This Maine moose guide collects rules in one place: dates, Wildlife Management Districts (WMDs), the bag limit, fees, and licenses, followed by where to hunt. It covers residents and non-residents. Both bull-only seasons have closed, so permit holders get a plan for this week and everyone else gets a plan for the next cycle.
Inside:
- 2026 season dates, open WMDs, and the bag limit at a glance
- Resident vs. non-resident permit, application, and license costs
- Where to hunt: public land, private leases, and registered Maine guides
Maine Moose Season 2026: Quick Overview
Maine’s 2026 moose season includes two bull-only seasons (Sept 28–Oct 3 and Oct 12–17) and one antlerless-only season (Oct 26–31), all by permit only. There are no over-the-counter moose tags. You must be drawn in the Maine moose permit lottery before you can hunt.
| Season | Dates | WMDs | Bag Limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1: Bull-Only | Sept 28 – Oct 3, 2026 | 1–7, 10–13, 15, 18, 19, 27, 28 | 1 moose per calendar year per permittee or sub-permittee | No Sunday hunting statewide; permit + valid Maine hunting license required |
| Season 2: Bull-Only | Oct 12 – Oct 17, 2026 | 1–15, 17–19, 27, 28 | 1 moose per calendar year per permittee or sub-permittee | Widest WMD coverage of the year; no Sunday hunting |
| Season 3: Antlerless-Only | Oct 26 – Oct 31, 2026 | 1–6, 8 | 1 moose per calendar year per permittee or sub-permittee | Open now; northern districts only; no Sunday hunting |
All three 2026 seasons run Monday through Saturday, so the Sunday ban doesn’t remove a hunting day from any season. It does affect travel, scouting, and meat-recovery plans on the weekends before and after.
Before you can hunt, you’ll need:
- A moose permit drawn in the annual lottery, or sub-permittee status named on someone’s permit
- A valid Maine big game hunting license (or archery license, whichever applies) for both the permittee and sub-permittee
- Hunter education completion, which Maine requires to obtain a hunting license, especially for first-time license buyers
- For non-residents, a registered Maine guide
- Registration of any harvested moose at a registration station
If you don’t have a permit this year, you can lock in private ground for deer and bear while you wait on the next draw. Browse Maine hunting leases.
Maine Moose Hunting Seasons
Season 3 is open now (Oct 26–31). Antlerless-only, WMDs 1–6 and 8. No hunting Sunday.
Wildlife Management Districts are the numbered zones Maine uses to set where each permit is valid. Your permit is tied to a specific season and WMD, so confirm both before you head out.
Season 1: Bull-Only (September 28 – October 3, 2026)
Maine’s first 2026 bull-only moose season ran September 28 – October 3 in WMDs 1–7, 10–13, 15, 18, 19, 27, and 28. It has closed. It covers fewer districts than the October bull season.
It falls during peak rut, so calling is the main tactic: bulls are responsive and moving, and cow calls and grunts can bring them in. If you want an early-season hunt next year, select this season when you apply.
Season 2: Bull-Only (October 12 – October 17, 2026)
Maine’s second bull-only moose season ran October 12–17, 2026, in WMDs 1–15, 17–19, 27, and 28, the widest district coverage of the year. It has also closed.
Calling still works but gets less reliable as the rut winds down. Mix calling with glassing and still-hunting near feeding areas. The broader WMD coverage gives next year’s applicants more district options.
Season 3: Antlerless-Only (October 26 – October 31, 2026) — Open Now
Maine’s antlerless-only moose season runs October 26–31, 2026, in WMDs 1–6 and 8 in the northern part of the state, and it opens today. Antlerless permits are a population-management tool, partly shaped by winter tick impacts on Maine’s herd.
By late October, moose are back on feeding areas and calling is used less. Focus on spot-and-stalk hunting along clearcuts, regrowth, and logging roads.
Your checklist for this week:
- Confirm your WMD (1–6 or 8) and carry your permit and license
- Keep your sub-permittee with you while hunting
- Plan around Sunday, Nov 1: no hunting, but use it for travel, meat care, or processing
- Line up game bags, a quartering plan, and cold storage before the first morning
- Know where your nearest registration station is
Maine’s deer season overlaps this window, so many hunters plan both. See our Maine deer hunting season guide.
Bag Limit, Permittees, and Sub-Permittees
The bag limit is 1 moose per calendar year per permittee or sub-permittee. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) states that a person may harvest only one moose per year, “regardless of how many permits they may be listed on.”
