Turkey Hunting Regulations

General Hunting Laws

To hunt means to pursue, catch, take, kill or harvest wild birds and wild animals (wild by nature, whether or not bred or reared in captivity), including any physical part of that species of mammal or bird.

Unlawful Conduct: The hunting, possession, transporting of any species of wild animal or wild bird, or parts thereof, for which an open hunting season is not specifically provided, and except as provided in the fish and wildlife laws, is unlawful. It is also unlawful to take, possess, or needlessly destroy the nest or eggs of any wild bird except the English or European house sparrow, the European starling and the rock pigeon (a.k.a. rock dove).

Prohibition Regarding Selling Of Wild Animals

Wild Birds: A person may not sell or possess for sale a wild bird, except for the plumage of lawfully harvested wild birds, and only if that sale does not violate regulations of the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

Finished Wildlife Products: A person may buy, sell, barter or trade legally obtained finished wildlife products, excluding federally protected wild animals and birds.

Deer, Bear, or Moose: A person may, without a hide dealer’s license, buy or sell naturally shed deer or moose antlers.

A person who has lawfully killed and registered a deer, bear or moose may, without a hide dealer’s license, sell:

• The head, hide, antlers* and feet of that deer.
• The head, hide, antlers*, feet and bones of that moose.
• The head, hide, teeth, gallbladder,* fat not attached to the meat, and claws (not attached to the paws) of that bear.

*Raw antlers, bear fat (not attached to the meat), and bear gallbladders may only be sold (including for money, barter, or trade) to a licensed hide dealer, and they must be tagged or accompanied with documentation containing the name and address of the person who legally killed the animal.

You Need a Hide Dealer’s License To: Commercially buy, sell, barter, or trade any raw, untanned animal hides (including fur-bearing animals) or parts of wild animals or birds not prohibited above.

Any parts bought or sold may not be attached to wild animal or wild bird parts that are prohibited from being sold.

Contact MDIFW if you are interested in becoming a Hide Dealer or you are looking for a list of dealers in the state at (207) 287-8000.

Night Hunting

Except as otherwise provided, wild birds and wild animals may not be hunted from ½ hour after sunset until ½ hour before sunrise the following day.

Exceptions: migratory game bird, raccoon (see below), and coyote.

Raccoon Hunting

Raccoons may be hunted at night during the open season only when the hunter:

• Is accompanied by a dog.
• Uses a rifle or handgun of no greater power than one which uses .22 caliber long rifle ammunition.
• Loads the rifle or handgun only when dispatching a raccoon that is treed or held at bay by a dog or dogs and has been identified by flashlight.

Placement of Bait

As used in this section, “bait” means an animal, plant, or part thereof used to attract wild animals for the purpose of hunting.

Species-specific Baiting Laws:

• Baiting or feeding of deer is prohibited from June 1-December 15.
• Baiting and feeding moose and turkey is prohibited from September 1 to December 15.
• Baiting and feeding turkey is prohibited during the spring wild turkey season.
• Further restrictions apply to bear baiting.

A Person Placing Bait for Hunting Purposes Must:

• Obtain oral or written permission from the landowner or landowner’s agent.
• Plainly label the bait with a 2-inch by 4-inch tag containing the name and address of the baiter.
• Clean up the bait site immediately upon landowner request; or if not requested, within 20 days of the last day the site is hunted.

A Person May NOT:

• Hunt over another person’s bait site without the baiter’s permission.
• Place any medicinal, poisonous, or stupefying substance to entice any animal.

Target Identification While Hunting

(Summary of 12 MRSA §11222)

A hunter may not shoot at a target without at that point in time being certain that the target is the wild animal or wild bird sought.

A reasonable and prudent hunter:

• Risks losing legitimate prey so as not to risk destruction of human life.
• Neither disregards, nor fails to be aware of, the risk of causing the death of another human being as a consequence of misidentification.
• Never bases identification upon sound alone, or even upon sound combined with what appears to be an appendage of the wild animal or wild bird sought.
• Bases identification upon an essentially unobstructed view of the potential target’s head and torso.
• Recognizes that sound and sight target-determining factors are affected by a number of other considerations including, but not limited to, the distance to the target, surrounding or intervening terrain and cover, lighting and weather conditions, the hunter’s hearing, eyesight, and experience level, and other people nearby.

