Maine Hunting Laws
Maine sets no minimum caliber for centerfire deer and bear rifles or handguns, but bans .17/.22 rimfire cartridges outright for bear and for deer except the .22 WMR. Autoloading firearms used for hunting are capped at a 5-round magazine, and firearm-season deer hunters must wear a hunter-orange hat plus a torso garment that is at least 50% hunter orange.
Every rule below cites the official regulation. Last verified August 30, 2026.
At a glance
Check a cartridge in Maine
Pick a state, species, and weapon — add a cartridge for a full check.
Sourced rules
Every row cites the controlling regulation and the date we verified it.
Air Gun
1 rule| Species | Rule | Citation | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Game |
Air guns and pellet guns are legal for small-game hunting in Maine. Because Maine's statutory 'firearm' definition explicitly covers compressed-air/gas guns, general firearm hunting rules (magazine caps, legal hours, felon-possession bans, etc.) apply to them too; MDIFW has not published a separate airgun caliber or energy minimum.
"Is it legal to hunt small game with a pellet gun or air gun in Maine? Yes. ... The definition of Firearm in title 12 laws includes pellet/ air guns. Laws that pertain to the use of firearms also apply to pellet/ air g..." |
FAQ — Pellet guns / air guns | Aug 2026 |
All weapons
3 rules| Species | Rule | Citation | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
During firearm and muzzleloader deer season, two articles of hunter orange are required: a solid orange hat plus a torso garment that's at least 50% hunter orange. Archery-only hunters are exempt (orange is recommended, not required).
"One article must be a solid-colored hunter orange hat; the other must cover a major portion of the torso, such as a jacket, vest, coat or poncho and must be a minimum of 50% hunter orange in color." |
Laws Pertaining to Hunting Equipment — Hunter Orange | Aug 2026 |
| All species |
Maine no longer requires a state permit to hunt with a suppressor; hunters must still hold the federal ATF tax stamp for the suppressor itself.
"Hunting with suppressors no longer requires a state permit." |
Laws Pertaining to Hunting Equipment — Suppressors | Aug 2026 |
| All species |
Electronic calls may be used for most game in Maine; they remain prohibited for migratory game birds under federal law.
"Electronic calling devices are legal except for migratory game birds." |
Laws Pertaining to Hunting Equipment — Electronic Calls | Aug 2026 |
Handgun
3 rules| Species | Rule | Citation | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Deer may not be hunted with .17 or standard .22 rimfire cartridges; .22 WMR (rimfire magnum) is the one rimfire round allowed.
"A person may not hunt deer with any firearms using a .17 or .22 caliber rimfire cartridge, except that the use of the .22 caliber rimfire magnum cartridge is not prohibited." |
12 MRS §11454 | Aug 2026 |
| Black Bear |
Bear may not be hunted with .17 or .22 rimfire firearms (no .22 WMR exception here, unlike deer) or with a shotgun loaded with shot rather than slugs.
"A person may not use a .17 or .22 caliber rimfire firearm or a shotgun using shot loads to hunt bear." |
12 MRS §11305(1) | Aug 2026 |
| All species |
Autoloading firearms used for hunting may not carry a magazine holding more than 5 cartridges unless permanently altered down to that capacity; exempt are .22 rimfire (or smaller) guns and autoloading pistols with barrels under 8 inches.
"Use for hunting or possess for hunting any autoloading firearm having a magazine capacity of more than 5 cartridges." |
12 MRS §11214(1)(B) | Aug 2026 |
Muzzleloader
3 rules| Species | Rule | Citation | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Deer muzzleloaders must be at least .40 caliber and capable of firing only a single charge.
"40 caliber or greater" |
12 MRS §11404 | Aug 2026 |
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Legal ignition types include flintlock and any caplock design, including modern in-line and primer-fired muzzleloaders.
"capable of being loaded only through the muzzle; is ignited by a matchlock, wheel lock, flintlock or caplock, including an in-line caplock or a shotgun or rifle primer ignition system" |
12 MRS §10001(42-A) — definition of 'Muzzleloader' | Aug 2026 |
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Unlike many states, Maine allows scopes (not just open or aperture sights) on a standard muzzleloader used to hunt deer.
"may have any type of sights, including scopes" |
12 MRS §10001(42-A) — definition of 'Muzzleloader' | Aug 2026 |
Rifle
5 rules| Species | Rule | Citation | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed / Mule Deer | No minimum caliber — any centerfire rifle cartridge is legal for deer or bear; only .17/.22 rimfire cartridges are barred (see rimfire rules). | 12 MRS §11454; §11305 | Aug 2026 |
| Black Bear | No minimum caliber — any centerfire rifle cartridge is legal for deer or bear; only .17/.22 rimfire cartridges are barred (see rimfire rules). | 12 MRS §11454; §11305 | Aug 2026 |
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Deer may not be hunted with .17 or standard .22 rimfire cartridges; .22 WMR (rimfire magnum) is the one rimfire round allowed.
