Maine Has No Bobcat Bag Limit This Season, but Every Bobcat Must Be Tagged by State Staff Within 10 Days
November 15, 2026
Bobcat hunting season in Maine 2026-27 opens December 1, 2026. MDIFW lists the season as statewide, running December 1, 2026 through February 20, 2027, with no limit. That sounds simple, but the tagging, sampling and Sunday rules are where hunters get into trouble.
This article walks through the dates, licensing, methods, closures, tagging and pelt rules you need to stay legal. Where a figure is not spelled out below, the rule is stated in general terms and the department publishes the current detail.
The official sources behind this article are the MDIFW furbearer hunting page and the 2026-27 hunting lawbook.
Bobcat Hunting Season Dates in Maine 2026-27
The 2026-27 bobcat hunting season opens on December 1, 2026 and closes February 20, 2027. The department’s season table shows the dates apply to all Wildlife Management Districts. There is one statewide window, not a staggered schedule.
The season is also a few days shorter than last year’s. The 2025-26 table ran December 1, 2025 to February 21, 2026.
| Item | 2026-27 Detail |
|---|---|
| Opening day | December 1, 2026 |
| Closing day | February 20, 2027 |
| Area | All Wildlife Management Districts |
| Daily bag and possession | No limit |
| Sundays | Closed to hunting |
Bobcat Hunting vs. Trapping Seasons in Maine
Hunting and trapping are separate seasons with separate licensing. General trapping, which includes bobcat, runs statewide from November 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026. That means trappers get a month of bobcat opportunity before the hunting season opens, and the trapping season ends well before the hunting season does.
The lawbook notes a bobcat can be harvested during the open trapping and hunting season for bobcats. Whichever method you use, tagging and sample rules apply the same way.
Maine uses a separate trapping license and season framework, and trapping licenses run July 1 through June 30. If you plan to do both, read the trapping lawbook as well as the hunting one.
Bobcat Hunting License and Permit Requirements in Maine
You need a valid Maine hunting license to take a bobcat. MDIFW’s lawbook says a big game license permits hunting of all legal species, including bobcat, with additional permits applying for certain species and seasons. There is no separate bobcat tag to buy in advance.
If you plan to run dogs, add one more item to your checklist. Hunters age 16 or older generally need a Dog Training and Hunting Permit to use dogs for bobcat and other listed species. The lawbook also exempts a licensed Maine hunting guide who holds that permit in certain situations, so read the exemption language before relying on it.
Fees change from year to year. Check the license page on the MDIFW website for the current price before you buy.
Bobcat Permit Drawings, Lotteries and Quotas in Maine
Maine does not run a bobcat permit lottery or drawing. Moose and antlerless deer permits go through lotteries, but bobcat does not. You buy your license and hunt the open season.
There is also no harvest quota that closes the season early. The season table lists the season as running to its published end date with no limit, so the calendar, not a quota count, decides when you stop.
Bobcat Bag Limits and Season Limits in Maine
MDIFW lists the bobcat daily bag limit as “No Limit.” The possession column is blank, so no possession cap is listed either.
No limit does not mean no rules. Every animal still has to be tagged, sampled and registered, and each one counts toward the state’s harvest data. Treat the lack of a cap as a reason to be careful with paperwork, not a reason to be careless with it.
Pro Tip: Mark your tagging deadline on a calendar the day you harvest. The 10-day clock starts at harvest, not when you get home.
Bobcat Hunting Zones, Units and Open Counties in Maine
Every Wildlife Management District is open. Maine divides many seasons among 29 Wildlife Management Districts, but the bobcat table lists “All” for districts. You do not need to match your hunt to a specific unit or county.
Bobcats are not evenly spread, though. The state hunting lawbook is published by MDIFW and revised annually. For where animals actually live, the department’s wildlife biologists are your best contact. Bobcats are rarer in the far northwest, where winters are long and snow is deep.
Nonresident Bobcat Hunting in Maine
Nonresidents can hunt bobcat in Maine. The same big game license structure applies, and you follow the same season dates, tagging rules and sample requirements as residents.
The practical hurdle is tagging. Bobcat can only be tagged by MDIFW staff. If you are driving home to another state, plan your route and timeline around a department tagging location before you leave Maine.
If you plan to bring a bobcat across state lines, see the pelt and export section below.
Legal Weapons and Methods for Bobcat Hunting in Maine
Maine’s lawbook covers legal firearms, archery equipment and hunting methods for furbearers. Your general hunting equipment rules apply, including legal hunting hours and blaze orange requirements during overlapping firearms seasons.
Because the bobcat season runs into winter, most hunters rely on rifles, shotguns or hunting with dogs. Equipment and caliber rules sit in the lawbook’s general regulations, so check them before you buy ammunition or gear.
- Carry your license and any required dog permit.
- Hunt only during legal hunting hours listed in the lawbook.
- Follow the general firearm and safety rules in the lawbook’s front sections.
Hunting Bobcats at Night, With Dogs, Bait or Predator Calls in Maine
Dogs are legal for bobcat, with conditions. No more than six dogs may be used at one time for bear, bobcat, coyote, raccoon, or fox. Dog hunters age 16 and older generally need the Dog Training and Hunting Permit mentioned above.
Night hunting and baiting are where hunters misread the rules. Some night hunting opportunities in Maine apply to coyote, not bobcat, and bait rules are tied to specific bear and other seasons. The lawbook’s bait language ties legal baiting to defined bait seasons, so do not assume bait is legal for bobcat in December.