Minimum Shooting Distances

Shooting within 100 Yards of Dwelling: It is unlawful to discharge any firearm or muzzleloader, or cause a projectile to pass as a result of that discharge, within 100 yards (300 feet) of a building without permission from the owner or, in the owner’s absence, an adult occupant who dwells in that building. This provision also applies to state-owned boat launches that are posted accordingly.

Discharge of Archery Equipment Near Dwelling or Building: it is unlawful to discharge an arrow or a bolt from archery equipment when on land of another person and within 100 yards of a building on that land without permission of the owner (or in the owner’s absence, permission from an adult occupant) of that building or cause an arrow or a bolt from archery equipment to pass across the land of another person and within 100 yards of a building on that land without the permission of the owner (or in the owner’s absence, permission from an adult occupant) of that building.

Definitions, as Used in This Section: Building means any residential, commercial, retail, educational, religious or farm structure that is designed to be occupied by people or domesticated animals or is being used to shelter machines or harvested crops. “Projectile” means a bullet, pellet, shot, shell, ball, arrow, bolt or other object propelled or launched from a firearm or archery equipment.

Hunting Under the Influence: It is unlawful to hunt while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs.

Possession of Hunting Equipment on Sunday: Possession of hunting equipment in the fields and forests or on the waters or ice of this state on Sunday is prima facie evidence of a violation of Sunday hunting law, unless the equipment is securely wrapped in a complete cover, fastened in a case, or carried in at least two separate pieces in such a way that it cannot be fired without the pieces being joined together (for the purpose of this paragraph, a firearm clip, magazine, or cylinder is not considered a “piece”).

Archery equipment must be kept in a case or cover if broadheads or field points are kept attached to the arrows or bolts.

Exceptions: A person may possess hunting equipment on Sunday for legitimate activities such as target practice, sighting in rifles, etc., or for persons carrying handguns as prescribed by Title 25 subsection 2001-A.

Airborne Hunting: A person on the ground or airborne may not use aircraft (including drones & remote-controlled aircraft) to aid or assist in hunting deer, bear, or moose.

Shooting from a Motor Vehicle or Motorboat or Possessing a Loaded Firearm or Archery Equipment in or on a Motor Vehicle: It is unlawful to shoot while in or on a motor vehicle, motorboat, snowmobile or ATV or have a loaded firearm or archery equipment while in or on a motor vehicle, trailer, or other type of vehicle being hauled by a motor vehicle except as specifically allowed.

Exemptions

• A holder of a valid Maine concealed weapon permit may carry a loaded pistol or revolver in a motor vehicle as prescribed by Title 25 subsection 2001A.
• Persons who are at least 21 years of age, or are at least 18 years of age and a member or honorably discharged veteran of the armed forces or National Guard, may carry a loaded pistol or revolver in or on a motor vehicle if they are not otherwise prohibited from carrying a firearm. Upon contact with a law enforcement officer, a person carrying a concealed handgun without a permit must notify the officer immediately.
• Paraplegics and leg amputees may shoot from a motor vehicle that is not in motion.
• Migratory waterfowl may be hunted from a motorboat in accordance with federal regulation.
• While hunting, a person who is not in or on a vehicle may rest a loaded firearm or archery equipment that is under the person's control on the vehicle to shoot only when the vehicle is not in motion and the engine of the vehicle is not running.
• A person may shoot from a motorboat if that boat is not being propelled by the motor and forward momentum of the boat has stopped. However, the wanton waste law allows you to shoot crippled waterfowl from a motorboat under power on coastal waters and all waters of rivers and streams lying seaward of the first upstream bridge.
• A person who is hunting and is on but not within an enclosed area or passenger compartment of an ATV or snowmobile may shoot a firearm or archery equipment or rest a loaded firearm or archery equipment that is under the person’s control on the ATV or snowmobile to shoot only when the vehicle is not in motion and the engine is off.
• While target shooting, not hunting, a person who is on but not within an enclosed area or passenger compartment of a vehicle may shoot a firearm or archery equipment or rest a loaded firearm or archery equipment that is under their control on the vehicle to shoot only when the vehicle isn’t in motion and the engine is off.

Note: A loaded magazine may be carried in a motor vehicle, but it must not be inserted in, or attached to a firearm; a crossbow may be carried as long it is not cocked and armed; a muzzleloader is considered to be loaded only if charged with powder, projectile and a primed ignition device or mechanism.

