Maine Deer Rifle/Firearm Season 2025, 2026
Rifle/Firearm deer hunting dates for Maine.
Recorded dates, not hunting permission
Status assessment: 2026-10-14 UTC (static build snapshot). Static activity badges and day counts use this build assessment, not a live check. Interactive finder results show their own UTC assessment day.
4 of 6 recorded windows have date-review evidence. Other rows remain unverified. Historical records are retained and are not a current-season promise.
Check your current agency regulations, GMU or zone, hunt code, license and access restrictions before hunting. An agency link or successful publication fetch does not verify a row. Reviewed base dates do not cover every license-specific exception.
Date evidence: Official date source. Review dates apply only to the stated row scope, not an entire state or current license eligibility.
Maine Deer Rifle/Firearm Season
Find rifle deer hunting season dates for Maine. Plan your 2025, 2026 rifle hunt with dates, zones, and equipment requirements.
Rifle/Firearm Season Coming Soon
4 rifle seasons opening within 60 days
Nov 2-7, 2026
Actual2026–27 MDIFW calendar/PDF1 lists Nov2–28 regular firearms for all WMDs; PDF2 says hunting is prohibited on Sunday. WMD1 antlered base dates are expanded into four Monday–Saturday windows, excluding Nov8,15,22. Oct31 resident-only day, youth, archery, muzzleloader and antlerless eligibility are not this slice. Check current WMD1 map/boundaries, hunting license/permit or exemptions, antlered annual limit, legal firearm/ammunition and hunter-orange rules, shooting hours, tagging/reporting, CWD, land permission/access and closures; not individual permission. Historical north/south labels and license-year metadata remain unverified.
Nov 9-14, 2026
Actual2026–27 MDIFW calendar/PDF1 lists Nov2–28 regular firearms for all WMDs; PDF2 says hunting is prohibited on Sunday. WMD1 antlered base dates are expanded into four Monday–Saturday windows, excluding Nov8,15,22. Oct31 resident-only day, youth, archery, muzzleloader and antlerless eligibility are not this slice. Check current WMD1 map/boundaries, hunting license/permit or exemptions, antlered annual limit, legal firearm/ammunition and hunter-orange rules, shooting hours, tagging/reporting, CWD, land permission/access and closures; not individual permission. Historical north/south labels and license-year metadata remain unverified.
Nov 16-21, 2026
Actual2026–27 MDIFW calendar/PDF1 lists Nov2–28 regular firearms for all WMDs; PDF2 says hunting is prohibited on Sunday. WMD1 antlered base dates are expanded into four Monday–Saturday windows, excluding Nov8,15,22. Oct31 resident-only day, youth, archery, muzzleloader and antlerless eligibility are not this slice. Check current WMD1 map/boundaries, hunting license/permit or exemptions, antlered annual limit, legal firearm/ammunition and hunter-orange rules, shooting hours, tagging/reporting, CWD, land permission/access and closures; not individual permission. Historical north/south labels and license-year metadata remain unverified.
Nov 23-28, 2026
Actual2026–27 MDIFW calendar/PDF1 lists Nov2–28 regular firearms for all WMDs; PDF2 says hunting is prohibited on Sunday. WMD1 antlered base dates are expanded into four Monday–Saturday windows, excluding Nov8,15,22. Oct31 resident-only day, youth, archery, muzzleloader and antlerless eligibility are not this slice. Check current WMD1 map/boundaries, hunting license/permit or exemptions, antlered annual limit, legal firearm/ammunition and hunter-orange rules, shooting hours, tagging/reporting, CWD, land permission/access and closures; not individual permission. Historical north/south labels and license-year metadata remain unverified.