A sub-permittee is the one hunting partner you name on your permit, who must hunt with you. Residency doesn’t matter, so a resident can name an out-of-state friend or family member. Either the permittee or the sub-permittee may take the moose, but only one moose is allowed per permit.
Maine Moose Licenses and Permits
Hunting moose in Maine takes a lottery-drawn permit and a valid hunting license. You pay only application fees up front and buy the permit and license after you’re drawn.
Maine Hunting Licenses
The permittee and the sub-permittee each need a valid Maine big game hunting license, or an archery license if hunting with a bow.
| Cost Item | Resident | Non-Resident |
|---|---|---|
| Lottery application fee | $15 | Varies by chances, e.g., 3 chances $25, 6 chances $35, 10 chances $55 |
| Moose permit fee (if drawn) | $52 | $585 |
| Hunting license | See MDIFW | $115 |
| Archery license | See MDIFW | $75 (or $26 for 6-day) |
For residents the cost is modest: $15 to apply and $52 if drawn, plus a license. Non-residents should budget for the permit, a license, and a registered guide. Fees and rules can change, so confirm final details with MDIFW before you buy.
For other Maine license types and seasons, see our Hunting in Maine overview.
Maine Moose Hunting Permits
Maine issues bull-only and antlerless-only permits, each tied to a season and WMD. MDIFW issued 3,705 permits through the 2026 lottery. Resident and non-resident permits are allocated separately, so non-resident applications don’t reduce the number available to residents.
Non-residents can buy additional chances to improve their odds within the non-resident pool. The common advice is to apply every year.
Applications, permits, and licenses all go through MDIFW. Non-residents must hunt with a registered Maine guide, meaning a guide licensed by the state of Maine.
The application process:
- Apply in spring. MDIFW’s application window typically runs April through May. In 2026, applications closed in mid-May and the drawing was in late June.
- Choose your preferences. Pick your preferred season(s) and WMDs, and note whether you’ll accept alternate districts or an antlerless permit.
- Name your sub-permittee. This is the partner who will hunt with you.
- Wait for results. Drawing results typically come in early summer.
- Buy your permit and license. If you’re drawn, purchase both by the stated deadline. In 2026 that was mid-July.
- Scout and hunt. Plan your logistics and hunt your assigned season and WMD.
If you weren’t drawn, put the spring application dates on your calendar now, decide your season and WMD preferences, and line up a sub-permittee. The off-year is a good time to secure land for deer and bear.
Maine Moose: Where to Hunt
Your permit sets your WMD, but where you hunt inside it shapes the week. Maine moose country is mostly vast working forest, and access looks different from public land in other states.
Best Public Lands
Much of northern Maine’s moose range is privately owned commercial forest that is open to public use under access rules, including the North Maine Woods region. What to know:
- North Maine Woods: Vast working forest across northern WMDs, with gated checkpoints and access fees. Check current rules before you go.
- Commercial forest lands: Clearcuts and regrowth create feeding areas, but expect logging traffic and yield to trucks.
- Logging road networks: They help with glassing and spot-and-stalk, but they concentrate hunter pressure.
- Remoteness: Plan for limited cell service, long drives, and meat recovery far from town.
Popular roads and cuts draw pressure, and a lottery permit is never guaranteed. That’s where private ground starts to make sense.
Private Land Hunting with Hunting Locator
With pressured commercial forest and an uncertain lottery, many hunters want ground they can count on every season, not just in a draw year.
Leasing carries a lower upfront commitment and gives you exclusive or limited-access hunting rights for a fee. It suits testing an area or organizing a group. Buying gives you long-term control and recreational value, at a higher cost, and suits hunters committed to the region.
When you evaluate a property, look at:
- Road and property access
- Allowed hunting methods
- Extras such as camping
- Multi-species value: moose in a draw year, plus deer and bear every year
Hunting Locator connects hunters directly with Maine landowners who want to lease or sell land to responsible hunters. The Maine lease page lists properties from landowners ready to lease, searchable by location and game. You can find ground near your WMD, contact landowners, and secure access for deer and bear this year and moose when your permit comes through. Browse Maine hunting leases.
Guided Hunts
Non-residents must hunt with a registered Maine guide. Guides also help residents who are first-timers or short on scouting time.
Guided packages commonly include:
- Lodging
- Meals
- Pre-season scouting
- Field care, quartering, and retrieval
Pricing varies by outfitter, so ask for specifics.
Questions to ask a registered Maine guide:
- Is the guide registered and licensed in Maine?
- Which WMDs do they hunt, and do they have access there?