Shooting From or Over a Public Paved Way: A person may not shoot or discharge any firearm or archery equipment at any wild animal or bird from any public paved way (any road treated with bituminous or concrete material), from within 10 feet of the edge of its pavement, or from the right-of-way of any controlled access highway.

Shooting of Domestic Animals: It is unlawful for any person, while hunting to negligently, carelessly, or willfully shoot and wound or kill any domestic animal or bird.

Firearms on School Property: Possession of a firearm on public school property or discharging one within 500 feet of school property, except as used in supervised educational programs or by law enforcement officials, is illegal.

Harassment of Lawful Hunter or Trapper: It is unlawful for any person to willfully interfere with the lawful hunting or trapping of any wild animal or wild bird, including the willful disturbance of wild animals or wild birds with intent to interfere with their lawful taking.

Disposal of Remains: A person may not dispose of a carcass, waste parts or remains of a wild animal, except as a result of normal field dressing of a lawfully harvested wild animal or the lawful use of waste parts or remains of a wild animal as bait.

Dispose of any of entrails by deep burial. Disposal of dead animals or animal parts is illegal in dumps and landfills. A person may not dispose of the parts not presented for registration where they are visible to a person traveling on a public or private way.

Possession Of Gift Bear, Deer, Moose, Or Wild Turkey

A person may not accept as a gift any part of a bear, deer, moose, or wild turkey unless that animal, or part thereof, is plainly labeled with the name and address of the person who registered it and the year it was registered.

Hunting With Dogs And Dog Training

Hunting Bear, Bobcat, Coyote, Raccoon, and Fox with Dogs

Anyone 16 years of age or older who is using a dog to hunt for bear, coyote, fox, bobcat, or raccoon; or train for bear, fox, and raccoon must possess a Dog Training and Hunting permit. Non-residents may not train dogs on bear unless they are with a resident Maine guide possessing that permit.

Exception: A person who is training or hunting with a dog under the supervision of and in the presence of a registered Maine hunting guide who has a valid Dog Training and Hunting Permit is exempt from possessing the permit.

Any dog engaged in the above activities must have a functioning tracking collar which allows the handler to track the dog’s location at all times such as a GPS or VHF tracking device. The dog must also have a collar that legibly provides the name, telephone number, and address of the dog’s owner.

A person is in violation of civil trespass with a hunting dog if:

• They turn a hunting dog loose onto posted property;
• They turn a hunting dog loose onto property where the landowner has communicated to the dog handler that they do not want hunting dogs on their property; or
• A hunting dog enters property upon which a hunting dog has been previously found and a law enforcement officer has warned any handler of the hunting dog (within the past 365 days) that hunting dogs are not permitted on the property.

A person or persons may not use more than six dogs at any one time to hunt bear, bobcat, coyote, raccoon, and fox.

A person may not use a dog to hunt during the period from ½ hour after sunset to ½ hour before sunrise, except for raccoon.

For more information on hunting bears with dogs.

A person with a suspended or revoked hunting license may not train dogs.

Dog Training Season

• From July 1 through the following March 31, including Sundays, dogs may be trained on fox, gray and red squirrels, snowshoe hare, and raccoons. During such training, it is unlawful to use or possess a firearm, other than a pistol or a shotgun loaded with blank ammunition, except during the applicable open hunting seasons on these species.
• Dogs may be used to hunt snowshoe hares during the firearm season on deer.
• Sporting dogs may be trained on wild birds (not including wild turkey) at any time. The commissioner may authorize with a permit the use of firearms during such training to shoot and kill wild birds propagated or legally acquired by the permittee and possessed in accordance with the laws pertaining to breeders, licenses.
• Residents may train up to six dogs on bear from July 1 - August 22, 2024. Exceptions; in portions of Washington and Hancock counties that are situated south of Route 9, landowner permission is required to train dogs on land used for wild blueberry production (this is a new law that will remain in effect through the 2024 training season). Nonresident Maine Guides are not eligible to train dogs in Maine.
• A person must possess a valid hunting license to engage in all dog training activities, except Sunday or when training on pen-raised birds.
• Propagation permits for domesticated fowl are no longer required to possess or use them for dog training purposes.

