This is Maine's published 2026-27 season, the whole state at once. A pin reads its wildlife management district off the map and cuts this to the seasons, arms and limits that apply there.

Maine deer seasons

2026-27

1 antlered deer per licence year. One antlered deer a year, full stop. Additional deer come only from antlerless deer permits — drawn by lottery, valid in the WMD or subunit printed on them — or from expanded archery permits inside the designated areas. For 2026 a hunter may take one deer of either sex on the big game licence alone in WMDs 21-25 and 29 during the firearms and muzzleloader seasons, and statewide during the regular archery and youth seasons; that deer counts as their one deer for the year. Lawbook, printed pp. 4 and 20.

Expanded Archery
Archery equipment only
Three months, in designated areas only, on permits you buy rather than draw.
Designated areas, statewide
Sep 12 – Dec 12Either sex
One deer per expanded archery permit held; antlerless permits are unlimited, the either-sex permit is one.
- "Expanded Archery — Designated areas only — September 12, 2026 to December 12, 2026." Lawbook, printed p. 4.
- The designated areas are named parcels, mostly around southern Maine towns, not districts — get the maps from mefishwildlife.com/expanded. This app cannot draw them, so treat the dates as "if you are inside a designated area".
- Archery equipment only. A hunter with a valid archery licence may buy as many expanded archery antlerless deer permits as they like, plus one expanded archery either-sex permit.
- A junior hunting licence already includes one expanded archery antlerless permit and one either-sex permit; more antlerless permits may be bought on top.
- Deer must be transported and registered exactly as in any other season, and all other archery deer laws apply.
- Hunter orange is not required for bow and arrow. It is required — one article — if you are hunting with a crossbow in a WMD open to moose hunting.
Regular Archery
Bow and arrow, or crossbow
Four weeks statewide, and the one season where either sex is legal on the licence everywhere.
Statewide
Oct 3–30Either sex
One deer on the big game licence, either sex. More only on antlerless permits.
- "Regular Archery — All WMDs — October 3, 2026 to October 30, 2026." Lawbook, printed p. 4.
- "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." That deer is their one deer for the year. Lawbook, printed pp. 4 and 20.
- "It is legal to hunt until ½ hour after sunset during both archery deer seasons." Lawbook, printed p. 16.
- Hunter orange is not required with bow and arrow; the department recommends one article when moving through the landscape. With a crossbow, one article is required in a WMD open to moose hunting.
- A handgun may be carried while archery hunting but may not be used to dispatch a deer.
- Every deer killed in an archery season must be inspected and registered at the first open deer registration station.
- Bow: hand-held only, at least 35 pounds of draw, broadheads at least 7/8 inch wide when open. Crossbow: shoulder stock, at least 100 pounds of draw, mechanical trigger safety; pistol-type crossbows are prohibited.
Youth Deer Hunt
Any legal deer weapon
Two days in late October, statewide, either sex on the licence.
Statewide
Oct 23–24Either sex
One deer on the licence, either sex.
- "Youth Deer Hunt — All WMDs — October 23, 2026 to October 24, 2026." Lawbook, printed p. 4.
- Either sex is legal statewide on the licence in this season, as in regular archery. Lawbook, printed pp. 4 and 20.
- "Two articles of orange required ... during the firearms or muzzleloader season for deer, including deer hunting Youth Days." Lawbook, printed p. 17.
- A hunter under 16 needs a junior hunting licence, which also carries a muzzleloader permit and one expanded archery antlerless and one either-sex permit.
Maine Resident Only Day
Any legal deer weaponPrinted in 2 columns — check which covers your wildlife management district.
The Saturday before the firearms season opens, for residents alone.
WMDs 21-25 and 29
Oct 31Either sex
One deer on the big game licence.
Everywhere else
Oct 31Antlered only
One antlered deer on the licence; an antlerless deer only on a permit.
- "Maine Resident Only Day — All WMDs — October 31, 2026." Lawbook, printed p. 4.
- "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 prohibited by law, may hunt deer on the Resident only day, anywhere in the state. A verification form must be completed." Lawbook, printed p. 4.
- Two articles of orange are required: this is a firearms day on deer.
- The either-sex exception for WMDs 21-25 and 29 is printed against the firearms and muzzleloader seasons, and this day is the traditional opening Saturday of the firearms season, so the app applies it here too. If you are hunting a doe in one of those districts on 31 October, confirm with MDIFW first.
Firearms Season
Rifle, shotgun, handgun, muzzleloader or archery equipmentPrinted in 2 columns — check which covers your wildlife management district.
Four weeks in November — twenty-four huntable days, because every Sunday in it is closed.
WMDs 21-25 and 29
Nov 2–28Either sex
One deer on the big game licence, either sex; more only on antlerless permits.
Everywhere else
Nov 2–28Antlered only
One antlered deer on the licence; an antlerless deer only on a permit.
- "Firearms Season — All WMDs — November 2, 2026 to November 28, 2026." Lawbook, printed p. 4.
- Sunday hunting is illegal in Maine, so the four Sundays inside this season are closed. Lawbook, printed p. 12.
- "For 2026, in WMDs 21-25 and 29 during the firearms and muzzleloader seasons ... hunters may harvest one deer, either antlered or antlerless, under the authority of their big game hunting license." Everywhere else an antlerless deer needs a permit. Lawbook, printed pp. 4 and 20.
- Two articles of orange: a solid hunter orange hat, and a torso garment at least 50% hunter orange. This binds anyone hunting anything with a firearm, muzzleloader or crossbow during this season — grouse hunters included. Lawbook, printed p. 17.
- Deer may not be hunted with dogs, artificial lights, snares, traps, airbows, set guns, or any .17 or .22 rimfire — .22 rimfire magnum excepted. Lawbook, printed p. 19.
- A deer drive is illegal: four or more people working together to move deer counts as one. Lawbook, printed p. 19.
- No firearm may be discharged within 100 yards of a building without the owner's permission. Lawbook, printed p. 12.
Muzzleloader — Statewide Week
Muzzleloader, .40 calibre or largerPrinted in 2 columns — check which covers your wildlife management district.
Six days everywhere, straight off the back of the firearms season.
WMDs 21-25 and 29
Nov 30 – Dec 5Either sex
One deer on the big game licence, either sex.
Everywhere else
Nov 30 – Dec 5Antlered only
One antlered deer on the licence; an antlerless deer only on a permit.
- "Muzzleloader Statewide — All WMDs — November 30, 2026 to December 5, 2026." Lawbook, printed p. 4.
- A muzzleloader permit is required on top of an adult big game licence for a hunter of 16 or over. The junior licence and the senior lifetime licence (70+) already include it. Lawbook, printed p. 20.
- Only muzzleloaders of .40 calibre or larger, capable of firing a single charge. A modern encapsulated pre-measured powder charge still counts as a muzzleloader so long as the bullet goes down the muzzle. Lawbook, printed p. 20.
- Two articles of orange are required — this is a muzzleloader season on deer.
- Sunday hunting is illegal, so 30 November to 5 December contains no closed Sunday only because it happens to run Monday to Saturday.
Muzzleloader — Second Week
Muzzleloader, .40 calibre or largerPrinted in 2 columns — check which covers your wildlife management district.
Six more days, but only in the southern two-thirds of the state.
WMDs 21-25 and 29
Dec 7–12Either sex
One deer on the big game licence, either sex.
WMDs 12-18, 20 and 26-28
Dec 7–12Antlered only
One antlered deer on the licence; an antlerless deer only on a permit.
- "Muzzleloader — 12-18 and 20-29 — December 7, 2026 to December 12, 2026." Lawbook, printed p. 4.
- WMDs 1 to 11 and 19 have no second muzzleloader week: their deer year ends on 5 December.
- Two articles of orange are required.
- Sunday, 13 December, is not in the season — it closes on the Saturday.

Legal Arms

2026-27 State of Maine Summary of Hunting Laws & Rules weapon specifications, as the digest prints them.

Archery

Lawbook, printed pp. 15-16

Hand-held bow, draw weight at least 35 pounds, broadheads at least 7/8 inch when open
Crossbow with a shoulder stock, draw weight at least 100 pounds, mechanical trigger safety
Scopes and sights on a crossbow

Set bows
Hand-held pistol-type crossbows
Explosive or poisoned arrow tips
Airbows, for deer
Using a carried handgun to dispatch a deer

Muzzleloader

Lawbook, printed p. 20

A muzzleloader of .40 calibre or larger, capable of firing only a single charge, matchlock, wheel lock, flintlock or caplock including in-line
Any sights, scopes included
Modern encapsulated pre-measured powder charges, so long as the bullet is loaded through the muzzle

Anything smaller than .40 calibre
Anything capable of firing more than a single charge

Firearms

Lawbook, printed p. 19

Rifle
Shotgun
Handgun
Muzzleloader
Bow and arrow
Crossbow

.17 and .22 rimfire cartridges, except .22 rimfire magnum
Airbows
Set guns

Hunting Hours and Orange

What the state defines as legal light, and what has to be worn in it.

Legal Shooting Hours

Lawbook, printed p. 33

"Legal hunting time is from ½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset." One sentence, no exceptions — and the lawbook says it again under archery, that it is legal to hunt until half an hour after sunset in both archery deer seasons. Remember that Sunday is closed regardless of the light.

