Maine’s Legal Shooting & Hunting Hours 2025-2026, What Every Hunter Must Know Before Entering the Woods
In Maine, legal hunting hours run from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset for most game species, based on Bangor sunrise and sunset times. Exceptions include migratory birds (30 minutes before sunrise to sunset only) and coyote night hunting (30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise during December 16-August 31). Violating these hours triggers minimum 3-day jail sentences and $1,000 fines for first offenses—doubling to $2,000 with night vision equipment.
The 2024-2025 season brings permanent two-day youth deer hunts and updated zone-specific waterfowl regulations that affect when you can legally hunt. Understanding these hour restrictions isn’t just about avoiding citations—it’s about safety, conservation, and maximizing your hunting opportunities within the law.
Understanding Maine’s Standard Hunting Hours
Maine bases all legal hunting hours on sunrise and sunset times in Bangor, Maine, applying these times statewide regardless of your actual hunting location. This standardization simplifies compliance but means hunters in northern Maine hunt different actual light conditions than those in southern regions.
For deer hunting—Maine’s most popular season—hunters can pursue whitetails from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset during designated seasons. The 2024-2025 deer season spans September 6 through December 14, with multiple segments including expanded archery, regular archery, youth hunts, and firearms seasons.
The half-hour buffer before sunrise and after sunset exists for critical safety reasons. Early morning twilight provides enough visibility to identify targets and backstops, while the evening buffer prevents hunting in dangerous low-light conditions.
Game-Specific Hour Restrictions You Need to Know
Migratory Waterfowl: Stricter Federal Rules Apply
Migratory game birds follow more restrictive federal regulations—hunting is permitted only from 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset (not 30 minutes after). This tighter window reflects federal conservation priorities and safety concerns for waterfowl populations migrating across multiple states.
Maine divides waterfowl hunting into three zones—North, South, and Coastal—each with different season dates. North Zone duck season runs September 23-November 30, South Zone operates October 1-12 and October 30-December 25, while Coastal Zone extends October 5-12 and November 7, 2024 through January 7, 2025. These zone variations don’t change legal shooting hours, but they do affect when you can hunt in specific areas.
Coyote Night Hunting: Maine’s Unique Exception
Maine permits coyote night hunting from December 16 to August 31, allowing hunters to pursue coyotes from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise. However, there’s a critical Sunday restriction: hunting must cease at midnight on Saturdays and cannot resume until 12:01 AM on Mondays.
Maine allows artificial lighting for coyote hunting during this night season, making it one of few exceptions to the state’s strict nighttime hunting prohibitions. This reflects coyote population management priorities and their nocturnal behavior patterns.
Raccoon Hunting After Dark
Raccoon hunting at night is legal from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise, with the same Saturday midnight to Monday 12:01 AM restriction that applies to coyote hunting. Daytime raccoon hunting follows standard hours.
Critical Season Dates for 2024-2025
Deer Season Schedule
Maine’s 2024-2025 deer season includes:
- Expanded Archery Season: September 6–December 13, 2025 (designated areas only)
- Regular Archery Season: October 4–31, 2025
- Youth Deer Hunt: October 24–25, 2025
- Maine Residents Only Day: November 2, 2024
- Firearms Season: November 4–30, 2024
- Muzzleloader Season: December 1–13, 2024
The two-day youth hunt became permanent law in 2024 after a successful experimental expansion, held the Friday and Saturday before regular firearms season opens.
Bear Hunting Opportunities
Bear season for 2024-2025 runs:
- Youth Bear Day: August 23, 2025
- General Hunting Season: August 25–November 29, 2025
- Hunting with Bait: August 25–September 20, 2025 (bait placement starting July 27)
- Bear Trapping: September 1–October 31, 2025
- Hunting with Dogs: September 8–October 31, 2025
All bear hunting follows standard daylight hours (30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset).
The Severe Penalties for Hunting Outside Legal Hours
First Offense Consequences
Hunting outside legal hours in Maine triggers mandatory minimum penalties:
- Jail Time: Minimum 3 days (cannot be suspended)
- Fines: Minimum $1,000 (cannot be suspended)
- License Suspension: Mandatory one-year hunting license revocation
- Equipment Loss: Potential firearm confiscation
If caught with night vision equipment or thermal imaging devices, penalties escalate to 6 days minimum jail time and $2,000 minimum fines for first offenses involving prior criminal convictions.
Repeat Offender Escalation
Second and subsequent violations bring minimum 10-day jail sentences, with courts having discretion to impose even harsher penalties. Maine also participates in the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact, meaning hunting privileges revoked in Maine may be suspended in other participating states.
The legal definition of “night hunting” is critical: hunting between 30 minutes after sunset and 30 minutes before sunrise is illegal except for coyotes and raccoons during designated seasons.
Recent Legislative Changes Affecting Hunters
2025 Upland Bird Season Adjustments
Starting January 1, 2025, upland bird season must include the last Saturday in September, but the MDIFW commissioner gains authority to suspend opening day until October 1 to avoid conflicts with moose season. This change resolves conflicts between upland bird and moose hunters who previously had to share the woods during the last full week of September.
