How Much Does a Maine Hunting License Cost?
A Maine hunting license runs $26 a year for residents and $115 a year for non-residents, per the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW). That figure covers the base Big Game license only. Bear, turkey, and moose each require their own permit purchased on top of it.
Maine's license structure branches more than most states, with separate categories for junior hunters, archery-only hunters, and anyone combining hunting with fishing privileges. Add a lottery-only moose permit that can run into the hundreds of dollars if you're drawn, and the total cost of a Maine season varies widely depending on what you're after.
Here's a full breakdown of what hunting actually costs in Maine, license by license and permit by permit.
How Much Does a Maine Hunting License Cost?
Maine sells more license variations than many states, split by age, weapon type, and whether fishing is bundled in.
Common Maine Hunting License Fees | ||
| License Type | Resident | Non-Resident |
| Junior Hunting License (Under 16) | $8.00 | $35.00 |
| Big Game Hunting License (16 and older) | $26.00 | $115.00 |
| Small Game Hunting License (16 and older) | $15.00 | $75.00 |
| Combination Hunting and Fishing License | $48.00 | $169.00 |
| Archery License | $26.00 | $75.00 |
| Apprenticeship Hunter License | $26.00 | $115.00 |
A resident Junior Hunting License bundles in nearly every species permit at no extra charge, including muzzleloader, turkey, bear, and one expanded archery antlerless deer permit, making it one of the better values on this list.
Required Stamps and Permits
Once you've settled on a license, several species require their own separate permit before you can pursue them.
Maine Hunting Stamps | ||
| Item | Resident | Non-Resident |
| Muzzleloading Permit | $13.00 | $69.00 |
| Spring/Fall Turkey Permit | $20.00 | $20.00 |
| Moose Permit (if drawn) | $52.00 | $585.00 |
Moose permits are allocated through an annual lottery rather than sold over the counter, so budgeting for one only matters if your name comes up.
Youth and Discounted Licenses
Maine's discount structure leans heavily on age brackets for long-term residents.
- Resident hunters turning 65 through 69: These hunters qualify for a graduated senior lifetime license, priced from $50 the year they turn 65 down to $10 the year they turn 69.
- Residents 70 and older: These residents pay a flat one-time $8 fee for a lifetime license covering hunting, fishing, archery, and trapping, with no further renewals ever required.
- Disabled veterans with a 50% or greater service-connected disability: Disabled vets receive a complimentary license covering nearly every privilege and permit MDIFW offers.
What Is a Maine Hunting License?
A Maine hunting license is the base document MDIFW requires before you can legally pursue game in the state. It doesn't include everything: bear, turkey, and moose each need their own permit purchased separately once you hold a valid license.
Your Hunter Education Certificate works on its own timeline. It's a one-time credential that lasts for life once earned, while your hunting license has to be renewed every calendar year regardless of certification status.
Who Needs a Maine Hunting License?
Maine requires a hunting license for anyone who hunts wild birds or animals in the state, with hunter education layered on based on hunting history rather than a simple age cutoff.
One notable exception: resident landowners hunting their own land of 10 or more contiguous acres can hunt without a license at all.
MDIFW's licenses and permits page breaks down every license type in more detail if you want to confirm which category fits your situation.
What Are the Requirements to Get a License?
Maine ties its hunter education rule to whether you've held an adult license before, not to your current age, so it's worth checking your own history before assuming a requirement applies to you.
Anyone applying for an adult firearms license must complete an approved hunter education course, unless they can show proof of having held an adult firearms license in any year since 1976.
The Maine hunter safety course covers:
- Firearm and bowhunting safety
- Wildlife identification and Maine-specific ethics
- Map and compass use and outdoor survival basics
Maine's requirement splits by registration age. The Hunter-Ed Maine course lets hunters 16 and older print a certificate immediately after the online exam, while anyone who registers before turning 16 also needs a required in-person Skills and Exam Day.
How to Get a Maine Hunting License
Maine's process shifts slightly depending on your age and hunting history, but most hunters follow the same basic path.
- Complete hunter education unless you've held an adult firearms license in any year since 1976, and attend the Skills and Exam Day if you registered before turning 16.
- Choose your license type: Junior, Big Game, Small Game, Combination, Archery, or Apprenticeship.
- Gather proof of residency and a government-issued photo ID before applying.
- Add any species-specific permit you need for bear, turkey, or muzzleloader season.
- Apply separately for a moose permit through the spring lottery if that's part of your plans.
- Carry your license, permits, and Hunter Education Certificate any time you're in the field.
Purchase your license through MDIFW's online MOSES system, by mail, or through an approved license agent statewide.
Why It's Important to Have a License
Buying a Maine hunting license supports more than a single season in the woods. It also supports:
- Legal Compliance: Hunting violations in Maine, including closed-season and baiting offenses, often carry mandatory license revocation ranging from one year up to ten years for the most serious cases.
- Wildlife Conservation Funding: License and permit revenue funds MDIFW's ongoing management of deer, bear, moose, and turkey populations statewide.
- Population Management: Maine's lottery-based moose permit system and species-specific tags give MDIFW the data it needs to keep herds and flocks balanced across wildlife management districts.
- Ethical Hunting: Tying every hunt to a license and permit keeps take within legal seasons and bag limits, protecting the sport's long-term health.
- Public Land Access: License revenue helps maintain public hunting access across Maine's forests, wildlife management areas, and waterways.
Season dates and bag limits shift by species and district, so check MDIFW's current season dates page before finalizing your plans.
Note: hunting license costs and requirements vary widely by state, so don't assume Maine's rules mirror another state you've hunted in before.
Ready to Hunt in Maine? Get Your Hunter Safety Certification and Hunting License
A Maine hunting license stays affordable at $26 for residents, but the real cost climbs once you're chasing bear, turkey, or a coveted moose tag through the lottery. Knowing which license and permits match your plans ahead of time keeps the total bill predictable, whether you're a first-time Junior License holder or a non-resident budgeting for the full $585 moose permit.
Confirm your hunter education status first, pick the license type that fits how you plan to hunt, and you'll be ready for opening day.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: How much does a hunting license cost in Maine?
A: A resident Big Game hunting license in Maine costs $26, while a non-resident annual license costs $115, both valid through the calendar year. Species-specific permits cost extra, ranging from a $20 turkey permit to a $585 non-resident moose permit if drawn through the lottery.
Q: Do I need hunter education to hunt in Maine?
A: Yes, Maine requires hunter education for anyone applying for an adult firearms hunting license who hasn't previously held one. Hunters who can show proof of holding an adult firearms license in any year since 1976 are exempt from the requirement regardless of their current age.
Q: Is an in-person component required for the online hunter safety course in Maine?
A: It depends on your age at registration. Hunters 16 and older can complete the course fully online, while anyone who registers before turning 16 must also attend a required in-person Skills and Exam Day that runs 6 to 7 hours.
Q: Can I hunt in Maine without buying a license at all?
A: Resident landowners hunting on their own land of 10 or more contiguous acres can hunt without a license, though hunter education is still encouraged. Nearly everyone else who hunts wild birds or animals in Maine needs a valid license regardless of age.
Q: Does Maine's hunter education certificate work in other states?
A: Yes, a Maine Hunter Education Certificate is accepted anywhere in the U.S. or Canada with a mandatory requirement recognized by IHEA-USA. That reciprocity runs both directions, so an out-of-state certificate typically satisfies Maine's requirement as well.
Q: How much does a moose permit cost in Maine if you're drawn?
A: A Maine moose permit costs $52 for residents and $585 for non-residents if selected through the annual spring lottery. Permits aren't sold over the counter, so budgeting for one only becomes relevant if your name is actually drawn.
