Maine

Maine is the undisputed moose hunting capital of the eastern United States, harboring a thriving population of over 60,000 eastern moose across the vast commercial timberlands of the North Maine Woods.

Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) allocates bull and antlerless permits via its famous June public lottery. Hunting takes place during designated weekly intervals in September, October, and November across Wildlife Management Districts (WMDs). In the late September rut, vocal bulls with palmated antlers exceeding 50 to 60 inches respond aggressively to birchbark horn calls and water-splashing simulations in remote beaver bogs and clearcuts.

Maine's big-woods deer hunting represents the ultimate test of physical endurance, woodsmanship, and mental toughness. The northern spruce-fir forests and hardwood ridges produce massive, heavy-bodied bucks with field-dressed weights regularly topping 200 to 240+ pounds.

Unlike Midwest farm hunts, northern Maine whitetail hunting is pure wilderness tracking. Hunters wait for November snowfall, locate the fresh track of a solitary giant buck, and follow it silently on foot for miles through cedar swamps and mountain blowdowns until an opportunity presents itself.

Maine boasts the largest black bear population in the eastern United States, numbering over 35,000 animals across its vast northern and eastern woodlands.

MDIFW offers diverse bear seasons starting in late August, including traditional bait hunting, hound hunting with registered Maine guides, and spot-and-stalk / still-hunting. High bear density and experienced outfitter infrastructure make Maine a premier destination for bear hunters.

Wild turkeys have expanded rapidly across southern and central Maine, providing high-quality spring and fall hunting across rolling farmland, dairy pastures, and mixed hardwood forests.