Bow Hunting Laws in Maine: Season Dates, Equipment Rules, and License Requirements

Bow hunting in Maine rewards patience and preparation, but only if you know exactly which rules apply before you step into the woods. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) sets detailed regulations covering everything from the draw weight on your bow to where you can legally hunt — and getting those details wrong can cost you your license, your harvest, or both.

Whether you are a resident planning your first archery deer season or a non-resident targeting Maine’s big game, this guide breaks down the bow hunting laws you need to know for the 2025–2026 seasons as published by MDIFW. Always confirm current rules directly with MDIFW before heading out, since regulations can change.

For a broader look at how archery rules fit into Maine’s overall hunting framework, see the Maine hunting laws guide on this site.

Bow Hunting Season Dates in Maine

Maine splits its archery deer season into two distinct windows, each with its own geographic scope and rules. The Expanded Archery Season, limited to designated areas, runs from September 6, 2025, to December 13, 2025, while the Regular Archery Season, open to all Wildlife Management Districts (WMDs), spans from October 4, 2025, to October 31, 2025.

Maine is divided into 29 Wildlife Management Districts, and hunting regulations can vary between these areas. That means the season dates above are a starting point — you need to confirm which season applies in the specific WMD where you plan to hunt.

Pro Tip: Download the MDIFW zone map or carry a printed copy. WMD boundaries are not always obvious in the field, and hunting in the wrong zone can result in serious penalties.

Only deer with antlers at least 3 inches long may be harvested from November 1, 2025, through December 13, 2025, except that antlerless deer may be harvested in designated WMDs during the Regular Archery season and Youth Deer hunt, by hunters with antlerless deer permits, and by expanded archery hunters with appropriate permits.

It is legal to hunt from one-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset during both archery deer seasons. Outside of deer, the regular archery license allows archery equipment to be used to hunt all legal game throughout the year, except for deer during the muzzleloader season.

Season	Dates (2025–2026)	Where It Applies
Expanded Archery	Sept. 6 – Dec. 13, 2025	Designated areas only
Regular Archery	Oct. 4 – Oct. 31, 2025	All WMDs statewide
Youth Deer Hunt	Oct. 24 – Oct. 25, 2025	Statewide

Legal Bow Types and Equipment Requirements in Maine

Maine law is specific about what your bow must be capable of before you can use it to hunt big game. For hunting deer and bear, the minimum draw weight of the bow is 35 pounds; for hunting moose, the minimum draw weight is 45 pounds; and the arrowhead, including mechanical broadheads when open, must be at least 7/8 inch in width.

For standard bows, draw weight must be at least 35 pounds with no maximum, and for moose, a minimum draw weight of 45 pounds is required. These minimums exist to ensure a clean, ethical harvest — undersized equipment is both illegal and inhumane.

• Minimum draw weight: 35 lbs for deer and bear; 45 lbs for moose
• Broadhead width: at least 7/8 inch (including open mechanical broadheads)
• Arrows with explosive or poisonous tips are prohibited
• Set bows and drawlocks are illegal unless permitted for disabled hunters

Deer and moose decoys are legal, as are laser sights — red dots or beam — for firearms, crossbows, and bows. Electronic calling devices are legal for deer, bear, turkey, moose, and coyote, but are illegal for migratory game birds.

A person may not carry firearms of any kind while hunting any species of wildlife with archery equipment during the regular archery season on deer. This does not prohibit a person from carrying a concealed weapon in accordance with Maine’s concealed carry statute. In other words, you can carry a handgun for personal protection, but a hunter may carry a handgun while bowhunting, but it may not be used to dispatch deer.

Important Note: Hunter orange is not required when hunting with a traditional bow and arrow. However, orange requirements do apply in certain situations — see the Land and Safety Restrictions section below for details.

Crossbow Rules in Maine

Maine made significant changes to its crossbow framework effective January 1, 2024, and those changes are still in force for the 2025–2026 seasons. A crossbow permit is no longer required, as hunting with a bow and arrow and crossbow are both included with an archery license. Crossbow use is no longer permissible during the muzzleloader season.

