for an Any-Deer permit in a Wildlife Management District are likely to hunt in that area because they live there or have a place to hunt.

Special Landowner Drawing

Any private landowner is eligible for the landowner permit drawing if the person owns a particular piece of land that is: 25 or more contiguous acres in size; is agricultural, forested or undeveloped land; and open to hunting, including hunting by permission. Any dependent living in the household of a qualifying landowner is eligible. Applicant's hunting privilege cannot be under revocation.

Any shareholder in a Chapter S Corporation is eligible for the landowner permit drawing if the corporation's principle business is forestry or agriculture and owns a particular piece of land that is: 25 or more contiguous acres in size, is agricultural or undeveloped land; and open to hunting including hunting by permission. Dependents of shareholders are not eligible.

Qualifying landowners must complete the landowner permit application and the standard Any-Deer permit application (both included on the same application form - see exceptions above). The location of the qualifying property must be provided (tax map and lot number). Note: Landowners without a hunting license may not apply online.

You do not have to apply in the same district where the 25+ acre parcel of land is located if you apply with a regular hunting license. The district choice on your application applies to both drawings.

You will automatically be included in the general permit drawing if you are unsuccessful in the special landowner drawing.

License Requirements

You must possess a valid Maine license to hunt big game in order to apply for an Any-Deer permit or Bonus Deer permit. Exceptions: see Maine resident landowners.

You must possess a valid Maine resident superpack license in order to apply for a Superpack Deer permit (Maine residents only).

Residents may purchase a license online or from license agents throughout the state.

Nonresidents and aliens may also purchase a license online or by mail at the time they apply for their any-deer permit. Nonresident license application.

Residents and nonresidents 10-15 years of age can hunt deer with a junior hunting license.

A junior hunting license is not valid unless the holder is at least 10 years old and not more than 15 at the time of purchase. Although licenses can be pre-issued before a birthday, the license and permit cannot be used until the youngster reaches 10 years of age.

An applicant who applies with an archery license and receives a permit may take an antlerless deer with a firearm during the regular firearm season or muzzleloading season provided a valid firearms license is also possessed.

NOTICE to all nonimmigrant aliens temporarily importing firearms and ammunition into the United States.

Application Deadline

Application deadline by mail or in person: July 27, 2012. Paper Applications must be postmarked by July 27, 2012 or delivered to 284 State Street, Augusta before 5:00 p.m.
Application deadline online only: August 15, 2012. Apply online until 11:59 P.M. August 15, 2012.
(Note: Residents applying to hunt on their own land without a license, and applicants with a legal residence outside the U.S. or Canada must use the paper application and may not apply for an Any-Deer permit online.

The Any-Deer lottery drawing will be held on September 7, 2012. The results will be posted here after the drawing.

How the Drawing Works

Recipients of Any-Deer permits will be determined by a random computerized drawing from among applications submitted.

A six (6) staged drawing will be held.

1st Stage: Superpack license holders will receive up to 2.5% of the permits available in WMD's with at least 3,500 permits. These superpack deer permits are for a second deer which must be an antlerless deer. Any unallocated permits will be transferred to the resident and nonresident any-deer permit lotteries.
2nd Stage: Landowners who qualify for the landowner any-deer permit drawing will receive up to 25% of the any-deer permits available. Any landowner permits which have not been allocated to landowners will be distributed to resident and nonresident any-deer permit lotteries.
3rd Stage: Nonresidents are allocated any-deer permits based upon the ration of the previous three years of applications. Additional permits may be transferred to the nonresident lottery from the 2nd Stage lottery. 15% is the maximum percentage that can be allocated to nonresident applicants. If any permits remain after this lottery they are transferred to the resident and nonresident bonus permit lottery.
4th Stage: Residents are allocated the remaining any-deer permits after the superpack, landowner, and nonresident drawings. If any permits remain after this lottery they are transferred to the resident and nonresident bonus any-deer lottery.
5th Stage: Nonresident bonus deer permit lottery is used to distribute the right to buy a bonus permit to non-resident applicants.
6th Stage: Resident bonus deer permit lottery is used to distribute the right to buy a bonus permit to resident applicants.

An Any-Deer permit grants the privilege of killing and registering an antlerless deer.

A Bonus Deer permit or a Superpack Deer permit grants the privilege of killing and registering an additional deer (antlerless only).

Notification

Each successful applicant in the permit drawing will be issued a number. The Department will no longer be mailing out Any-Deer permits/transportation tags. Instead, Any-Deer permit winners will need to record their permit number (which can be found online after the drawing), and report this permit number when tagging their deer.