Leashed Dog Tracking License

A license is available which allows the tracking of wounded deer, moose, and bear with dogs. The fee for this license is $81 for 3 years and is in addition to a one-time application fee of $25. A person who holds a valid license may charge a fee for dog tracking services without having to hold a guide’s license, as long as that is the only service provided. Find the application form online.

Tagging, Transportation & Registration

Tagging Requirements

Prior to presenting a bear, deer, moose, or wild turkey for registration, a person may not possess or leave that animal in the field or forest unless they have securely attached a plainly visible tag to the animal with their name, address, and license number on the tag.

Transporting Harvested Animals: A person may not transport a harvested wild animal or bird that they do not lawfully possess, nor may they present for registration, or allow to be registered in their name, any bear, deer, moose, or wild turkey that they did not lawfully kill. Prior to registration, any harvested bear, deer, moose, or wild turkey in transit must be open to view, meaning that the animal is not concealed and can be readily observed in whole or in part from outside of the vehicle or trailer transporting it. Once an animal or bird has been registered, it may be transported by another person.

Registration Requirements: A person who kills a bear, deer, moose, or wild turkey must:

1. Remain with the animal until it is registered.
2. Present the animal for registration in that person’s name at the first open registration station for that animal on their route. Wild turkey may be self-registered online and a copy of the registration seal number must be kept.
3. Leave the registration seal attached until the animal is processed and packaged for consumption.
4. Pay a fee of $5.00 to register a bear, deer or moose (of which $2 is retained by the agent and $2 of the deer registration is dedicated to a fund that can be used for deer habitat enhancement and to assist landowners with deer conflicts) or $2.00 to register a wild turkey, all of which is retained by the agent. There is no fee to self-register a turkey online.

Time Limits For Registering

A person may not keep an unregistered bear, deer, moose, or wild turkey for more than 18 hours after the animal was harvested. This does not apply to an animal that is kept in an official registration station for the animal or at the office of a game warden. A person may exceed the 18-hour limit under special circumstances, but that person must still notify a game warden within 18 hours.

A person on a hunting trip in an unorganized township and staying at a temporary place of lodging may keep an unregistered harvested animal at the temporary place of lodging for no more than 7 days or until that person leaves the woods, whichever comes first. A person may not possess a bear, deer, moose, or wild turkey that has not been legally registered, except as otherwise provided in the statutes regarding nuisance animals or animals causing damage. Bobcats killed by hunting must be tagged by a MDIFW employee within 10 calendar days of the time they were harvested, and hunter must submit a labeled tooth and tissue at the time of registration.

Condition Of Animal Presented For Registration

Prior to registration, bear, deer, and moose may be dismembered for ease of transportation, all edible meat, the head and evidence of sex must be presented for registration. The viscera, hide, lower legs and rib cage, including the ribs, spine and pelvis, are not required to be presented for registration but must be disposed of where they are not visible to a person traveling on a public or private way.

Wild turkey must be presented for registration in its entirety, including evidence of sex except that the viscera may be removed.

Bear: Hunters and trappers are required to remove a premolar tooth from the bear they harvest and provide the tooth when they register their bear (instructions available at registration and online). Hunters will be notified of the age of the bear they harvested on the Bear Hunting page of the MDIFW website prior to the start of the next bear hunting season (late August).

Turkey: All radio transmitters must be submitted to MDIFW. Hunters can keep any leg bands or wing tags as long as they have reported them to MDIFW.

Laws Pertaining To Hunting Equipment

General Laws

Wild animals and wild birds may be hunted only by the use of rifles, handguns, shotguns (not larger than 10-gauge), muzzleloader, archery equipment, or falconry.

Deer and moose decoys are legal, as are laser sights (red dots or beam) for firearms, crossbows, and bows.

Electronic calling devices are legal for deer, bear, turkey, moose, and coyote, but are illegal for migratory game birds.

Illegal Devices:

• It is unlawful to hunt with the use of (or sell or offer for sale for the purpose of hunting) a set gun, or any medicinal, poisonous or stupefying substance (except rodenticide for orchard mouse control and gas cartridges for woodchuck control).
• Drawlocks and set bows are illegal unless otherwise permitted for disabled hunters.
• Crossbows cannot be used to hunt deer during the muzzleloader season.

