The state would open six wildlife management districts to allow shooting a deer of either sex this fall if the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife adopts a proposed rule.
The open districts would be WMD 21-25 and 29 and would only require a regular hunting license.
The state’s annual deer hunt attracts thousands of hunters to the woods from Maine and across the continent, which helps boost the economy while it also manages the herd.
The department also is proposing reducing the number of antlerless deer permits from 128,030 in 2024 to 123,695 in 2025. The antlerless deer permits have not sold out the last two years for all of the districts where they were available.
Under the proposed rule, WMDs 1,2,4 and 5 would be open to bucks only and antlerless permits would be reduced in the WMDs where it would be legal to kill either a doe or buck on a regular hunting license.
As in 2024, all WMDs would be open to hunting antlerless deer without a permit during the youth and regular archery seasons.
The state determines the number of antlerless deer permits and other hunting season regulations based on data gathered during the previous year, including how many yearlings and fawns are around, how many deer were killed and how old they were, the severity of the winter and other factors.
The public hearing will be held at 4 p.m. Tuesday, June 10, at DIF&W, 353 Water St., third floor conference room, Augusta. The comment deadline is June 20. A complete copy of the proposed rule may be requested from and comments may be submitted to Becky Orff, Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, 41 State House Station, 353 Water St., Augusta, Maine 04333; phone: 207-287-5202; email: [email protected]
