Introducing Youth to Hunting in Maine
BECAUSE THE BEST FAMILY MEMORIES ARE MADE OUTSIDE.
Hunting offers families the chance to spend quality time outdoors, connect with nature, secure lean, free-range protein, support wildlife conservation, and strengthen family bonds. MDIFW is here to support every family interested in learning to hunt.
How to Get Your Family Started Hunting
Start Here
Hunter Education Course
The first step is typically completing a Hunter Education Course (Firearms or Archery). Anyone over the age of 10 can take a course—and it's a great learning experience for the whole family, even if adults have already been certified.
- Courses are available online or in-person.
- Students ages 10-15 may complete the online portion of the course as part of a Homestudy course, or complete a Traditional In-Person Course, but cannot take the course fully online.
Or Try a Next Step Workshop
Or, give hunting a try and explore your curiosity at a Next Step workshop. These hands-on and beginner-friendly sessions are a great way to explore hunting without committing to a full course and all gear is provided.
Buy a License
Once Hunter Education is complete, you may buy your hunting license(s) online.
All children that have not yet reached their 16th birthday must have a junior hunting license to hunt. There is no minimum age to purchase a junior hunting license. Once a junior hunter turns 16 years of age, they must complete a hunter education course.
Apprentice Hunting License Option for Adults: If a person is going to hunt with a mentor (friend or family member), they can purchase an Apprentice Hunting License, and hunt with them for up to 3 seasons, without completing hunter education.
Consider Finding a Mentor
A good mentor can help you get started. If you don't have one, visit learnhunting.org to find a potential mentor near you.
Keep Learning by Joining Next Step Workshops
Next Step courses help new hunters learn how to target new species, process wild game meat, use different gear, and more. Courses are offered throughout the year, often before the start of hunting seasons.
Practice Shooting
To gain comfort and proficiency with your firearm before heading afield come visit one of our State-owned ranges in Fryeburg and Augusta. These safe, family-friendly ranges are open to all experience levels and have a dedicated staff of Range Safety Officers that may be able to provide some advice if you need it. For even more in-depth support MDIFW offers learn to shoot Next Step workshops and scheduled one-on-one training sessions. There are also many private ranges across the state where you can shoot or find a shooting mentor.
Find a Place to Hunt
Maine has over 17 million acres of extraordinary land available to hunters.
When it comes to finding where you want to hunt, you have two options: private land or public land. Before hunting on private land, always ask permission. Learn how to seek landowner permission and about public land hunting opportunities across the state by visiting the Tips for Finding a Place to Hunt page.
Go Hunting
Remember, learning to hunt is a lifelong journey. Enjoy every step along the way, and remember hunting is about so much more than the harvest. Hunting is about making memories, connecting with nature, and spending quality time with friends and family.
Tips for Success
Start with Smaller Game
While white-tailed deer is Maine's most popular game, smaller game like squirrels, ruffed grouse (partridge), and wild turkey are perfect for beginners. These hunts occur during warmer months are more interactive and better for shorter attention spans.
Focus on the Experience
Hunting is about so much more than the harvest. Focus on the quality time spent outside, connection to nature, and learning something new. Celebrate the little things along the way, and don't forget the special hunting snacks!
Keep it Short
Shorter hunts or breaks throughout the day keep energy and interest high. Sometimes less is more.
Plan Ahead
Proper preparation is key for a well-equipped, confident new hunter.
- Practice shooting skills and get familiar with the equipment.
- Scout the location ahead of time and talk through likely scenarios.
- Dress in layers to stay warm, dry, and comfortable in changing conditions.
Consider a Youth Appropriate Firearm
Consider using a firearm that has a better overall experience for the hunter. Things to consider include ensuring the firearm is properly sized (fitted for length of pull), results in less felt recoil, and a caliber/ammunition choice that results in an ethical and humane kill. Shooting rests, sleds, sticks, tripods, etc. can help to steady the aim of the hunter, resulting in greater accuracy and more confidence. Electronic hearing protection and sound dampening devices can relieve anticipation and nervousness with the shot.
Use a Blind
Ground blinds help restless youth stay hidden, ask questions, and move quietly.
Encourage Outdoor Skills
Tracking, scat ID, and spotting signs like buck scrapes or rubs make the whole day more engaging and rewarding.
Invite Youth to Tag Along
Consider inviting youth on a hunt as your partner, not as the shooter. This lets them experience the hunt, learn each step, and enjoy the tradition without the pressure of being behind the gun. It's an easy, meaningful way to introduce them to hunting. You'll know when they are ready for the next step!
Prioritize Safety and Education
Safety first, always.
- Always treat every firearm as if it is loaded.
- Keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction at all times.
- Always carry your firearm in a safe manner, which includes keeping your finger out of the trigger housing until you are ready to shoot.
- Be sure of your target and beyond.
- Follow treestand safety by always wearing a safety harness and being aware of potentially hazardous trees nearby.
- Always tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return.
- Always have a survival kit and compass, even the most experienced outdoors people can get turned around in the dark.
Youth Days
Youth days are special seasons open to youth hunters under the age of 16. Youth days are a great opportunity to bring youth hunting for the first time, to target a new species, or to see if their interest level has changed over time. And if the junior hunter is already hooked, another chance for a memorable day in the woods!
Junior hunters must be accompanied by a junior hunter supervisor. Hunters who turn 16 during the calendar year may still hunt on youth days with certain requirements, see additional junior hunter information in hunting law book.
| Species | Youth Hunting Days(s) | Regulations Pertaining to Junior Hunters |
|---|---|---|
| Bear | August 23, 2025 | A licensed junior hunter may hunt a bear with a firearm or archery equipment during the youth bear hunting day. Use of dogs is prohibited; hunting over bait or still hunting is permitted. |
| Deer | October 24, 2025 - October 25, 2025 | Junior hunters may harvest one antlered deer statewide. Junior hunters may harvest antlerless deer without a permit (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 (in designated areas only) with appropriate archery license and expanded archery permits. |
| Fall Wild Turkey | September 13, 2025 | Participants may take up to two wild turkeys on this day, with a shotgun or archery equipment, but cannot exceed an individual WMD bag limit. If hunting in different WMDs, the order in which they are taken does not matter. |
| Spring Wild Turkey | May 2, 2026 | Participants may take up to two bearded wild turkeys with a shotgun or archery equipment, but cannot exceed an individual WMD bag limit. See Wild Turkey Hunting. |
| Waterfowl | North Zone: September 20, 2025 & December 13, 2025 |
ALL duck species except Harlequins, Barrow's Goldeneye, Moorhens and Gallinules, may be hunted on these days, including geese. For the September 27, October 18 and December 13 youth days, the goose limit is under the Regular Season limit. On youth waterfowl hunting days, scoters, eiders, and long-tailed ducks may be harvested as part of the 6 bird daily limit on regular ducks. Also on these dates, 2 Black Ducks may be harvested. Must follow regular season bag limits and exceptions. *The junior hunter supervisor may not carry a firearm or archery equipment while accompanying a youth hunter on a youth hunt day except when it occurs during the early goose season the accompanying junior hunter supervisor may hunt for geese only. |
| South Zone: September 20, 2025 & October 18, 2025 |
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| Coastal Zone: September 27, 2025 & October 18, 2025 |