Hunting Archery Duck Deer

Hunters with a valid archery license may purchase multiple antlerless permits for $13 each and one buck permit for $33. This amount of bow hunting opportunity is aimed at increasing the harvest of does and fawns in order to meet population density objectives for areas that are difficult to access for hunting. In the expanded archery zone, deer populations can only be reduced if the limited number of archers that can gain access to hunting lands are able to harvest substantial numbers of deer.

The regular (statewide) archery season will run from Sept. 28 to Oct. 27 (26 days). Youth day will be Oct. 21 and is reserved for hunters ages 10-15 who are accompanied by a licensed adult (who is not allowed to carry a hunting weapon). The 25-day regular firearms season opens for Maine residents on Oct. 28 and for nonresidents the following Monday. This season ends the Saturday following Thanksgiving (Nov. 25).

Finally, the muzzleloader season will begin in all WMDs on Nov. 27, but will end on Dec. 2, (six days) in WMDs 1″”11, 14, 19, 27 and 28. Elsewhere, the muzzleloader season will continue until Dec. 9 (12 days).

New this year will be the crossbow archery season. To be eligible to purchase a crossbow hunting license, you must hold a valid license to hunt big game (either a big game hunting license or an archery license). Hunters must submit proof of having successfully completed an archery hunting education course and a crossbow hunting course or satisfactory evidence of having previously held adult archery and crossbow hunting licenses in Maine or any other state, province or country in any year after 1979. When proof or evidence cannot be provided, the applicant may substitute a signed affidavit. Any resident or nonresident between 10 and 16 years of age may hunt with a crossbow if that person holds a valid junior hunting license (no crossbow license required).