Illegal Use of Lights: From September 1 to December 15, it is unlawful to use artificial lights from ½ hour after sunset until ½ hour before sunrise to illuminate, jack, locate, attempt to locate or show up wild birds or animals, except raccoons, which may be hunted at night with flashlights during the open season (see General Hunting Provisions for details). An exception to this may be made for agents appointed by the commissioner to hunt coyotes at night during this period under policies established by MDIFW.

Firearm Laws

It is Unlawful to Hunt with, or Possess for Hunting, any:

• Automatic firearm (a firearm that continues to fire as long as the trigger is held back).
• Auto-loading firearm (a firearm that reloads itself after each shot and requires a separate trigger pull for each shot) with a magazine capacity of more than 5 cartridges (plus 1 in the chamber for a total of 6), unless the magazine has been permanently altered to contain not more than 5 cartridges.

Note: This provision does not apply to .22 caliber rimfire or smaller caliber guns or auto-loading pistols with barrel lengths of less than 8 inches.

3-shell Max for Migratory Game Birds: It is unlawful to hunt any migratory game bird with a shotgun capable of holding more than 3 shells unless the magazine has been cut off, altered, or plugged with a one-piece filler (incapable of removal without disassembling the gun), so as to reduce the capacity of the gun to not more than 3 shells in the magazine and chamber combined.

Silencers: While a person no longer needs a permit from Warden Service to hunt with a suppressor device, anyone who wishes to possess a firearm fitted or contrived with any device for deadening the sound of the explosion must still obtain the appropriate tax stamp from The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Bullet Types: It is unlawful to hunt with cartridges that contain tracer bullets or explosive bullets.

Cartridges:

• Firearms with .17 or .22 caliber rimfire cartridges may not be used for deer, moose, or bear hunting, except that .22 magnum can be used for deer hunting.
• Shotguns using shot loads cannot be used to hunt bear or moose.

Archery Season Provisions: No firearms of any kind may be carried while hunting deer with archery equipment during the regular archery or expanded archery seasons on deer, except a person may carry a handgun in accordance with Title 25 section 2001-A; but it cannot be used to shoot a deer or dispatch a wounded deer.

Loaded Firearms in Motor Vehicles: It is unlawful to have a loaded firearm or archery equipment in or on a motor vehicle (including trailer, ATV, aircraft, snowmobile, or railway car), unless otherwise specified.

A loaded magazine may be carried in a motor vehicle, but it must not be inserted in or attached to a firearm.

Firearms may be transported in a motor vehicle without a concealed firearms permit provided they are (1) unloaded and in plain view, or (2) are unloaded and placed in a remote secure area (such as a locked trunk) away from the control of the occupants of the motor vehicle.

For the purpose of this law, a muzzleloader is considered to be loaded only if charged with powder, a projectile, and a primed ignition device or mechanism. A crossbow is considered loaded if cocked and armed. Exceptions apply when carrying a concealed pistol or revolver.

Carrying Concealed Firearms: A person may carry a concealed handgun without a permit and may have that concealed, loaded pistol or revolver in, or on, a motor vehicle or trailer if:

• The person is 21 years of age or older and is not otherwise prohibited from possessing a firearm or;
• The person is 18 years of age or older and under 21 years of age and on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States or the National Guard or is an honorably discharged veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States or the National Guard and is not otherwise prohibited from carrying a firearm.

Upon contact with a law enforcement officer, a person carrying a concealed handgun without a permit is required to notify them immediately.

Archery Information

NEW LAW: Changes to the bowhunting license and crossbow permit occurred in 2024. A bowhunting license is now an archery license. A crossbow permit is no longer required as hunting with a bow and arrow AND crossbow are included with an archery license.

NEW LAW: Use of crossbows in expanded archery areas during the expanded archery season is now permissible for any hunter who has an archery license and expanded archery permit(s). Crossbow use is NO longer permissible during the muzzleloader season.

Seasons: The regular archery license allows archery equipment to be used to hunt all legal game throughout the year, except for deer during the muzzleloader season.

Archery Equipment: now refers to crossbow and bow and arrow.

Licenses: You must have an archery license to hunt with archery equipment.

• Junior hunters who hold a valid Junior Hunting License are allowed to hunt with archery equipment when accompanied by a junior hunter supervisor.
• Laws that allow you to hunt without a license on your own land under certain conditions apply to archery hunting.

