Home → Hunting & Trapping → Hunting → Laws & Rules → Season Dates and Bag Limits

Season Dates and Bag Limits

The following season dates are for the 2025-2026 hunting seasons and will be updated as seasons end. Click here to view 2026-2027 hunting season dates (PDF).

Deer

Seasons	WMDs	Dates		Limits
Seasons	WMDs	First Day	Last Day	Annual Bag & Possession
Expanded Archery	Designated areas only	September 12, 2026	December 12, 2026	Only 1 antlered deer may be taken annually. Exception: 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.
Regular Archery	All	October 3, 2026	October 30, 2026
Youth Deer Hunt	All	October 23, 2026	October 24, 2026
Maine Resident Only Day**	All	October 31, 2026
Firearms Season	All	November 2, 2026	November 28, 2026
Muzzleloader Statewide	All	November 30, 2026	December 5, 2026
Muzzleloader	12, 13, 15-18, 20-26, 29	December 7, 2026	December 12, 2026

View Deer Hunting Bag Limit and Permit Needs Infographic

** A non-resident who owns 25 or more acres of land in Maine and leaves land open to hunting, holds a valid hunting license, and is not otherwise prohibitedby law, may hunt deer on the Resident only day, anywhere in the state. A verification form must be completed and can be located on the Hunting License Information page.

Bear

Seasons	WMDs	Dates		Limits
Seasons	WMDs	First Day	Last Day	Annual Bag & Possession
Youth Bear Day	All	August 29, 2026		2 Bears Per Year 1 by hunting, 1 by trapping
General Hunting Season	All	August 31, 2026	November 28, 2026
Hunting with Bait Bait can be placed August 1, 2026	All	August 31, 2026	September 26, 2026
Bear Trapping	All	September 1, 2026	October 31, 2026
Hunting with Dogs Bear dog training season is July 1 - August 27, 2026	All	September 14, 2026	October 30, 2026

Moose (by permit only)

Seasons	WMDs***	Seasons***		Limits
Seasons	WMDs***	First Day	Last Day	Annual Bag & Possession
Antlerless-Only	4A (Adaptive Unit Hunt)	TBD	TBD	1 Moose Per Year A person may only harvest one moose per year, regardless of how many permits they may be listed on. In order to harvest a moose a person must be either the permittee or sub-permittee.
		TBD	TBD
		TBD	TBD
Bull-Only	1- 6, 10, 11, 18, 19, 27, 28	September 28, 2026	October 3, 2026
Bull-Only	1-15, 17-19, 27, 28	October 12, 2026	October 17, 2026
Antlerless-Only	1-6, 8	October 26, 2026	October 31, 2026

Permit application period: April - May of each year.

*** Moose hunting season dates and WMDs subject to change.

Fall Wild Turkey (Archery equipment or shotgun)

Seasons	WMDs	Dates		Limits
Seasons	WMDs	First Day	Last Day	Seasonal Bag & Possession
General Hunting Season	15-17, 20-25	September 14, 2026	November 7, 2026	5 Wild Turkeys**	No more than two wild turkeys (either-sex, any age) may be harvested per permit holder per day, but cannot exceed the WMD bag limit.
	26	September 14, 2026	November 7, 2026	3 Wild Turkeys*
	28	September 14, 2026	November 7, 2026	2 Wild Turkeys*
	3, 6-8, 10-14, 18, 19, 27 & 29	September 14, 2026	November 7, 2026	1 Wild Turkey*
	1, 2, 4, 5, 9			Closed to taking of Wild Turkeys
Youth Fall Wild Turkey Day		September 12, 2026

*May harvest up to 5 turkeys for the fall season, but an individual WMD bag limit cannot be exceeded. The order in which they are harvested from a WMD does not matter.

Spring Wild Turkey (Archery equipment or shotgun)

Seasons	WMDs	Dates		Limits
Seasons	WMDs	First Day	Last Day	Seasonal Bag & Possession
All Hunters	7 and 9-29	May 4, 2026	June 6, 2026	2 bearded Wild Turkeys**
All Hunters	1-6 and 8	May 4, 2026	June 6, 2026	1 bearded Wild Turkey**
Youth Spring Wild Turkey Day		May 2, 2026		May take up to 2 bearded Wild Turkeys from WMDs that have a 2 bird limit.

**May harvest up to 2 turkeys for the spring season, but an individual WMD bag limit cannot be exceeded. The order in which they are harvested from a WMD does not matter.

Upland Birds

Seasons	WMDs	Dates		Limits
Seasons	WMDs	First Day	Last Day	Daily Bag	Possession
Ruffed Grouse & Bobwhite Quail	All	September 26, 2026	December 31, 2026	4	8
Pheasant	All	September 26, 2026	December 31, 2026	2	4

Other Species

Seasons	WMDs	Dates		Limits
Seasons	WMDs	First Day	Last Day	Daily Bag	Possession
Gray Squirrel	All	September 27, 2025	January 31, 2026	4	8
Gray Squirrel (Falconry)	All	September 27, 2025	February 28, 2026	4	8
Snowshoe Hare	All	September 27, 2025	March 31, 2026	4	8
Snowshoe Hare	Season on Island of Vinalhaven	September 27, 2025	February 28, 2026	4	8
Bobcat	All	December 1, 2025	February 21, 2026	No Limit
Fox	All	October 20, 2025	February 28, 2026	No Limit
Raccoon	All	October 1, 2026	December 31, 2026	No Limit
Skunk, Opossum	All	October 19, 2026	December 31, 2026	No Limit
Coyote	All	During daylight hunting hours No Closed Season for Hunting		No Limit
Coyote	All	Night hunting December 16, 2025 - August 31, 2026		No Limit
Woodchuck, Porcupine, Red Squirrel	All	No Closed Season
Spruce Grouse, Lynx, Cottontail Rabbit		No Open Season for Hunting

Note: Except for migratory game birds, there is no hunting season on any species of bird or animal which is not listed above.