Fluorescent Orange

Lawbook, printed p. 17

Two articles during a firearms or muzzleloader deer season: one a solid hunter orange hat, the other covering a major portion of the torso — jacket, vest, coat or poncho — and at least 50% hunter orange, camouflage orange patterns of 50% or more included. The two-article rule binds anyone hunting any species with a firearm, muzzleloader or crossbow during the firearms or muzzleloader deer season, youth deer days included — a grouse hunter in November wears both. One article is required when hunting any species with a firearm, muzzleloader or crossbow in a WMD open to moose hunting. No orange at all is required with bow and arrow, though the department recommends one article when moving through cover. Hunter orange means a daylight fluorescent orange between 595 and 605 nanometres, at least 85% excitation purity and 40% luminance; a hunter whose religion prohibits orange may wear red instead, to the same minimums.

Sundays

Lawbook, printed p. 12; season sheet

SUNDAY HUNTING IS ILLEGAL IN MAINE. The lawbook prints that in capitals on a line of its own, and the season sheet repeats it under every table: all dates are inclusive except that hunting is prohibited on Sunday. It applies to every weapon and every species — so the twenty-seven-day firearms season is twenty-four huntable days, and a Sunday shown as inside a season here is shown as closed.

Standing Rules

The parts of the digest that are true every day of the season.

Limits

Lawbook, printed pp. 4 and 20

Only one antlered deer may be harvested annually.
For 2026, in WMDs 21-25 and 29 during the firearms and muzzleloader seasons, or statewide during the regular archery and youth seasons, a hunter may take one deer of either sex on the big game licence. That deer is their one deer for the year.
Additional deer come only from antlerless deer permits — one deer each, in the WMD or subunit named on the permit — or from expanded archery permits inside the designated areas.
A junior hunting licence includes one expanded archery antlerless permit and one either-sex permit.

Baiting

Lawbook, printed p. 19

Baiting deer with salt, grain, fruit, nuts or other foods known to attract deer, or hunting from a stand or blind overlooking such bait, is prohibited from 1 June to 15 December — which covers every deer season Maine has. It does not apply to a stand overlooking standing crops, food left by a natural occurrence or normal agricultural operations, or bear bait lawfully placed at a bear stand.

Prohibited methods

Lawbook, printed p. 19

No dogs, artificial lights, snares, traps, airbows or set guns for deer.
No firearm using .17 or .22 rimfire cartridges — .22 rimfire magnum excepted.
No deer drives: four or more people working together to move deer counts as an organised effort and is illegal.
No discharge of a firearm or muzzleloader within 100 yards of a building without the owner's permission, or an adult occupant's in their absence. The same applies at state-owned boat launches posted accordingly.

Closed islands

Lawbook, printed p. 19

Deer hunting is closed on Mount Desert Island in Hancock County, Cross and Scotch Islands in Washington County, the town of Isle au Haut and its islands in Knox County, and in wildlife sanctuaries generally. Several islands are open on narrower terms — Cranberry Isles to archery in the archery and firearms seasons and to shotgun in the firearms season; Islesboro to bow and arrow only, no crossbows; Beauchamp Point Sanctuary to archery. None of those island rules are drawn on the map here.

Tagging and Reporting

The clock that starts the moment the deer is down.

Lawbook, printed pp. 8 and 16

Every deer must be reported at the first open registration station on the way out.

Register every deer at the first open deer registration station — this includes deer taken in the archery and expanded archery seasons
Registration costs $5
A gift deer may be possessed only if clearly labelled with the name and address of the person who registered it and the year

Where This App Is Coarser Than the Digest

Said plainly, because an absence is easy to read as a permission.

Sunday hunting is illegal in Maine, and this app closes every Sunday of every season for that reason. If a season looks shorter here than the printed first and last dates suggest, that is why.
The expanded archery areas are named parcels around southern Maine towns, not districts, and the app cannot draw them. It shows the season's dates; whether you are standing inside a designated area is for MDIFW's own maps at mefishwildlife.com/expanded.
The either-sex districts are set each year. WMDs 21-25 and 29 are the 2026 list; do not carry it forward to next season.
Antlerless deer permits are issued for a district or a subunit, and the subunits are smaller than the districts this app draws. Read the permit, not the map.
Maine Resident Only Day is treated here as part of the firearms season for the either-sex exception, because that is where the lawbook prints the exception and this is the firearms season's traditional opening Saturday. It is a reading, not a quotation — confirm with MDIFW before shooting a doe on 31 October.
Several islands are closed to deer hunting outright or open only to a bow — Mount Desert Island, Isle au Haut, Cross and Scotch Islands, Islesboro, the Cranberry Isles. None of that is drawn on the map here.
Maine's peak breeding date is MDIFW's own: the third week of November, from its 1997 deer assessment, which also found the pattern does not vary by region. The rut meter uses 18 November everywhere in the state and does not shift it by latitude.
Maine publishes no open statewide parcel service, so there are no property lines on the map here.

Useful Numbers

The agency, when the app cannot answer it.

MDIFW: 207-287-8000
Licensing: [email protected]
Expanded archery maps: mefishwildlife.com/expanded
WMD maps: mefishwildlife.com/wmd

Transcribed from the published 2026-27 Maine digest. Where this app and the digest disagree, the digest is the law. Read the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife digest.