Permits: In addition to an archery license, hunters participating in the expanded archery deer season (designated areas only) must also purchase permits. Multiple antlerless deer permits may be purchased for $12 each, and an either-sex permit for the expanded archery deer season is $32.

Exceptions: Complimentary archery license holders (Disabled Veterans, Native Americans) and junior hunting license holders may hunt with those licenses during the expanded archery deer season.

Obtaining an Archery License: Individuals applying for the archery hunting license must show proof of having successfully completed an archery hunter education course (which now includes crossbow safety) or of having held a Maine adult archery license in any year after 1979, or evidence of previously holding a crossbow permit in Maine prior to 2024. When proof or evidence cannot be provided, the applicant may substitute a signed affidavit. Native Americans are exempt from safety course requirements for archery and trapping.

Archery Hunting Requirements:

• A hunter may carry a handgun while archery hunting, but it may NOT be used to dispatch deer.
• Hunter orange clothing is NOT required when hunting with bow and arrow. See additional information related to hunter orange requirements below.
• All deer killed during the archery seasons must be inspected and registered at the first open deer registration station.
• It is legal to hunt until ½ hour after sunset during both archery deer seasons.

In addition, all other laws pertaining to deer hunting apply to archery hunting.

Bow and Arrow Equipment Requirements:

Required Features

• Only hand-held bow and arrow may be used.
• Draw weight must be at least 35 pounds (there is no max). For moose, a minimum draw weight of 45 pounds is required.
• For hunting deer, bear, and moose, arrowheads, including mechanical broadheads when open, must be at least 7/8 inch wide.

Prohibited Features

• It is unlawful to use a set bow.
• Arrows with explosive or poisonous tips are prohibited.

Crossbow Equipment Laws:

Required Features

• Only crossbows with a shoulder-type stock may be used.
• Draw weight must be at least 100 pounds (there is no max).
• For hunting deer, bear and moose, arrowheads, including mechanical broadheads when open, must be at least ⅞ inch wide.
• Crossbows must be equipped with a mechanical trigger safety device in working condition.

Prohibited Features

• Hand-held pistol-type crossbows are prohibited.
• Arrows with explosive or poisonous tips are prohibited.

Optional, but Allowed Features

• Crossbows equipped with scopes or sights may be used.

Municipal Ordinances

Several Maine cities and towns have adopted local ordinances that restrict or prohibit the discharge of certain projectiles (e.g., arrows, bullets, bolts).

Prior to hunting near densely populated communities, hunters should check with local authorities regarding such ordinances. Towns may regulate the discharge of firearms as provided by Title 30-A; however, they cannot regulate or charge fees to hunt, fish or trap.

Trail/Game Cameras Law

People using trail and game cameras may not place a camera upon another person’s private land without written permission. All cameras must be labeled with the owner’s name and contact information.

Observation Stands

It is unlawful to insert any metallic or ceramic object into a tree on another person’s land for the purpose of erecting a ladder or observation stand, unless you have permission from the landowner. You must obtain verbal or written permission of the landowner (or representative) to erect or use a portable or permanent ladder or observation stand, and the ladder or observation stand must be plainly labeled with a 2-inch by 4-inch tag with the names and addresses of everyone the landowner has authorized to use it.

Exception: Portable ladders or observation stands used on land within the jurisdiction of the Maine Land Use Planning Commission and attended by the person who owns the ladder or observation stand do not require landowner permission or labeling, but permanent ones do.

Note: Observation stands do not include portable blinds utilized at ground level that remain in the hunter’s physical possession and must not be left when not in use.

Hunter Orange Clothing Requirement

Hunter orange is defined as a daylight fluorescent orange color with a dominant wave length between 595 and 605 nanometers, excitation purity of at least 85% and luminance factor of at least 40%. A decal on an article of clothing that is otherwise solid hunter orange is permissible. Articles of hunter orange clothing must be in good and serviceable condition and visible from all sides.

Firearms and Muzzleloader Seasons on Deer

Anyone who hunts any species with a firearm, muzzleloader, or crossbow during any firearms or muzzleloader season on deer (also during the Youth Deer Hunt) must wear two articles of hunter orange clothing. One article must be a solid-colored hunter orange hat; the other must cover a major portion of the torso, such as a jacket, vest, coat or poncho and must be a minimum of 50% hunter orange in color (camouflage).