Migratory Game Birds

Species and Area		Seasons		Limits
Species and Area		First Day	Last Day	Daily Bag	Possession
Crows* Wildlife Management Districts 1-6		August 1, 2025	September 20, 2025	No Limit
Crows* Wildlife Management Districts 1-6		February 2, 2026	April 15, 2026
Crows* Wildlife Management Districts 7-29		August 1, 2025	September 20, 2025
Crows* Wildlife Management Districts 7-29		January 17, 2026	March 31, 2026
Common Snipe**		TBD	TBD	8	24
Woodcock**		TBD	TBD	3	9
Rails (Sora and Virginia)***		TBD	TBD	25 Single or in aggregate
Canada Goose (Early)	North Zone	TBD	TBD	8	24
	South Zone	TBD	TBD	10	30
	Coastal Zone	TBD	TBD	10	30
Canada Goose Regular, White-Fronted Geese	North Zone	TBD	TBD	2	6
	South Zone	TBD	TBD
	South Zone	TBD	TBD
	Coastal Zone	TBD	TBD	3	9
	Coastal Zone	TBD	TBD	3	9
Snow Geese Including Blue Geese		October 1, 2025	January 30, 2026	25
Ducks Including all duck species unless listed in exceptions, Mergansers, and American Coots	North Zone	TBD	TBD	6 Species-specific bag limits may be found below. All duck species not listed under exceptions below have a daily bag limit of 4 and possession limit of 12.	18 Species-specific bag limits may be found below. All duck species not listed under exceptions below have a daily bag limit of 4 and possession limit of 12.
	South Zone	TBD	TBD
	South Zone	TBD	TBD
	Coastal Zone	TBD	TBD
	Coastal Zone	TBD	TBD
Brant	North Zone	TBD	TBD	1	3
	South Zone	TBD	TBD
	South Zone	TBD	TBD
	Coastal Zone	TBD	TBD
	Coastal Zone	TBD	TBD
Special Falconry Season In addition to the regular migratory bird season (for the take of Ducks, Mergansers and American Coots)	North Zone	December 15, 2025	February 4, 2026	3 Respectively, singly or in aggregate Species Restrictions Apply	9 Respectively, singly or in aggregate Species Restrictions Apply
	South Zone	January 7, 2026	February 27, 2026
	Coastal Zone	January 7, 2026	February 27, 2026
Special Youth Waterfowl Hunts All duck species except Harlequins, Barrow's Goldeneye, and Moorhens and Gallinules – may be hunted on these days, including geese. For the youth days, the goose limit is under the Regular Season daily bag limit.	North Zone	TBD		Special regulations apply to youth and accompanying adult. Please see Junior Hunters section.
	South Zone	TBD
	Coastal Zone	TBD

All dates are inclusive except that hunting is prohibited on Sunday.
* Crows are neither migratory waterfowl or migratory game birds. The use of lead shot and the use of a shotgun capable of holding more than three shells is permitted. A migratory waterfowl stamp is not required. Use of electronic calls is permitted.

** Woodcock & Snipe are considered migratory game birds, not migratory waterfowl. The use of lead shot is permitted.
The use of a shotgun capable of holding more than three shells is prohibited. A migratory waterfowl stamp is not required.

*** Rails are considered migratory game birds not migratory waterfowl. The use of lead shot and a shotgun capable of holding more than three shells is prohibited. A migratory waterfowl stamp is not required.

Migratory Game Birds Exceptions

Species	Limit
Harlequin Ducks, Barrow's Goldeneye, Moorhens & Gallinules	Closed Season
American Coots	In addition to the 6 duck daily bag limit, hunters may take 5 coots. It is unlawful to possess more than 15 coots at any time.
Mottled Ducks, Fulvous Whistling Ducks, Scaup and Hen Eider	The daily limit on these species is 1 bird; possession limit is 3.
Black Duck, Redhead, Hen Mallards, Canvasback and Eider	The daily limit on these species is 2 birds; possession limit is 6.
Mallards	The daily limit is 4 (2 hen mallards); possession limit is 12 (6 hen mallards).
Mergansers (Common, Red-breasted and Hooded)	In addition to the 6 duck daily bag limit, hunters may take 5 mergansers in the aggregate, with a species specific limit of 5. It is unlawful to possess more than 15 mergansers at any time.
Sea Ducks (Scoter, Eider, and Long-Tailed Duck)	The daily limit is 3 by species (4 total sea ducks), possession limit is 9 by species (12 total seas ducks). Except that the daily bag limit for eiders is 2, not to exceed 1 hen eider; and possession limit for hen eiders is 3, with the total possession limit for all eiders being 6.
Northern Pintails and Wood Ducks	The daily limit is 3 birds, possession limit is 9.

Maine.gov

Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife