Maine Hunting

Maine

The vast North Maine Woods, high-density trophy moose lottery tags, and classic wilderness black bear tracking.

Maine - The Pine Tree State & North Woods Wilderness

Maine offers outstanding sportspeople opportunities, rich wildlife habitats, and extensive public land access. From trophy big game hunting to abundant upland bird coverts and waterfowl flyways, Maine provides a premier destination for hunters of all experience levels.

Maine Bull Moose in North Woods Bog Spruce

Managed under strict wildlife conservation guidelines by the state department of natural resources, hunting in Maine contributes directly to habitat preservation and healthy game populations across the state.

Maine Black Bear Stalking Through Cedar Thicket

Top Hunting Attractions in Maine

Discover the premier wildlife management areas, big game habitats, and renowned wingshooting regions across Maine.

The Great North Maine Woods Moose Lottery

The Great North Maine Woods Moose Lottery

Trophy bull moose boasting antler spreads up to 65 inches, hunted across millions of acres of commercial timberland and bog spruce.
Traditional Deep-Woods Black Bear Hunting

Traditional Deep-Woods Black Bear Hunting

Premier wilderness hound-hunting, bait-hunting, and fair-chase spot-and-stalk adventures across expansive northern forest townships.
Big Woods Whitetail Snow Tracking

Big Woods Whitetail Snow Tracking

The spiritual home of tracking giant 200-plus pound northern whitetail bucks across fresh November snowstorms on expansive paper-company tracts.
Down East Coastal Sea Duck & Upland Covers

Down East Coastal Sea Duck & Upland Covers

World-famous sea duck gunning for common eiders, scoters, and long-tailed ducks on rocky coastlines, plus coverts teeming with ruffed grouse.

Hunting Benefits

  • Big Woods Deer Tracking: Classic North Woods tracking culture for heavy-bodied 200+ lb mature bucks.
  • Moose Draw Lottery: Coveted lottery permits for North America s largest eastern moose herd.
  • Black Bear Population: Premier black bear hunting state with baiting, hound, and still-hunting seasons.
  • Ruffed Grouse & Woodcock: World-class upland bird hunting in commercial timberland clear-cuts.
  • Vast Public & Unposted Lands: Millions of acres of accessible timberlands and public WMA lands.

    • Hunter's Bottom Line

    Summary

    Maine offers an authentic backcountry wilderness hunting experience in the Northeast. With over 10 million acres of sparsely populated, commercially managed working forest in the North Maine Woods, hunters can roam for days without seeing paved roads.

    The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) allocates moose permits through an annual lottery in June. Non-residents can purchase multiple chances to improve draw odds, and drawing a bull tag in Wildlife Management Districts 1 through 6 is an elite wilderness opportunity.

    Maine's black bear season begins in late August with bait hunting, transitioning to hound hunting in September and fair-chase still-hunting through November. The state holds an estimated population of over 35,000 black bears, representing the largest black bear herd in the Eastern United States.

    Snow tracking mature whitetail bucks in the big woods requires exceptional physical fitness, compass navigation skills, and mental grit. Bucks in Maine's northern tier are large-bodied animals adapted to severe winters, and bagging a 200-pound field-dressed buck on snow is a pinnacle hunting achievement.