Archery Seasons on Deer

Hunter orange clothing is not required while hunting with a bow and arrow during the archery seasons. Hunter orange clothing is not required to hunt with crossbow during the regular archery or expanded archery seasons (in expanded archery areas) on deer unless the firearms or muzzleloader hunting season for deer or moose is occurring in that WMD.

Moose Hunting Season

Anyone who hunts any species with a firearm or crossbow in a Wildlife Management District that is open to moose hunting must wear one article of solid-colored hunter orange clothing (hats count). When moose season overlaps with the firearms season on deer, then two pieces must be worn. All laws pertaining to deer hunting apply to moose hunters during these seasons.

Bear, Turkey, and Upland Game Bird Hunters

When hunting bears, turkeys, and upland game birds, hunter orange clothing is only required when hunting with a firearm or crossbow during the firearms hunting season on deer, the muzzleloader season on deer, or within an open moose hunting district during moose hunting season.

Waterfowl Hunters

Waterfowl Hunters are not affected by the provisions above while hunting from a boat, blind, or in conjunction with waterfowl decoys.

Religious Exemption

Any hunter whose religion prohibits wearing hunter orange may wear red instead. All minimum wear requirements for hunter orange still apply when hunter red is substituted for hunter orange.

Junior Hunters

Junior Hunting Licenses

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.

After a junior hunter’s 16th birthday, they may continue to hunt on their junior license for the remainder of the calendar year with or without taking the hunter safety course. If the junior hunter does take the hunter safety course, it must be appropriate for the method in which they intend to hunt with. He or she may then hunt without supervision and keep all the junior hunter permits but must carry their valid junior hunting license as well as their hunter safety card. The junior hunter is not required to upgrade to the adult license until the calendar year they turn 17 but they may upgrade to the adult license in their 16th year. Upgrading while they are 16 years of age will require them to purchase any necessary permits.

Junior license holders can hunt with a firearm or archery equipment. The license includes hunting permits for muzzleloader, spring and fall turkey, bear, coyote night hunt, pheasant, state migratory waterfowl, one expanded archery antlerless deer permit, and one expanded archery either-sex permit.

Note: Junior hunters do not need to obtain a physical permit for the permits listed above as they are included in the license.

Note: A lifetime license purchased for a hunter under 16 years of age is considered a junior license until upgraded to an adult license which can be done by contacting MDIFW.

Supervision of Junior Hunters

• Hunters from 10–15 years of age must be in the presence of, and under the effective control of, a junior hunter supervisor.
• Hunters under the age of 10 must be in the presence of, and under the effective control of, a junior hunter supervisor who remains at all times within 20 feet of the hunter.

A. A “Junior Hunter Supervisor” Means:

1. The parent or guardian of the junior hunter who holds or has held a valid Maine hunting license or successfully completed a hunter safety course.

2. A person 18 years of age or older who:

a. Is approved by the parent or guardian of the junior hunter; and

b. Holds or has held a valid Maine hunting license or successfully completed a hunter safety course.

B. “In the Presence of ” Means:

In visual and voice contact without the use of visual or audio enhancement devices, including but not limited to binoculars and citizen band radios.

Youth Hunting Days

Junior hunters who hold a valid junior hunting license (including a lifetime license) can participate in special youth hunting days for bear, deer, spring and fall wild turkey, and migratory waterfowl.

If a person is continuing to hunt on a junior hunting license and has turned 16, they may hunt on youth hunting days. If that 16-year-old who is hunting with a junior hunting license has completed their hunter safety course, they still must have adult supervision on the youth hunting days only.

On these days, all laws pertaining to hunting deer, bear, spring and fall wild turkey and waterfowl apply. The accompanying parent, guardian or qualified adult, shall not possess a firearm, bow and arrow or crossbow, except on youth waterfowl days*. On youth deer, bear and spring and fall turkey days the parent, guardian or qualified adult may carry a handgun pursuant to Title 25 MRSA §§ 2001-A, but the handgun may not be used for the purpose of hunting.

16-year-olds still hunting on valid junior hunting licenses may hunt on youth hunt days without purchasing additional permits, except for migratory waterfowl youth hunt days, which require anyone 16 or older to obtain a valid Federal Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp.

