Furbearers & Other Species Hunting

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Furbearers Permits & Licenses

Bobcat Hunting

Hunters must tag bobcat within 10 days of when the animal was harvested. Bobcat can only be tagged by MDIFW staff. A lower lateral incisor, lower canine tooth, or lower jaw and tissue sample (small piece of tongue) should be submitted when the bobcat is tagged. Biologists use this information to determine the age and sex of the bobcats harvested.

Bobcat jar

Lateral incisors are very small and easy to extract when animal is fresh by running a knife down each side of the tooth. Replacement teeth or age results can be requested by including name and contact information with your sample.

Coyote Hunting

A Coyote Night Hunting Permit is available for $4* and allows a person to hunt coyote at night from December 16 - August 31. "At night" means a 1/2 hour after sunset until 1/2 hour before sunrise. To hunt coyotes at night, hunters must be in possession of a predator calling device (electronic, hand-held, or mouth-operated). The use of artificial lights to hunt coyote at night is permitted. The use of dogs to hunt coyote at night is prohibited. *Plus agent fee.

Gifting Coyotes

The Department allows the gifting of unregistered coyotes. A tag must be attached to each gifted coyote with the name and hunting or trapping license number of the person who harvested the coyote, the harvest method (hunt or trap), harvest date, and harvest town. This information must be presented accurately to the tagging agent when the animal is registered.

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Other Species Permits & Licenses

Crows

Crows are neither migratory waterfowl nor migratory game birds. The use of lead shot and shotguns capable of holding more than three shells is permitted. A migratory waterfowl stamp is not required.

Falconry License

A falconry license, in addition to a regular hunting license, is required of persons who engage in falconry. Copies of the regulations pertaining to this type of hunting are available upon request. To obtain a falconry license, contact MDIFW.

Pheasant Permit

A Pheasant Permit is required for hunters 16 years of age or older hunting on an adult license, in order to hunt or possess pheasant in Cumberland and York counties (permit is not required to hunt or possess pheasant throughout the remainder of the State). Revenue derived from this permit is dedicated to the acquisition of pheasants which are raised and released by private fish and game clubs in partnership with MDIFW.

Learn more about Maine's pheasant hunting program and see current pheasant stocking sites.

New England Cottontail Rabbits

If you are hunting in southern Maine, MDIFW would like to know if you accidentally take or see New England cottontail rabbits. Cottontail rabbits are smaller than snowshoe hare, have hind feet less than 4 inches in length, and do not turn white in the winter. Their coat remains brown all year round. This is Maine’s only native rabbit and IFW is actively trying to restore its population. Identifying new areas where the rabbit occurs could greatly benefit restoration efforts. Please let us know about any rabbits you see by contacting a biologist in your region.

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2023-2024 Other Species Seasons and Bag Limits

Seasons WMDs Dates Limits
First Day Last Day Daily Bag Possession
Ruffed Grouse & Bobwhite Quail All September 30, 2023 December 30, 2023 4 8
Pheasant All September 30, 2023 December 30, 2023 2 4
Crow See Migratory Game Birds Seasons & Bag Limits
Gray Squirrel All September 30, 2023 December 30, 2023 4 8
Gray Squirrel (Falconry) All September 30, 2023 February 28, 2024 4 8
Snowshoe Hare All September 30, 2023 March 30, 2024 4 8
Season on Island of Vinalhaven September 30, 2023 February 28, 2024
Bobcat All December 1, 2023 February 21, 2024 No Limit
Fox All October 16, 2023 February 28, 2024 No Limit
Raccoon All October 2, 2023 December 31, 2023 No Limit
Skunk, Opossum All October 16, 2023 December 30, 2023 No Limit
Coyote All During daylight hunting hours
No Closed Season for Hunting
No Limit
Night hunting
December 16, 2023 - August 31, 2024
Woodchuck, Porcupine, Red Squirrel All No Closed Season
Spruce Grouse, Lynx, Cottontail Rabbit No Open Season for Hunting

Note: Except for migratory game birds, there is no hunting season on any species of bird or animal which is not listed above. All dates are inclusive except that hunting is prohibited on Sunday.

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