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
First Day Last Day Annual Bag & Possession
Expanded Archery Designated areas only September 6, 2025 December 13, 2025

1 Antlered Deer Per Year*
See exceptions

Regular Archery All October 4, 2025 October 31, 2025
Youth Deer Hunt All October 24, 2025 October 25, 2025
Maine Resident Only Day** All November 1, 2025  
Firearms Season All November 3, 2025 November 29, 2025
Muzzleloader Statewide All December1, 2025 December 6, 2025
Muzzleloader 12, 13, 15-18, 20-26, 29 December 8, 2025 December 13, 2025

*Exceptions:
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.

** 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.

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Bear

Seasons WMDs Dates Limits
First Day Last Day Annual Bag & Possession
Youth Bear Day All August 23, 2025 2 Bears Per Year
1 by hunting, 1 by trapping
General Hunting Season All August 25, 2025 November 29, 2025
Hunting with Bait
Bait can be placed July 26, 2025
All August 25, 2025 September 20, 2025
Bear Trapping All September 1, 2025 October 31, 2025
Hunting with Dogs
Bear dog training season is
July 1 - August 21, 2025
All September 8, 2025 October 31, 2025

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Moose (by permit only)

Seasons WMDs*** Seasons*** Limits
First Day Last Day Annual Bag & Possession
Antlerless-Only 4A (Adaptive Unit Hunt) October 20, 2025 October 25, 2025 1 Moose Per Year

by either permittee or sub-permittee, a person may
only harvest one moose regardless of how many permits they may be listed on.
October 27, 2025 November 1, 2025
November 3, 2025 November 8, 2025
Bull-Only 1- 6, 10, 11, 18, 19, 27, 28 September 22, 2025 September 27, 2025
Bull-Only 1-15, 17-19, 27, 28 October 13, 2025 October 18, 2025
Antlerless-Only 1-6, 8 October 27, 2025 November 1, 2025

Permit application period: April - May of each year.

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

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Fall Wild Turkey (Archery equipment or shotgun)

Seasons WMDs Dates Limits
First Day Last Day Seasonal Bag & Possession
General Hunting Season 15-17, 20-25 September 15, 2025 November 7, 2025 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 15, 2025 November 7, 2025 3 Wild Turkeys*
28 September 15, 2025 November 7, 2025 2 Wild Turkeys*
3, 6-8, 10-14, 18, 19, 27 & 29 September 15, 2025 November 7, 2025 1 Wild Turkey*
1, 2, 4, 5, 9 Closed to taking of Wild Turkeys
Youth Fall Wild Turkey Day September 13, 2025

*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.

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Spring Wild Turkey (Archery equipment or shotgun)

Seasons WMDs Dates Limits
First Day Last Day Seasonal Bag & Possession
All Hunters 7 and 9-29 May 4, 2026 June 6, 2026 2 bearded Wild Turkeys**
1-6 and 8 May 4, 2026 June 6, 2026 1 bearded Wild Turkey**
Youth Spring Wild Turkey Day April 26, 2025 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.

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Upland and Migratory Birds

Seasons WMDs Dates Limits
First Day Last Day Daily Bag Possession
Ruffed Grouse & Bobwhite Quail All September 27, 2025 December 31, 2025 4 8
Pheasant All September 27, 2025 December 31, 2025 2 4
Woodcock All See migratory game bird laws for more information
Common Snipe All
Ducks, Geese, Sea Ducks
(Scoter, Eider, Long-Tailed Duck)
Sora & Virginia Rails
(and Gallinules)
All
Crows 1-6 August 1, 2025 September 20, 2025 No Limit
February 2, 2026 April 15, 2026
7-29 August 1, 2025 September 20, 2025
January 17, 2026 March 31, 2026

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Other Species

Seasons WMDs Dates Limits
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
Season on Island of Vinalhaven September 27, 2025 February 28, 2026
Bobcat All December 1, 2025 February 21, 2026 No Limit
Fox All October 20, 2025 February 28, 2026 No Limit
Raccoon All October 1, 2025 December 31, 2025 No Limit
Skunk, Opossum All October 20, 2025 December 31, 2025 No Limit
Coyote All During daylight hunting hours
No Closed Season for Hunting
No Limit
Night hunting
December 16, 2025 - August 31, 2026
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.

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