Wild Turkey Hunting

Anyone who possesses a big game or small game firearms license or archery license may obtain a combination spring/fall wild turkey permit.

Landowner Privileges

The following laws and regulations are specific to spring and fall wild turkey hunting seasons. Hunters must also comply with all other applicable fish and wildlife laws.

Any private landowner is eligible to hunt wild turkeys on their own land without a turkey hunting permit if:

1. That person owns a particular piece of land that is 25 or more contiguous acres in size and is located within the turkey hunting zone designated for the season that they wish to hunt;
2. That person is permanently domiciled on that land;
3. The land is managed for the raising and selling of dairy cattle, dairy products, or beef cattle; and
4. The land is open to hunting including hunting by permission only.

Any family member permanently domiciled on that land is also eligible to hunt wild turkeys on that land without a permit. (Family member means any family member, including spouse, grandchildren, etc. who resides on the property). A landowner must provide proof of eligibility if requested by an agent of the commissioner.

All other standard reporting and tagging procedures are required. Turkey may be harvested during any open week of the season. Landowners are allowed a bag limit of up to 2 bearded wild turkeys in the spring season and up to 5 wild turkeys of either-sex in the fall season. Please check the WMD in which you are hunting as some are closed, and others have bag limits varying anywhere from 1, up to 5 turkeys.

Wild Turkey Hunting Prohibitions

No Person May:

1. Employ the use of a dog or dogs in any manner while hunting turkey except during the fall season;
2. Engage in an organized drive of any manner;
3. Use bait;
4. Use a trap or other device intended or designed to capture or ensnare wild turkeys;
5. Shoot a turkey while it is in a tree;
6. Present for registration, or allow to be registered in his or her name, a wild turkey that he/she did not lawfully kill;
7. Hunt wild turkeys within a WMD that is closed to hunting wild turkeys.
8. Possess any part or parts of a wild turkey unless each part is plainly labeled with the name and address of the person who registered the turkey, and the year it was registered;
9. Buy, sell, offer for sale or barter, or aid someone in buying, selling, or offering for sale or barter, any wild turkey (except the plumage of legally harvested turkeys).
10. Hunt or register a wild turkey during the spring season after having killed or registered two turkeys.
11. Hunt or register a wild turkey during the fall season after having killed five turkeys.

Wild Turkey Legal Hunting Hours

Legal hunting time is from ½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset.

Wild Turkey Licensing, Permit, & Who May Hunt

License & Permit

The spring and fall wild turkey hunting seasons are open to all hunters with valid big or small game hunting licenses. A combination spring/fall wild turkey permit is also required and available for $20, plus agent fee.

Who May Hunt

The turkey hunter must possess the spring/fall wild turkey permit and their hunting license at all times while hunting. A person may assist in a hunt without a license or permit for that activity as long as that person does not carry a firearm or archery equipment (means to kill).

Spring Wild Turkey Hunting

The spring wild turkey hunting season is open statewide.

Equipment

• Shotgun: A person can use shotgun-gauges 10 through 20, using shot sizes 4 through 6 or mixed loads that include shot sizes 4 through 7. In addition, shotgun gauges 10 through 28, including .410, may be used with shot sizes 7 through 9 in Tungsten Super Shot (TSS). A person must possess a valid big or small game hunting license and a turkey permit.
• Archery Equipment: A person must possess a valid archery license and a turkey permit.
• Dogs: It is unlawful to hunt with dogs during the spring wild turkey season.
• Electronic Calling Devices: The use of electronic calling devices is legal.

Fall Wild Turkey Hunting

Equipment

• Shotgun: A person can use shotgun gauges 10 through 20, using shot sizes 4 through 6 or mixed loads that include shot sizes 4 through 7. In addition, shotgun gauges 10 through 28, including .410, may be used with shot sizes 7 through 9 in Tungsten Super Shot (TSS). A person must possess a valid big or small game hunting license and a turkey permit.
• Archery Equipment: A person must possess a valid archery license and a turkey permit.
• Electronic Calling Devices: The use of electronic calling devices is legal.
• Dogs: Use of dogs is legal to hunt wild turkey during the fall season.

Note: The fall shotgun wild turkey season involves tactics that are different from the “sit and call” approach, and hunters are reminded to use extreme caution while hunting.