Hunting In Maine

Photo Credit: Noah Tuminaro

Maine’s landscape, with its large tracts of wilderness and variety of disturbed forest makes it an ideal habitat for game animals. Visitors can find moose, deer, bear, and bobcat as well as small game species such as grouse, woodcock, and snowshoe hare.

Another reason to come to Maine to hunt is the excellent selection of guiding services and sporting camps throughout the state. Whether you’re traveling to Rangeley, Jackman, or Aroostook County, you’ll be able to find a great hunting camp to serve as a base for your trip and an experienced guide to bring you to the best local hot spots and offer whatever level of help and advice you’re looking for.

Maine’s most iconic game animal is the moose. Maine has a higher concentration of moose than any other state south of Alaska. You are especially likely to find one of these majestic animals in the northern and western regions of the state, grazing in a secluded mountain pond, or trotting along the side of a logging road.  Weighing in at up to 1000+ pounds, with a rack of antlers 6’ across, a full-grown bull moose is the ultimate trophy animal.  Moose permits are allocated by lottery to lucky hunters each year.  Some lodges may also have tags for sale. This is truly an epic hunt.

Whitetail deer numbers are growing statewide.  A guide can help you set up a deer stand or follow tracks in light snow to find your trophy buck. This snow-tracking method is not only traditional but also extremely exciting!

Maine has the highest black bear population in the eastern US. Bears are typically hunted by stand hunters over bait or pursued with hounds. Guides are invaluable for increasing your chances for success on these hunts. They put in many hours ahead of your trip training dogs and setting bait sites so that they’re ready to go when you arrive.

Maine also has healthy populations of upland game birds throughout the state. Maine’s logging industry keeps the forests young and healthy, resulting in some of the best ruffed grouse numbers found anywhere in the United States! Hunting grouse and woodcock behind a guide’s trained pointing dogs are especially good ways to spend crisp fall days.  

Flocks of sea ducks and puddle ducks can be found up and down the Maine coast and on inland lakes. Get up early for waterfowl to set up your decoys in time to catch the waterfowl waking up and taking off around sunrise.

Wild turkeys are another popular game species. For years,  turkeys were missing from our state but made a dramatic comeback after a very successful reintroduction effort. Now large populations can be found throughout the state, and there are turkey hunting seasons in both the spring and fall.  Put on your camouflage and listen as your guide expertly calls them into your blind.

Bobcat hunts are great for those looking for a challenge!  These cats live in the cover of thick forests and are clever and elusive. Spending a winter day hunting with hounds, you’ll look for tracks in the fresh snow. It’s tough but extremely rewarding when you finally catch sight of that cat you’ve been pursuing.

For those desiring a small game hunt, Maine’s snowshoe hares are a great choice. You can still-hunt this species, or you can spend a fast-paced day hunting with a guides’ trained beagles as the dogs and hares zigzag and maneuver through the woods. It’s a great hunting opportunity for all ages.

Coyotes can be hunted all year round, and sometimes even at night. Often they are hunted using bait and calls or pursued by hounds. Coyote hunting not only offers an exciting sport but also helps reduce deer predation by keeping the coyote population under control.

Join one of our trapping guides and set up your own trapline!  Maine furs are renowned for their thickness and quality.  Beaver, marten, mink, otter, and muskrat are available throughout the state.