Rifle/Firearm Deer Season Dates
6 rifle seasons in Maine
| Dates | Zone | Status | Notes | Add to Calendar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2-7, 2026 Date window reviewed 2026-10-09; verify license-specific exceptions Official date source | WMD1 antlered regular firearms — Sundays excluded | 19d away | Actual2026–27 MDIFW calendar/PDF1 lists Nov2–28 regular firearms for all WMDs; PDF2 says hunting is prohibited on Sunday. WMD1 antlered base dates are expanded into four Monday–Saturday windows, excluding Nov8,15,22. Oct31 resident-only day, youth, archery, muzzleloader and antlerless eligibility are not this slice. Check current WMD1 map/boundaries, hunting license/permit or exemptions, antlered annual limit, legal firearm/ammunition and hunter-orange rules, shooting hours, tagging/reporting, CWD, land permission/access and closures; not individual permission. Historical north/south labels and license-year metadata remain unverified. | |
| Nov 9-14, 2026 Date window reviewed 2026-10-09; verify license-specific exceptions Official date source | WMD1 antlered regular firearms — Sundays excluded | 26d away | Actual2026–27 MDIFW calendar/PDF1 lists Nov2–28 regular firearms for all WMDs; PDF2 says hunting is prohibited on Sunday. WMD1 antlered base dates are expanded into four Monday–Saturday windows, excluding Nov8,15,22. Oct31 resident-only day, youth, archery, muzzleloader and antlerless eligibility are not this slice. Check current WMD1 map/boundaries, hunting license/permit or exemptions, antlered annual limit, legal firearm/ammunition and hunter-orange rules, shooting hours, tagging/reporting, CWD, land permission/access and closures; not individual permission. Historical north/south labels and license-year metadata remain unverified. | |
| Nov 16-21, 2026 Date window reviewed 2026-10-09; verify license-specific exceptions Official date source | WMD1 antlered regular firearms — Sundays excluded | Upcoming | Actual2026–27 MDIFW calendar/PDF1 lists Nov2–28 regular firearms for all WMDs; PDF2 says hunting is prohibited on Sunday. WMD1 antlered base dates are expanded into four Monday–Saturday windows, excluding Nov8,15,22. Oct31 resident-only day, youth, archery, muzzleloader and antlerless eligibility are not this slice. Check current WMD1 map/boundaries, hunting license/permit or exemptions, antlered annual limit, legal firearm/ammunition and hunter-orange rules, shooting hours, tagging/reporting, CWD, land permission/access and closures; not individual permission. Historical north/south labels and license-year metadata remain unverified. | |
| Nov 23-28, 2026 Date window reviewed 2026-10-09; verify license-specific exceptions Official date source | WMD1 antlered regular firearms — Sundays excluded | Upcoming | Actual2026–27 MDIFW calendar/PDF1 lists Nov2–28 regular firearms for all WMDs; PDF2 says hunting is prohibited on Sunday. WMD1 antlered base dates are expanded into four Monday–Saturday windows, excluding Nov8,15,22. Oct31 resident-only day, youth, archery, muzzleloader and antlerless eligibility are not this slice. Check current WMD1 map/boundaries, hunting license/permit or exemptions, antlered annual limit, legal firearm/ammunition and hunter-orange rules, shooting hours, tagging/reporting, CWD, land permission/access and closures; not individual permission. Historical north/south labels and license-year metadata remain unverified. | |
| Nov 1-29, 2025 Unverified date record; agency review required | Zone not recorded | Historical record | Firearms season - south | |
| Oct 27 - Nov 22, 2025 Unverified date record; agency review required | Zone not recorded | Historical record | Firearms - north (residents) | |
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Compare Other Deer Hunting Methods
Explore 2 other methods available in Maine
Zone-Specific Rifle/Firearm Dates
Maine has different rifle deer dates by zone. Zones include: WMD1 antlered regular firearms — Sundays excluded. Check official state regulations for zone boundaries.
Important Note for Maine
Only WMD1 antlered regular firearms base dates were reviewed from the actual2026–27 calendar, split into four Monday–Saturday windows because Sunday hunting is prohibited. Oct31 resident-only day and other hunt/species/antlerless eligibility are excluded. Current map, permits/license, legal firearm/ammunition, orange, hours, tagging, CWD, permission/access and closures require checks. Historical north/south labels, other records and license-year metadata remain unverified.
Maine Deer Rifle/Firearm Hunting FAQ
Common questions about rifle deer hunting in Maine
When does rifle deer season start in Maine?
Recorded windows, not one continuous season: 2026-11-02 to 2026-11-07; 2026-11-09 to 2026-11-14; 2026-11-16 to 2026-11-21; 2026-11-23 to 2026-11-28; 2025-11-01 to 2025-11-29; 2025-10-27 to 2025-11-22. Historical and unverified records may be included. Check each row's evidence and your current GMU/hunt code and license before hunting.
What caliber rifles are legal for deer in Maine?
Maine has minimum caliber and cartridge requirements for deer hunting. Common requirements include minimum bullet diameter and energy specifications. Verify current rifle regulations with the state wildlife agency.
Are there different rifle deer zones in Maine?
Yes, Maine has zone-specific rifle deer seasons. Zones include: WMD1 antlered regular firearms — Sundays excluded. Each zone may have different dates and regulations.
Do I need a special tag for rifle deer hunting in Maine?
You need a valid Maine hunting license and applicable deer tags or permits. Some states offer rifle-specific tags or have separate quotas. Check current license requirements and availability.
What other methods can I use to hunt deer in Maine?
Besides rifle, Maine offers deer seasons for: Archery, Muzzleloader. Each method has different season dates and regulations.
Rifle/Firearm Deer in Other States
Compare rifle seasons across states
View All Maine Deer Seasons
See all hunting methods for deer in Maine.
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