"A person may not hunt deer with any firearms using a .17 or .22 caliber rimfire cartridge, except that the use of the .22 caliber rimfire magnum cartridge is not prohibited." |
12 MRS §11454 | Aug 2026 |
| Black Bear |
Bear may not be hunted with .17 or .22 rimfire firearms (no .22 WMR exception here, unlike deer) or with a shotgun loaded with shot rather than slugs.
"A person may not use a .17 or .22 caliber rimfire firearm or a shotgun using shot loads to hunt bear." |
12 MRS §11305(1) | Aug 2026 |
| All species |
Autoloading firearms used for hunting may not carry a magazine holding more than 5 cartridges unless permanently altered down to that capacity; exempt are .22 rimfire (or smaller) guns and autoloading pistols with barrels under 8 inches.
"Use for hunting or possess for hunting any autoloading firearm having a magazine capacity of more than 5 cartridges." |
12 MRS §11214(1)(B) | Aug 2026 |
Shotgun
2 rules| Species | Rule | Citation | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wild Turkey |
Standard lead turkey loads: shot sizes 4-6 (or mixed loads down to 7) in 10-20 gauge shotguns. Tungsten Super Shot (TSS) loads in 10-28 gauge, including .410, may additionally use shot sizes 7-9.
"A person can use shotgun gauges 10 through 20, using shot sizes 4 through 6 or mixed loads that include shot sizes 4 through 7." |
Wild Turkey Hunting — Legal Hunting Equipment | Aug 2026 |
| Waterfowl |
Nontoxic shot is required for ducks, geese, brant, rails, and coots; woodcock and snipe are exempt. Maine has no separate statewide nontoxic mandate for deer, turkey, or general upland/WMA hunting beyond this federal-aligned waterfowl rule.
"The use or possession of ammunition loaded with other than nontoxic shot while hunting wild ducks, geese, brant, rails, or coots is prohibited." |
Migratory Game Birds — Nontoxic Shot | Aug 2026 |
Federal rules that apply in every state
These federal requirements apply in Maine on top of state law.
Federal law: only USFWS-approved nontoxic shot may be used — or even possessed — while hunting waterfowl, coots, and aggregate-bag species.
50 CFR § 20.21(j)(1)–(3)
Federal law: shotguns for migratory birds are limited to 3 shells total (magazine + chamber) with a one-piece plug; limited light-goose and September Canada goose season exceptions exist.
50 CFR § 20.21(b)
Federal law: shotguns for migratory birds may be no larger than 10 gauge.
50 CFR § 20.21(a)
Federal law prohibits taking migratory birds with a rifle, pistol, or fully automatic firearm.
50 CFR § 20.21(a)
On Waterfowl Production Areas and designated National Wildlife Refuge lands, possessing shot other than approved nontoxic shot is prohibited; individual refuges may impose stricter rules.
50 CFR § 32.2(k)
Sources
Deer Hunting: Laws & Rules
Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife · retrieved August 30, 2026
FAQ: Programs & Resources
Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife · retrieved August 30, 2026
Laws Pertaining to Hunting Equipment
Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife · retrieved August 30, 2026
Migratory Game Birds: Laws & Rules
Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife · retrieved August 30, 2026
Title 12, §10001: Definitions
Maine Legislature · retrieved August 30, 2026
Title 12, §11214: Unlawful use or possession of implements or aids
Maine Legislature · retrieved August 30, 2026
Title 12, §11305: Unlawful firearms for hunting bear
Maine Legislature · retrieved August 30, 2026
Title 12, §11404: Muzzle-loading-only deer hunting season
Maine Legislature · retrieved August 30, 2026
Title 12, §11454: Hunting deer with .22 caliber rimfire cartridge
Maine Legislature · retrieved August 30, 2026
Wild Turkey Hunting: Laws & Rules
Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife · retrieved August 30, 2026
Sources & methodology
Rules on this page are verified against state statutes, administrative code, official agency regulation digests, and federal regulations — never forums, retailer blogs, or hunter-ed course summaries. Rules we could not yet pin to a primary source are labeled needs review and never produce a green "legal" answer. Cartridge energy figures used by the checker are typical factory-load values; where a rule sets an energy or bullet-weight floor, verify your specific load's manufacturer rating.
Legal disclaimer — please read
This page is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Hunting regulations change every season, vary by zone, season, land type, and county ordinance, and are interpreted by the state's enforcement officers — not by this page.
- Confirm every rule in the current official Maine hunting regulations before your hunt.
- Check season dates, license and tag requirements, zone boundaries, and local ordinances — this page covers equipment rules only.
- When in doubt, contact Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife directly.
The controlling document is the regulation, not this page. We disclaim all liability for reliance on it.