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Furbearers & Other Species Hunting
On this page:
- Furbearers Permits & Licenses
- Other Species Permits and Licenses
- 2023-2024 Seasons and Bag Limits on Other Species
Furbearers Permits & Licenses
Bobcat Hunting
Hunters must tag bobcat within 10 days of when the animal was harvested. Bobcat can only be tagged by MDIFW staff. A lower lateral incisor, lower canine tooth, or lower jaw and tissue sample (small piece of tongue) should be submitted when the bobcat is tagged. Biologists use this information to determine the age and sex of the bobcats harvested.
Lateral incisors are very small and easy to extract when animal is fresh by running a knife down each side of the tooth. Replacement teeth or age results can be requested by including name and contact information with your sample.
Coyote Hunting
A Coyote Night Hunting Permit is available for $4* and allows a person to hunt coyote at night from December 16 - August 31. "At night" means a 1/2 hour after sunset until 1/2 hour before sunrise. To hunt coyotes at night, hunters must be in possession of a predator calling device (electronic, hand-held, or mouth-operated). The use of artificial lights to hunt coyote at night is permitted. The use of dogs to hunt coyote at night is prohibited. *Plus agent fee.
Gifting Coyotes
The Department allows the gifting of unregistered coyotes. A tag must be attached to each gifted coyote with the name and hunting or trapping license number of the person who harvested the coyote, the harvest method (hunt or trap), harvest date, and harvest town. This information must be presented accurately to the tagging agent when the animal is registered.
Other Species Permits & Licenses
Crows
Crows are neither migratory waterfowl nor migratory game birds. The use of lead shot and shotguns capable of holding more than three shells is permitted. A migratory waterfowl stamp is not required.
Falconry License
A falconry license, in addition to a regular hunting license, is required of persons who engage in falconry. Copies of the regulations pertaining to this type of hunting are available upon request. To obtain a falconry license, contact MDIFW.
Pheasant Permit
A Pheasant Permit is required for hunters 16 years of age or older hunting on an adult license, in order to hunt or possess pheasant in Cumberland and York counties (permit is not required to hunt or possess pheasant throughout the remainder of the State). Revenue derived from this permit is dedicated to the acquisition of pheasants which are raised and released by private fish and game clubs in partnership with MDIFW.
Learn more about Maine's pheasant hunting program and see current pheasant stocking sites.
New England Cottontail Rabbits
If you are hunting in southern Maine, MDIFW would like to know if you accidentally take or see New England cottontail rabbits. Cottontail rabbits are smaller than snowshoe hare, have hind feet less than 4 inches in length, and do not turn white in the winter. Their coat remains brown all year round. This is Maine’s only native rabbit and IFW is actively trying to restore its population. Identifying new areas where the rabbit occurs could greatly benefit restoration efforts. Please let us know about any rabbits you see by contacting a biologist in your region.
2023-2024 Other Species Seasons and Bag Limits
| Seasons | WMDs | Dates | Limits | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Day | Last Day | Daily Bag | Possession | ||
| Ruffed Grouse & Bobwhite Quail | All | September 30, 2023 | December 30, 2023 | 4 | 8 |
| Pheasant | All | September 30, 2023 | December 30, 2023 | 2 | 4 |
| Crow | See Migratory Game Birds Seasons & Bag Limits | ||||
| Gray Squirrel | All | September 30, 2023 | December 30, 2023 | 4 | 8 |
| Gray Squirrel (Falconry) | All | September 30, 2023 | February 28, 2024 | 4 | 8 |
| Snowshoe Hare | All | September 30, 2023 | March 30, 2024 | 4 | 8 |
| Season on Island of Vinalhaven | September 30, 2023 | February 28, 2024 | |||
| Bobcat | All | December 1, 2023 | February 21, 2024 | No Limit | |
| Fox | All | October 16, 2023 | February 28, 2024 | No Limit | |
| Raccoon | All | October 2, 2023 | December 31, 2023 | No Limit | |
| Skunk, Opossum | All | October 16, 2023 | December 30, 2023 | No Limit | |
| Coyote | All | During daylight hunting hours No Closed Season for Hunting |
No Limit | ||
| Night hunting December 16, 2023 - August 31, 2024 |
|||||
| 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. All dates are inclusive except that hunting is prohibited on Sunday.