Use of crossbows in expanded archery areas during the expanded archery season is permissible for any hunter who has an archery license and expanded archery permit. If you hold both, you can use your crossbow during the longer September–December expanded season in designated WMDs.

Crossbows have their own equipment specifications under Maine law:

• Only crossbows with a shoulder-type stock may be used. Draw weight must be at least 100 pounds with no maximum.
• Crossbows must be equipped with a mechanical trigger safety device in working condition.
• Hand-held pistol-type crossbows are prohibited.
• Crossbows equipped with scopes or sights may be used.
• Arrowheads for deer, bear, and moose must be at least 7/8 inch wide (same as traditional bows)
• Arrows with explosive or poisonous tips are prohibited

You do not need a separate course to hunt with a crossbow in Maine. As of January 1, 2024, the crossbow unit was incorporated into the bowhunter education course, and completing it allows you to purchase a Maine archery license that covers both bow and crossbow.

For a comparison of how crossbow rules differ in neighboring states, see the Arkansas hunting laws guide or the Ohio hunting laws guide.

Species You Can Hunt with a Bow in Maine

An archery license in Maine opens the door to a wide range of game. Wild animals and wild birds may be hunted only by the use of rifles, handguns, shotguns not larger than 10-gauge, muzzleloaders, archery equipment, or falconry. Archery equipment is therefore a legal method for every huntable species in the state, subject to season-specific rules.

The most pursued species during archery season is white-tailed deer. Deer hunting is Maine’s most popular hunting activity, and the state’s healthy deer population and diverse habitats offer excellent opportunities from coastal areas to deep woods. Beyond deer, bowhunters regularly pursue:

• Black bear — general season runs August 26 through November 30; bow is a legal method statewide
• Moose — permit-only lottery; bow and arrow are legal with a minimum 45-lb draw weight
• Wild turkey — both spring and fall seasons; archery is a legal method with an appropriate license
• Small game — including snowshoe hare, ruffed grouse, and other species during their respective open seasons
• Furbearers — including coyote, bobcat, and fox, subject to season and reporting rules

Except for migratory game birds, there is no hunting season on any species of bird or animal that is not listed in MDIFW’s published season schedule. Always confirm a species has an open season before pursuing it with archery equipment. For more on turkey hunting specifically, see the turkey hunting season in Maine guide.

Moose may be hunted with a rifle, shotgun, handgun, muzzleloader, bow and arrow, or crossbow — but only by hunters who draw a permit through the lottery system. Traditionally, non-resident draw odds are under 2% and resident draw odds hover around 10%.

License and Tag Requirements for Bow Hunters in Maine

Every adult bow hunter in Maine needs a valid archery license before taking to the field. An archery license allows a person to hunt with a bow and arrow or crossbow. This single license now covers both equipment types following the 2024 rule change.

To obtain an adult archery hunting license, you must show proof of having held an adult license to hunt with bow and arrow in any year after 1979, successful completion of an archery education course, or evidence of previously holding a crossbow permit in Maine prior to 2024.

As of the 2025–2026 season, license fees reported by hunting resources include:

• A regular non-resident hunting license costs $117, compared to $26 for residents.
• Specialized licenses like archery-only cost $69 for non-residents.

Important Note: License fees are set by MDIFW and may be updated annually. Verify current fees at the MDIFW website or an authorized license agent before purchasing.

Maine resident landowners and their immediate family members may hunt without a license using firearms, archery, crossbow, or muzzleloader on land they own and reside upon, provided the land exceeds 10 acres in size and is used exclusively for agricultural purposes. The landowner privilege does not apply to moose hunting, for which a license is still required.

Junior hunters have their own path. Junior hunters who hold a valid Junior Hunting License are allowed to hunt with archery equipment when accompanied by a junior hunter supervisor.

All deer killed during the archery seasons must be inspected and registered at the first open deer registration station. You must register deer, bear, moose, and turkey within 18 hours at designated stations. Plan your hunting location with a registration station nearby.

