Maine Bird Hunting
Seasons Span September 28 – December 31, 2025
State Drought Monitor – Upland hunting conditions are often highly dependent upon moisture for both habitat production and bird survival.
Season Dates
- Ruffed Grouse & Bobwhite Quail: September 27, 2025 – December 31, 2025
- Pheasant: September 27, 2025 – December 31, 2025
- Woodcock: September 27, 2025 – November 18, 2025
- Common Snipe: September 2, 2025 – January 3, 2026
Required Licenses and Costs
- Resident Licenses:
- Small Game Hunting (16+): $15
- Big Game Hunting (includes small game, 16+): $26
- Archery (16+): $26
- Junior (under 16): $8
- Lifetime Hunting (65+): $8 (one-time fee)
- Non-Resident Licenses:
- Small Game Hunting (16+): $75
- Big Game Hunting (includes small game, 16+): $115
- Archery (16+): $75
- Junior (under 16): $35
- 3-Day Small Game: $47
- Additional Permits:
- Pheasant Permit: $27 (required for pheasant hunting)
- State Migratory Waterfowl Permit: $7.50 (required for waterfowl, including snipe, rails, and gallinules)
- Federal Migratory Bird Stamp: Required for hunters 16+ for migratory game birds (cost not specified in sources)
- Notes:
- Licenses can be purchased online at mefishwildlife.com or through approved agents (e.g., sporting goods shops, municipal offices).
- Hunters born after January 1, 1976, must show proof of hunter safety course completion.
- Sunday hunting is prohibited in Maine.
Daily Bag and Possession Limits
- Ruffed Grouse: 4 daily, 8 possession
- Bobwhite Quail: 4 daily, 8 possession
- Pheasant: 2 daily, 4 possession
- Woodcock: 3 daily, 9 possession
- Common Snipe: 8 daily, 24 possession
Additional Notes
- Closed Species: No hunting is allowed for spruce grouse, lynx, or cottontail rabbit.
- Wildlife Management Districts (WMDs): Seasons and limits apply statewide unless specified by WMD. Check MDIFW maps for specific boundaries.
- Regulations: Hunters must wear blaze orange during overlapping firearms seasons (e.g., deer season) and follow ethical hunting practices, including reporting harvests as required. For migratory birds, nontoxic shot is mandatory statewide.
For the most up-to-date information, consult the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) website at mefishwildlife.com or contact their office at 207-287-8000.
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