The Department suggests that Any-Deer permit winners write their permit number down and keep the number with your license so it is readily available when needed at the tagging station.

Successful bonus deer permit applicants will be notified by mail in late September/early October and must pay a $12 permit fee (in person or by mail) before receiving the bonus deer permit. Applicants not selected in the drawing will not be listed.

Any-Deer/Landowner/Bonus Deer/Superpack Deer Permit Swap Information

An Any-Deer, Landowner, Bonus Deer, or Superpack Deer permit winner will be allowed to swap their permit with another permit winner in order to swap hunting districts. Only one swap is allowed.

Permits may only be swapped for same type permits. Any-Deer permits may only be swapped for Any-Deer Permits, Landowner Permits may only be swapped for Landowner Permits, Bonus Deer Permits may only be swapped for Bonus Deer Permits, and Superpack Deer Permits may only be swapped for Superpack Deer Permits. Residents can only swap with residents, and nonresidents can only swap with nonresidents.

Any-Deer permit winners who wish to swap their permit with another permit winner will need to do all their own work to identify and contact potential permit winners to swap with.

If you are interested in registering or finding someone who wants to swap any-deer permits, please visit Doe Tag Swap [off-site].

You can also purchase a complete listing of all permit winners and their mailing addresses by contacting InforME at (207) 621-2600 ext. 38 or by sending an email to info@informe.org.

Once you find someone to swap permits with, the permit swap fee is $7.00 total (One fee of $7.00 covers both of you). Checks should be made payable to "Treasurer, State of Maine". Please Do Not Send Cash.

Note: Bonus antlerless permits must be paid for before the swap can take place.

Permits can be swapped online, in person, or by mail by completing the Any-Deer/Bonus Deer/Superpack Deer Permit Swap Request Form below.

The swap can be done online until 11:59 P.M. on October 26, 2012. The swap may also be done in person at our main office in Augusta or by mail. By mail, you must fill in all required information on the Swap Request Form below and return it to the Department. The Department will assign a new permit number for the swap and mail the form back to you. When you receive the new permit number, the swap is complete and you may give the number to the person you are swapping permits with. Please allow at least one week for processing.

Swap Request Form PDF

Swap request forms must be received at the IF&W office no later than October 26, 2012.

Transfer of Any-Deer, Bonus Deer, or Superpack Deer Permits

Any person who has been issued an Any-Deer permit, Bonus Deer Permit, or Superpack Permit can transfer the permit to a junior hunter or to a person 65 years of age or older. Note: Junior hunters may take a deer of either sex on the youth deer hunting day, in certain WMD's, so you may want to wait to see if they harvest a deer on the youth deer hunting day before you consider transferring your permit over to them.

A resident permit may only be transferred to another resident, and a nonresident permit may only be transferred to another nonresident.

Permits can be transferred online, in person or by mail by completing the Any-Deer/Bonus Deer Permit/Superpack Deer Permit Transfer Request Form below.

The transfer can be done online until 11:59 p.m. October 26, 2012. The transfer may also be done in person at our main office in Augusta or by mail. By mail, you must fill in all required information for both yourself and the transferee on the Transfer Request Form below and return it to the Department. The Department will assign a new permit number for the transfer and mail the form back to you. When you receive the new permit number, the transfer is complete and you may give the number to the transferee. Please allow at least one week for processing.

Transfer Request Form PDF

Transfer request forms must be received at the IF&W office no later than October 26, 2012.

Permit Allocations by District

Permit allocations are based on management goals for each district - few or no permits where deer populations are low, greater numbers where deer are more abundant, and on hunter success rates from previous seasons.

2012 Any-Deer Permit Allocations Note: Bucks Only in any WMD's not listed below
WMD	Superpack	Landowner	Any Deer	Total
12	0	44	131	175
13	0	94	281	375
15	99	990	2,871	3,960
16	0	720	2,160	2,880
17	0	619	1,856	2,475
20	151	1,513	4,386	6,050
21	192	1,915	5,553	7,660
22	0	513	1,537	2,050
23	0	863	2,587	3,450
24	0	613	1,837	2,450
25	0	404	1,211	1,615
26	0	105	315	420
29	0	150	450	600
Total	442	8,543	25,175	34,160

DEPARTMENT INFORMATION

Any-Deer Permits - Online and Paper Applications Available in Late June.

View the Any-Deer Permit Results for 2012 HERE