Expanded Archery Season on Deer

Expanded Archery Season:

The expanded archery program was established to provide additional deer hunting opportunities in locations where deer populations can withstand additional hunting pressure without negatively impacting other existing deer hunting opportunities or human safety and where hunting opportunity or harvest potential are limited by a number of factors, most commonly discharge ordinances limiting the use of firearms for deer hunting. Most of the expanded archery areas are characterized by high levels of residential development interspersed with small woodlots, and many areas within them cannot be hunted with firearms due to municipal ordinances banning the discharge of firearms. Many of Maine’s coastal islands are also part of the expanded archery program; these areas have low harvest potential associated with difficulty getting to the islands, and it is important to maximize hunting opportunity in these areas to try and keep island deer populations in check.

Most lands in the expanded archery areas are privately owned, and some are not deer habitat. Parts are unhuntable due to the existence of sanctuaries, municipal ordinances against archery discharge, or simply because individual landowners do not support hunting on their lands. We strongly urge all hunters to obtain landowner permission during the expanded archery season.

Regulations Summary:

Restricted to designated areas only. View expanded archery zone map or see descriptions below

Hunting with bow and arrow or crossbow only, and deer taken as expanded archery kills must be taken under the authority of expanded archery permits.

Hunters who have a valid archery license will be able to purchase multiple expanded archery antlerless permits for $12.00 each, and one expanded archery either-sex permit (allows either an antlered or antlerless deer but not both) for $32.00. Note: One expanded archery antlerless deer permit, and one expanded archery either-sex permit (allows either an antlered or antlerless deer but not both) are included with the following licenses:

  • Maine Junior Hunting License
  • Maine Resident Over 70 Lifetime License
  • Maine Complimentary Disabled Veterans License
  • Maine Native American License

One expanded archery either-sex permit and three expanded archery antlerless deer permits are included with the following licenses:

  • Maine Super Pack License

Limit: One buck and/or multiple antlerless deer (with appropriate expanded archery permits).

Deer must be legally transported and registered as for other deer seasons.

All other archery deer hunting laws apply.

Expanded Archery Areas:

Interactive and PDF maps are generally representative of the expanded archery boundaries; however, when hunting near boundaries or when uncertain about boundaries, the written boundary descriptions are the legal boundary descriptions and should be consulted rather than the maps.

View expanded archery zone map

*Coastal islands of WMD 27 and WMD 29 are not included in the interactive GIS map, please refer to written descriptions of these areas by clicking links below.

Augusta Area: Parts of the towns of Augusta, Chelsea, Farmingdale, Gardiner, Hallowell, and West Gardiner. Important Note: Within the city limits of Augusta, you must obtain a permit from the Augusta Police Department in order to participate in the Expanded Archery Deer Season. Bow hunters are encouraged to contact the Hallowell Police Department for information on municipal ordinances affecting the discharge and possession of a bow and arrow in Hallowell.

Bangor Area: Parts of the towns of Bangor, Brewer, Hampden, Hermon, Old Town, Orono and Veazie.

Castine Area: The part of Castine south of the "British Canal." Important Note: Hunters are encouraged to obtain a hunt map and other helpful information from the Castine town office.

Coastal Islands of WMD 27: Coastal islands of WMD 27 not connected to the mainland at low tide or by man-made structures. WMDs 27 and 29 are not included in the interactive GIS map, please refer to written descriptions of these areas.

Deer Isle and Stonington Area: Those portions of Deer Isle and Stonington that are connected to the mainland by low tide or manmade structure.

Eastport Area: Those portions of Eastport that are connected to the mainland by low tide or manmade structure, except those excluded within the boundary description.

Lewiston Area: Parts of the towns of Auburn, Hebron, Lewiston, Lisbon, Minot, and Sabattus.

Waterville Area: Parts of the towns of Benton, Fairfield, Oakland, Waterville and Winslow. Important Note: Bow hunters are encouraged to contact the Waterville police Department for information on municipal ordinances affecting the discharge and possession of a bow and arrow in Waterville.

South Coastal Area: Part of the town of Bucksport. Parts of the town of Elliot, Kittery, and South Berwick. Parts of the town of Cumberland, Falmouth, North Yarmouth, Portland, Scarborough, South Portland, Westbrook, Windham, and Yarmouth. Parts of the Towns of Camden, Owl's Head, Rockland, Rockport, and Thomaston. Certain areas of WMD 24.

For approximate illustrated boundaries, refer to the interactive GIS Map. For Legal Boundaries, refer to the written boundary description.

Notes: The discharge of firearms and archery hunting equipment is prohibited by ordinance in the entire city of Portland. This eliminates the possibility of hunting deer anywhere in Portland (including coastal islands) at this time. The Beauchamp Point Sanctuary is open to archery hunting of deer during any open hunting season that allows archery equipment to hunt deer. Hunters of the Bucksport expanded archery area are encouraged to obtain information from the Bucksport town office.

WMD 29: WMD 29 with some exceptions. WMDs 27 and 29 are not included in the interactive GIS map, please refer to written descriptions of these areas.