Code of Maine Rules › 09 - DEPARTMENT OF INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE › 137 - DEPARTMENT OF INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE - GENERAL › Chapter 16 - HUNTING › Section 137-16-07 - Deer Hunting

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
1.
Deer
				Hunting Seasons/Days
2.
Antlerless Deer Hunting Restrictions
3.
Application Process for Antlerless
				Deer Permits
4.
Antlerless Deer Permit Allocations by WMD or portion of
				WMD
5.
Application and
				Allocation Process for Landowner Antlerless Deer Permits
6.
Expanded Archery Areas Open to
				Hunting of Deer
7.
Deer Hunting Special Regulations and Closures
1.
Deer Hunting Seasons/Days
A.
Expanded Archery Season:
There shall be an expanded archery deer hunting season as established under  12
				M.R.S. §11401 from the first Saturday following Labor Day until the last
				day of the extended Muzzleloading Season. A person may not kill and register a
				deer as an expanded archery season kill during the expanded archery season in
				an expanded archery area unless that person uses archery equipment and in
				accordance with  12 M.R.S. §11214, subsection 1, paragraph P and Q. Any
				person who possesses an archery license under  12 M.R.S. §11403 is eligible
				to purchase expanded archery permits as provided in  12 M.R.S. §11153. Only
				1 expanded archery either-sex permit may be purchased which authorizes the take
				of either an antlered deer or an antlerless deer; multiple expanded archery
				antlerless deer permits may be purchased. A person must use expanded archery
				permit(s) to kill and register a deer as an expanded archery season kill during
				the expanded archery season in an expanded archery area. A person may not kill
				and register an antlered deer as an expanded archery antlered deer kill except
				under the authority of the expanded archery either-sex permit. See Section
				16.07-6. for areas open to expanded archery.
B.
Regular Archery Deer Hunting
				Season:
There shall be an open season for the purpose of hunting deer
				with archery equipment prior to the regular firearm deer season as provided
				within  12 M.R.S. §11403, starting on the Saturday 30 days prior to the
				opening day of the regular firearms deer season (including Sundays). The season
				shall end on the Friday preceding the opening day of the regular firearms deer
				season.
C.
"Youth Deer
				Hunt":
This hunt is established in accordance with  12 M.R.S.
				§11402.
(1)
When the hunt
				occurs:
The youth deer hunt occurs on the Friday and Saturday preceding
				the residents-only Saturday of the regular deer season.
(2)
Who may participate and with what
				methods:
During the designated youth deer hunt, holders of a valid
				junior hunting license may hunt deer with either a firearm, or archery
				equipment, and must be in the presence of and under the effective control of an
				adult supervisor as defined by  Title 12 §11108-C.
(3)
Supervision of a youth
				hunter:
The parent, guardian or qualified adult shall not possess a
				firearm, or archery equipment, while accompanying a youth hunter during the
				youth deer hunt except that the supervisor may carry a handgun pursuant to  25
				M.R.S. §2001-A, sub-§2, ¶A-1 but it may not be carried for the
				purpose of hunting.
(4)
Deer
				that may be taken on this day:
Only one antlered deer may be taken
				except that on designated days and in designated WMDs, junior hunters may take
				an antlerless or antlered deer. Junior hunters may take additional deer if they
				possess antlerless deer permits. If only a portion of a WMD is designated in
				accordance with  12 M.R.S. §11152 2-A, junior hunters may take an
				antlerless or antlered deer but only on designated days and in the designated
				area of the WMD.
(5)
Laws
				that apply on this day:
Except as otherwise provided, all laws
				pertaining to the regular firearm deer season apply on this day.
D.
Regular Firearms Deer
				Hunting Season:
The regular firearms deer hunting season shall be from
				the 4th Monday preceding Thanksgiving to the
				Saturday following Thanksgiving statewide, as provided within  12 M.R.S.
				§11401.
E.
"Resident's
				Only Deer Hunting Day":
This day is established in accordance with  12
				M.R.S. §11401 and allows Maine residents to hunt deer on the Saturday
				preceding the regular firearm deer season with the following exception:
(1)
"Nonresident Exception to
				Resident's Only Deer Hunting Day":
Any nonresident hunter who meets the
				requirements established in  12 M.R.S. §11401, sub-§1, ¶E must
				also be able to verify that they meet the qualifications when hunting on the
				Saturday preceding the first day of the open season on deer. The hunter must
				carry on their person, verification that the hunter is the lawful owner of 25
				acres or more of land in the state and be prepared to provide such proof for
				inspection by the Commissioner or the Commissioner's agent upon request. This
				verification, at a minimum, shall include the name of the hunter, the town,
				number of acres and may include additional information such as the Map, Plan
				and Lot number. The department shall provide a form that is available to these
				landowners and the form must have the necessary information provided and be
				signed by the landowner. The Commissioner or Commissioner's agent may inspect
				the property to confirm legality. This verification shall also be used when
				registering a deer killed on this day.
F.
Muzzleloading Deer Hunting
				Season:
There shall be an open season on deer statewide on the first six
				hunting days after the regular deer hunting season for the purpose of hunting
				with a muzzleloading firearm, as provided within  12 M.R.S. §11404. In
				Wildlife Management Districts (WMDs) 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23,
				24, 25, 26, and 29 the season extends for an additional 6 hunting
				days.