Season Dates and Bag Limits

Please see below for upcoming season dates.

Deer

Seasons WMDs Dates Limits
First Day Last Day Annual Bag & Possession
Expanded Archery Designated areas only September 9, 2023 December 9, 2023

1 Antlered Deer Per Year*
See exceptions

Regular Archery and Crossbow All September 30, 2023 October 27, 2023
Youth Deer Hunt All October 20, 2023 October 21, 2023
Maine Resident Only Day** All October 28, 2023  
Firearms Season All October 30, 2023 November 25, 2023
Muzzleloader Statewide All November 27, 2023 December 2, 2023
Muzzleloader 12, 13, 15-18, 20-26, 29 December 4, 2023 December 9, 2023

* Only deer with antlers at least 3 inches long may be taken from October 28, 2023-December 9, 2023, except that antlerless deer may be taken in designated WMDs/subunits by hunters with Antlerless Deer Permits and expanded archery hunters with appropriate permits. Please see Antlerless Deer Permits for more information.

** 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 26, 2023 2 Bears Per Year
1 by hunting, 1 by trapping
General Hunting Season All August 28, 2023 November 25, 2023
Hunting with Bait
Bait can be placed July 29, 2023
All August 28, 2023 September 23, 2023
Bear Trapping All September 1, 2023 October 31, 2023
Hunting with Dogs All September 11, 2023 October 27, 2023

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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 16, 2023
&
November 6, 2023
October 21, 2023
&
November 11, 2023
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 23, 2023
&
November 6, 2023
October 28, 2023
&
November 11, 2023
October 30, 2023
&
November 6, 2023
November 4, 2023
&
November 11, 2023
Bull-Only 1- 6, 10, 11, 18, 19, 27, 28 September 25, 2023 September 30, 2023
Bull-Only 1-15, 17-19, 27, 28 October 9, 2023 October 14, 2023
Antlerless-Only 1-6, 8 October 23, 2023 October 28, 2023

Permit application period: February - May of each year.

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

****Hunters that are issued a moose permit for the Adaptive Unit/WMD 4A moose hunt who do not harvest a moose during the first week listed on their permit may hunt in their respective zone 11/6/2023-11/11/2023.

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Spring Wild Turkey (Bow & arrow, crossbow or shotgun)

Seasons WMDs Dates Limits
First Day Last Day Seasonal Bag & Possession
All Hunters 7 and 9-29 April 29, 2024 June 1, 2024 2 bearded Wild Turkeys*
1-6 and 8 April 29, 2024 June 1, 2024 1 bearded Wild Turkey*
Youth Spring Wild Turkey Day April 27, 2024 May take up to 2 bearded Wild Turkeys from WMDs that have a 2 bird limit.

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

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Fall Wild Turkey (Bow & arrow, crossbow or shotgun)

Seasons WMDs Dates Limits
First Day Last Day Seasonal Bag & Possession
General Hunting Season 15-17, 20-25 September 18, 2023 November 7, 2023 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 18, 2023 November 7, 2023 3 Wild Turkeys**
28 September 18, 2023 November 7, 2023 2 Wild Turkeys**
6-8, 10-14, 18, 19, 27 & 29 September 18, 2023 November 7, 2023 1 Wild Turkey**
1-5, 9 Closed to taking of Wild Turkeys
Youth Fall Wild Turkey Day September 16, 2023

** May take up to five wild turkeys for the fall season, but cannot exceed an individual WMD bag limit, the order in which they are taken 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 30, 2023 December 30, 2023 4 8
Pheasant All September 30, 2023 December 30, 2023 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, 2023
February 5, 2024
September 23, 2023
April 15, 2024
No Limit
7-29 August 1, 2023
January 22, 2024
September 23, 2023
March 30, 2024

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Other Species

Seasons WMDs Dates Limits
First Day Last Day Daily Bag Possession
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 30, 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.

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