- What’s included in the package, and what costs extra?
- How do they handle meat recovery, cooling, and processing?
- Can they accommodate my sub-permittee?
- What are the plans for Sunday and travel days?
Many Maine outfitters also run bear hunts. See our Maine black bear hunting season guide.
Moose Hunting Tips
A moose can top 800 pounds, so success depends as much on preparation and recovery as on the shot. The Hunting Locator store is a good place to start for gear.
- Match tactics to your season. Call during the September rut, mix calling and glassing in mid-October, and spot-and-stalk feeding areas in late October.
- Scout your WMD early. Study clearcuts, regrowth, and logging roads before your hunt begins.
- Choose an adequate caliber. Use enough gun and a controlled-expansion bullet for clean, ethical kills.
- Prioritize shot placement. Aim for the vitals and pass on poor angles.
- Bring real recovery gear. Game bags, sharp knives, rope, and a pack frame make the work after the shot far easier.
- Plan meat care fast. Quarter the animal, cool the meat quickly, and arrange cold storage before you hunt.
- Register your moose. Take it to a registration station as required.
- Respect the land and landowners. Leave gates as you found them and yield to logging trucks.
- Use scouting time wisely. Bird season is open while you scout, so see Maine upland bird hunting season.
Gear up at the Hunting Locator store.
More Resources from Hunting Locator
Use these Hunting Locator pages to plan the rest of your Maine hunting year.
Find Land
- Hunting Locator: the main marketplace for leases and land
- Maine hunting leases: private ground from landowners ready to lease
Gear Up
- Hunting Locator store: gear for the field and for recovery
Plan Your Maine Season
- Hunting in Maine: a statewide overview of seasons and licenses
- Maine deer hunting season: dates and rules for whitetail
- Maine black bear hunting season: bear seasons and methods
- Maine moose hunting season: more on moose hunting in Maine
- Maine turkey hunting season: spring and fall turkey details
- Maine upland bird hunting season: grouse and woodcock
- Maine small game hunting season: rabbit, hare, and more
- Maine waterfowl hunting season: ducks and geese
FAQ
When is moose season in Maine in 2026?
Bull-only seasons run Sept 28–Oct 3 and Oct 12–17. The antlerless-only season runs Oct 26–31 in WMDs 1–6 and 8. All three seasons are permit-only, so you must be drawn in the lottery.
Can you hunt moose on Sunday in Maine?
No. Hunting is prohibited statewide on Sundays. The 2026 moose seasons run Monday through Saturday, so use Sundays for travel, scouting, and meat care.
How much is a non-resident moose permit in Maine?
The permit costs $585 if you’re drawn. Add the application fee by chances (3 for $25, 6 for $35, 10 for $55), a license ($115 hunting, or $75 archery and $26 for the 6-day archery license), and a registered guide. Guide costs vary by outfitter.
Do non-residents need a guide to hunt moose in Maine?
Yes. Non-residents must hunt with a registered Maine guide. Packages commonly include lodging, meals, pre-season scouting, and field care, but pricing varies by outfitter.
What is a sub-permittee?
A sub-permittee is the one partner you name on your permit, who must hunt with you. Residency doesn’t matter, so a resident can name an out-of-state partner. Both the permittee and sub-permittee need a valid Maine license.
Can I shoot more than one moose in Maine?
No. MDIFW says a person may harvest only one moose per year, “regardless of how many permits they may be listed on.” The limit is one moose per calendar year per permittee or sub-permittee.
Which WMDs are open for antlerless moose in 2026?
WMDs 1–6 and 8 are open for the antlerless-only season, October 26–31, 2026.
What if I didn’t get drawn?
Apply again in spring, typically April through May. Decide your season and WMD preferences, line up a sub-permittee, and secure private land for deer and bear. Start with Maine hunting leases.
Do I need a license in addition to the permit?
Yes. The permittee and sub-permittee each need a valid Maine hunting or archery license, whichever applies.
The Final Shot
The antlerless season runs through October 31 in WMDs 1–6 and 8, with no hunting on Sunday and a bag limit of one moose. Residents pay $15 to apply and $52 if drawn. Non-residents pay $585 if drawn and need a registered guide.
Permit holders should hunt ethically and safely this week. Everyone else can mark the spring application window now and use the off-year to secure ground that works every season, including years without a draw. Find land through Maine hunting leases and browse land for sale on Hunting Locator. If you own land in Maine, you can list it and connect with responsible hunters.
Confirm final details with MDIFW before you buy.