Predator calls are a common method for furbearers, but confirm the current lawbook language on calls, lights and electronic devices before you use them in the field.
Common Mistake: Assuming a coyote night-hunting rule applies to bobcat. Species-specific rules differ, so read the entry for bobcat itself.
Bobcat Season Closures During Deer Seasons and on Sundays in Maine
Sunday is the clearest closure. All season dates are inclusive except that hunting is prohibited on Sunday. That applies for the whole bobcat season, so plan around six hunting days a week.
The bobcat season opens December 1, after Maine’s firearms deer season ends. The firearm deer season runs November 2 to 28, 2026. That means deer season does not overlap the bobcat hunting season, but the muzzleloader deer season comes later, and the lawbook has separate rules for hunting furbearers during it.
If you are curious about Maine’s deer calendar, see our Maine deer hunting season guide.
Where to Hunt Bobcats in Maine: Public Land and Private Land
Maine is mostly privately owned forest, and much of it is open to responsible public access. That includes large commercial timberlands in the north and western mountains, where access depends on landowner policy and gate rules.
On private land, ask permission when the landowner requires it, and respect posted signs. On public land, such as state wildlife management areas and public reserved lands, check land-specific rules before you go.
- Check for posted land and landowner contact requirements.
- Look up public reserved lands and wildlife management areas through MDIFW and the state land agency.
- Scout snowy areas with rocky ledges, dense softwood cover and prey like snowshoe hare.
Tagging, CITES Tags and Registering a Bobcat in Maine
This is the most important rule in the whole article. Hunters must tag a bobcat within 10 days of harvest, and only MDIFW staff can tag it. You cannot self-tag, and a warden or biologist has to apply the tag.
Bobcat and river otter must be tagged by Department staff. Contact a regional office to confirm tagging locations and hours before you drive in.
Freezing needs care. If the skin or animal will be frozen at tagging time, skin it out and insert a stick the thickness of your pinky from the mouth hole through one of the eye holes before freezing.
- Harvest the bobcat during the open season, Monday through Saturday.
- Skin or prepare it as the lawbook directs, using the stick method if freezing.
- Contact MDIFW and bring the animal in within 10 days.
- Have staff apply the tag, and keep your paperwork.
Submitting Lower Jaws or Teeth From a Harvested Bobcat in Maine
Biological samples are mandatory. Trappers and hunters must submit a lower jaw, canine tooth, or lateral incisor tooth, plus a meat sample, for bobcat at fur registration. The samples help biologists track age structure and health of the population.
Plan to hand these over at the same visit as tagging. Ask staff how they want samples handled so you do not have to make a second trip.
Selling, Transporting and Exporting Bobcat Pelts From Maine
Bobcat is a CITES-listed species, which is why tagging is so tightly controlled. Once a bobcat is properly tagged by department staff, you can transport it within the state and keep the pelt for personal use.
Selling and exporting a pelt generally depend on that tag being in place. If you are moving a pelt out of Maine, or selling to a fur buyer, confirm the current requirements with MDIFW and, for interstate or international movement, with federal authorities.
Do not remove the tag from a pelt. An untagged pelt is the easiest way to turn a successful hunt into a violation.
Early Season Closures When the Bobcat Quota Is Reached in Maine
Maine does not use a bobcat harvest quota that triggers an early closure. The season runs on its published dates, and the department lists no limit on the animals taken.
The only scheduled changes are the annual date adjustments MDIFW makes when it publishes the next year’s seasons. The department notes that season dates are revised annually.
Bobcat Population and Management Status in Maine
MDIFW manages bobcat as a regulated furbearer, with seasons, tagging and biological sampling feeding its harvest records. The tooth and meat sample requirement exists to support that monitoring.
The department says bobcats are uncommon in the northwest because of long winters but present across the rest of the state. If you want current population estimates or management plans, MDIFW’s wildlife division publishes them.
Best Time to Hunt Bobcats in Maine
Snow is your friend. Fresh tracks after a new snowfall let you see where a cat has traveled, and many hunters pick the first day or two after a storm.
Early season, December through January, tends to be cold and often snowy. Late season in February can bring deeper snow and harder travel. Remember that Sundays are closed, so make your Saturdays and weekdays count.
Pro Tip: Hunt winter weather windows. A fresh snowfall followed by a clear morning is better than a week of icy crust.
Can You Eat Bobcat in Maine?
Nothing in the lawbook bars you from eating a legally harvested bobcat. Hunters who do describe the meat as lean and similar to other wild game.
Remember that the meat sample must go to MDIFW at registration, so set aside what staff require before you take the rest home. Cook wild game thoroughly, as with any predator species.
Bobcat Hunting Season in Maine 2026-27: Frequently Asked Questions
When does bobcat season open in Maine?
The season opens December 1, 2026 and closes February 20, 2027, statewide.
Is there a bag limit?
No. The daily bag limit is listed as “No Limit.”
Who can tag my bobcat?
Only MDIFW staff. You must get it tagged within 10 days of harvest.
Can I hunt bobcat on Sundays?
No. Sunday hunting is prohibited.
Do I need to turn in samples?
Yes. A lower jaw or tooth, plus a meat sample, goes to MDIFW at registration.
Can I use dogs?
Yes, with up to six dogs at a time, and hunters 16 or older generally need a Dog Training and Hunting Permit.
For other states, see our guides to Pennsylvania deer season and Ohio deer season.