Pending Coyote Season Restrictions
Legislative Bill 716 proposes restricting coyote hunting to a single six-month season (October 1-March 31) instead of year-round daytime hunting, with violations triggering $500 fines and mandatory one-year license revocations. This bill would significantly change night hunting opportunities if enacted.
Compliance Strategies Every Hunter Needs
Calculating Exact Hunting Hours
Maine doesn’t publish daily shooting hour tables—hunters must calculate times themselves based on Bangor sunrise/sunset data. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife provides annual legal hunting hour charts showing pre-calculated times for each day.
Smart hunters verify times the night before and set smartphone alarms for legal shooting time. Remember: being wrong about legal hours provides no defense against violations.
Zone-Specific Regulations to Check
Recent changes give the MDIFW commissioner flexibility to adjust season timing to prevent hunter conflicts. Always verify current regulations for your specific Wildlife Management District (WMD) before heading out.
Some municipalities impose additional restrictions beyond state law. Check local ordinances, especially in suburban areas where crossbow use or firearm discharge may have stricter limits regardless of state hunting hours.
Documentation Best Practices
Carry proof of legal hunting hours with you. Take screenshots of official MDIFW hour charts or download the annual hunting law book to your phone. If questioned by game wardens, documentation demonstrates good-faith compliance efforts.
Hunters must register harvested deer and turkey at tagging stations within 18 hours, with tags costing $5. Late registration can trigger separate violations beyond hour restrictions.
Federal vs. State Hour Requirements
Federal migratory bird regulations supersede state law where they’re more restrictive. Maine cannot extend federal waterfowl hunting hours beyond 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset, even though state law allows hunting 30 minutes after sunset for other species.
Federal regulations also control specific waterfowl species bag limits, nontoxic shot requirements, and hunting methods. Hunters pursuing ducks or geese must comply with both federal and state rules—whichever is stricter applies.
Resources for Staying Current on Hunting Hours
The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife publishes comprehensive hunting regulations annually. Their website provides:
- Downloadable legal hunting hour charts
- Wildlife Management District maps
- Season date calendars
- Current regulation updates
- License purchase options
Contact MDIFW directly at 207-287-8000 for specific questions about hunting hours, zone regulations, or compliance requirements. Game wardens can also provide guidance during field encounters—most prefer educating hunters over issuing citations for honest mistakes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I start driving to my hunting spot 30 minutes before legal shooting hours?
Yes. Maine law restricts when you can hunt, not when you can travel to hunting locations. However, having loaded firearms accessible in vehicles before legal hours creates compliance risks. Transport firearms unloaded and cased until reaching your hunting area after legal hours begin.
Do hunting hours change during daylight saving time transitions?
Legal hunting hours remain tied to Bangor sunrise/sunset times regardless of daylight saving time. Times shift naturally with seasonal sun patterns, but the 30-minute buffers stay constant. Be especially cautious during the week after time changes when your internal clock may not match actual legal hours.
Can I hunt on my own property outside legal hours?
No. Maine hunting hour restrictions apply statewide regardless of property ownership. Private landowners must follow the same timing rules as public land hunters. The only exceptions are the specific night hunting seasons for coyotes and raccoons.
What if I shoot an animal right at sunset—can I track and recover it after legal hours?
Maine law recognizes that wounded animals must be recovered. While tracking after hours isn’t explicitly addressed in statutes, hunters have a legal duty to make reasonable efforts to retrieve wounded game. Game wardens generally don’t cite hunters making good-faith recovery efforts immediately after legal hours end, but you cannot continue actively hunting.
Are there different hours for hunting with archery vs. firearms?
No. The standard 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset applies regardless of hunting method. Archery, firearms, and muzzleloader hunters all follow identical hour restrictions for big game.
How do I know if I’m in a designated expanded archery area?
Expanded archery season operates only in designated areas where firearm hunting is unsafe. Check the MDIFW expanded archery zone maps published in the annual hunting regulations. These areas typically include suburban regions near population centers.
Does Sunday hunting prohibition affect legal hours?
Maine prohibits all hunting on Sundays statewide. This means hunting must stop by midnight Saturday and cannot resume until 12:01 AM Monday for night hunting exceptions like coyotes and raccoons. For daytime hunting, Saturday and Monday follow normal legal hours.
Legal Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Hunting regulations change periodically through legislative action and administrative rulemaking. Consult the current Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife hunting regulations or speak with an attorney specializing in hunting law for legal guidance specific to your situation. Contact MDIFW at 207-287-8000 or visit maine.gov/ifw for the most current regulations.
About the Author
Sarah Klein, JD, is a licensed attorney and legal content strategist with over 12 years of experience across civil, criminal, family, and regulatory law. At All About Lawyer, she covers a wide range of legal topics — from high-profile lawsuits and courtroom stories to state traffic laws and everyday legal questions — all with a focus on accuracy, clarity, and public understanding.
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