For context on how Maine’s license structure compares to nearby states, see the Minnesota hunting laws guide or the Virginia hunting laws guide.

Bowhunter Education Requirements in Maine

Maine requires proof of education before issuing an archery license to first-time applicants. Maine law requires all firearms, archery, crossbow, or trapping license applicants to complete an outdoor safety course, unless they have previously held an adult license.

Firearms, bowhunter, and crossbow hunter safety courses are available in two formats — online and traditional in-person classes. An in-person skills and exam session is required for students ages 10–15 who take firearms and bowhunter safety courses online.

The in-person classes are sponsored by school districts, sports clubs, civic groups, and others, and are taught statewide by volunteer instructors certified by MDIFW. Pre-registration is typically required for in-person sessions.

Key education facts for bow hunters:

• As of January 1, 2024, the crossbow unit was incorporated into the bowhunter education course, and completing it allows you to purchase a Maine archery license to hunt with a bow or crossbow.
• You must be at least 10 years old to take the online course.
• All U.S. states, provinces, and other countries that have mandatory bowhunter education requirements will accept the Maine Archery Education Certificate. Maine also accepts bowhunter education certifications issued by other jurisdictions that meet official IHEA-USA requirements.
• Native Americans are exempt from the safety course requirement for archery and trapping.
• An active-duty member of the U.S. Armed Forces permanently stationed outside of the U.S. and home on leave is exempt from archery safety course requirements if they can show proof that their home state of record is Maine.

Individuals applying for the archery hunting license must show proof of having successfully completed an approved archery hunter education course — which now includes crossbow safety — or of having held a Maine adult archery license in any year after 1979, or evidence of previously holding a crossbow permit in Maine prior to 2024.

When proof or evidence cannot be provided, the applicant may substitute a signed affidavit. This affidavit option exists for hunters who completed a course years ago but can no longer locate their certificate.

Land and Safety Restrictions for Bow Hunting in Maine

Maine’s land access rules and safety requirements for bow hunters differ from those for firearms hunters in several important ways. Understanding these distinctions helps you stay legal in the field.

Hunter Orange: Hunter orange clothing is not required when hunting with bow and arrow. However, orange rules apply in specific overlap situations. Anyone who hunts any species with a firearm or crossbow in a Wildlife Management District that is open to moose hunting must wear two pieces of solid-colored hunter orange clothing, which can include a hat, shirt, vest, etc. When hunting wild turkey, bear, small game, or furbearers with a crossbow — unless that WMD is open to moose hunting at that time or during a firearms or muzzleloader season for deer — orange is also required.

Closed Areas: Hunting, trapping, and possessing a weapon is prohibited on land administered by the National Park Service, including Acadia National Park and the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. These closures apply to all hunting methods, including archery.

Sunday Hunting: Hunting is prohibited on Sundays throughout Maine for all species covered by state seasons. This is a hard rule with no exceptions — plan your archery outings around it.

Local Ordinances: Several Maine cities and towns have adopted local ordinances that restrict or prohibit the discharge of certain projectiles, including arrows and bolts. Prior to hunting near densely populated communities, hunters should check with local authorities regarding such ordinances.

North Maine Woods Access: North Maine Woods, Inc. is a private, non-profit organization that manages public use and access to 3.5 million acres of forest located north and west of Baxter State Park. Wildlife Management Districts 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, and 9 are either totally or partially within the NMW management area. There is a small day-use fee for access.

Harvest Reporting: Failure to register a harvest can result in fines and loss of hunting privileges. Accidental or illegal kills must be reported to a game warden immediately. For fox and certain furbearers, electronic reporting requirements also apply — check the current MDIFW hunting law book for species-specific details.

Pro Tip: Before hunting private land in Maine, always obtain written or verbal permission from the landowner. Trespassing while hunting carries separate penalties beyond hunting license violations.

Bow hunting laws vary significantly by state. If you hunt across state lines, review the regulations for Montana, Idaho, or Kansas to understand how Maine’s rules compare. You can also review Maine dog leash laws if you plan to use hunting dogs, and check Maine roadkill laws for rules on recovering game struck by vehicles.