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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* |
| 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.
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 | |
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.
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.
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.
Upland 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 |
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.
Migratory Game Birds
| Species and Area | Seasons | Limits | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Day | Last Day | Daily Bag | Possession | ||
| Crows* Wildlife Management Districts 1-6 |
August 1, 2025 | September 20, 2025 | |||
| February 2, 2026 | April 15, 2026 | ||||
| Crows* Wildlife Management Districts 7-29 |
August 1, 2025 | September 20, 2025 | |||
| January 17, 2026 | March 31, 2026 | ||||
| Common Snipe** | September 1, 2025 | January 2, 2026 | |||
| Woodcock** | September 27, 2025 | November 18, 2025 | |||
| Rails (Sora and Virginia)*** | September 1, 2025 | November 20, 2025 | Single or in aggregate |
||
| Canada Goose (Early) |
North Zone | September 1, 2025 | September 25, 2025 | ||
| South Zone | September 1, 2025 | September 25, 2025 | |||
| Coastal Zone | September 1, 2025 | September 25, 2025 | |||
| Canada Goose Regular, White-Fronted Geese |
North Zone | October 1, 2025 | December 9, 2025 | ||
| South Zone | October 1, 2025 | October 11, 2025 | |||
| October 29, 2025 | December 25, 2025 | ||||
| Coastal Zone | October 4, 2025 | October 11, 2025 | |||
| October 25, 2025 | January 6, 2026 | ||||
| Snow Geese Including Blue Geese |
October 1, 2025 | January 30, 2026 | |||
| Ducks Including all duck species unless listed in exceptions, Mergansers, and American Coots |
North Zone | September 29, 2025 | December 6, 2025 | 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. |
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 | October 1, 2025 | October 11, 2025 | |||
| October 29, 2025 | December 25, 2025 | ||||
| Coastal Zone | October 4, 2025 | October 11, 2025 | |||
| November 6, 2025 | January 6, 2026 | ||||
| Brant | North Zone | September 29, 2025 | November 1, 2025 | ||
| South Zone | October 1, 2025 | October 11, 2025 | |||
| October 29, 2025 | November 20, 2025 | ||||
| Coastal Zone | October 4, 2025 | October 11, 2025 | |||
| December 11, 2025 | January 6, 2026 | ||||
| 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 | Respectively, singly or in aggregate Species Restrictions Apply |
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 September 27, October 18, and December 13 youth days, the goose limit is under the Regular Season daily bag limit. |
North Zone | September 20, 2025 & December 13, 2025 | |||
| South Zone | September 20, 2025 & October 18, 2025 | ||||
| Coastal Zone | September 27, 2025 & October 18, 2025 | ||||
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 9. |
| Northern Pintails and Wood Ducks | The daily limit is 3 birds, possession limit is 9. |