AUGUSTA, Maine — On Saturday, Oct. 20, young hunters across the state get their own day to hunt deer.
“Hunting provides valuable lessons about conservation, responsibility, patience and respect for our natural resources,” said Chandler Woodcock, Commissioner, Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, “and taking a young hunter on youth day provides an opportunity to teach a young hunter about the Maine outdoors.”
A junior hunter on this day can take one deer of either sex in a Wildlife Management District where Any Deer permits were issued. In WMDs where there are no Any Deer permits issued, junior hunters may only take an antlered deer. All laws pertaining to hunting during the open firearms season on deer apply on the youth deer day.
Junior hunters who hold a valid junior hunting license (including a lifetime license) can participate in the youth deer day hunt. Junior hunters must be under the supervision of an adult supervisor who is the parent or guardian of the junior hunter and holds or has held a valid Maine hunting license or successfully completed a hunter safety course; or, a junior hunter can be under the supervision of a person 18 years of age or older who is approved by the parent or guardian of the junior hunter; and holds or has held a valid Maine hunting license or successfully completed a hunter safety course.
In addition, Hunters from 10-15 years of age must be in the presence of, and under the effective control of, an adult supervisor. Hunters under the age of 10 must be in the presence of, and under the effective control of, an adult supervisor who remains at all times within 20 feet of the hunter.
If a junior hunter is continuing to hunt on a junior license and has turned 16 they may hunt on youth hunting days. If that 16 year old who is hunting with a junior hunting license has completed their hunter safety course they still must have adult supervision on the youth days only.
For more information on Youth Day, please visit https://www.maine.gov/ifw/hunting-trapping/hunting-laws/junior-hunters.html.
For more complete listing of hunting regulations, please visit https://www.maine.gov/ifw/maine-outdoors-laws.html. You can also download a searchable hunting lawbook right to your smartphone. It’s easy, convenient, searchable and readily available on your phone whenever you need it.
Hunters can also transfer their Any Deer permits or Bonus Deer permit to a junior hunter, or any other hunter. Certain restrictions apply, including that a resident permit may only be transferred to another resident, and a nonresident permit may only be transferred to another nonresident. This can be done until 11:59 p.m. on October 22.
For more information on how to swap or transfer your permit, please visit https://apps1.web.maine.gov/online/any_deer_transfer_swap/.
If you plan to take a young hunter out on youth deer day, remember, preseason scouting can be critical in the success of any hunt, and scouting should include seeking landowner permission on the land you want to hunt. Asking for permission only takes a minute, and the time that it takes benefits both you and the future of hunting.
