Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife

Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife Official page of the Maine Dept of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife and the Maine Warden Service Please consider this when creating posts and comments. Keep it legal.

Welcome to the Official page for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife! This page is dedicated to promoting hunting, fishing, wildlife viewing, and enjoying the Maine outdoors as well as sharing information about MDIFW programs and initiatives. If you're looking for the official source of information about MDIFW, please visit our homepage at: www.mefishwildlife.com

Remember

, this page is a family-friendly forum enjoyed by individuals of all ages. All posts and comments must comply with the MDIFW rules for posting and must meet the requirements below. Use appropriate language. Please do not use profanity or crude language. Comments or posts that are graphic, obscene, explicit, abusive, hateful, or potentially libelous will be removed. Don't get yourself into trouble by defaming others, plotting illegal activities such as poaching, or posting other people's private information. Do not create content of a discriminatory or derogatory nature. Rich debate is important and can be done without being offensive, humiliating, or intimidating based on:
race, ethnicity, nationality, or physical characteristics
gender or sexual orientation
religion or non-religious viewpoints
political opinion
Do not advertise commercial products or services. Advertising includes promotion or endorsements of any financial, commercial, or non-governmental agency. NOTE: MDIFW will permanently remove fans who violate these rules. We do our best to keep up with correspondence on our page, but MDIFW does not have the staff resources to always respond to individual posts. For detailed information about fish and wildlife topics, please visit our website or contact us at (207) 287-8000 Monday-Friday from 8am-5pm. Comments submitted on the MDIFW page are considered public records and are subject to public disclosure. If you post comments on the MDIFW page, you are responsible for any information contained in your comments. You participate at your own risk, taking personal responsibility for your comments, your username, and any information provided. We reserve the right to remove any post, comment, photo, video, or link from this page. If you have questions or wish to speak with someone, our contact information is available at: https://www.maine.gov/ifw/about/contact/index.html

Because our page is not monitored 24/7 please remember that if you need immediate assistance from a Maine Game Warden you need to contact your nearest State Police Dispatch center:

Augusta..............................1-800-452-4664
Houlton..............................1-800-924-2261
Bangor................................1-800-432-7381

🦇 It's International Bat Night!From crawling through caves for winter bat surveys to detecting bat ultrasound on rocky s...
08/29/2026

🦇 It's International Bat Night!

From crawling through caves for winter bat surveys to detecting bat ultrasound on rocky slopes, our biologists go all in for Maine bat conservation. You can support bats in your own backyard by committing to a few simple conservation actions. Quit hangin' around and take the pledge:

🌲 Provide habitat by leaving dead trees standing or building a bat house.
🤚 Never touch a bat with my bare hands to keep both myself and bats safe.
🏠 Only remove bat colonies from my home outside of the summer maternity season and winter hibernation season.
🦇 Learn more about bats, and appreciate the ecosystem services they provide.
📋 Report bat colonies in Maine to MDIFW biologists.
😎 Encourage others to take this pledge.

Visit mefishwildlife.com/bats and batcon.org to find species info, bat conflict solutions, and bat house building plans.

Last call for the poult patrol!We’re in the home stretch of the 2026 Wild Turkey August Production Survey. This weekend ...
08/28/2026

Last call for the poult patrol!

We’re in the home stretch of the 2026 Wild Turkey August Production Survey. This weekend is the last chance this year to spread your wings as a wild turkey community scientist.

Log those last-minute sightings at mefishwildlife.com/turkeysurvey. Every brood you count helps keep Maine’s wild turkey data in tip-top shape, and that's something to stand tall and strut about.

Back to school and focused on the future. Send your Junior Game Warden back to class feeling ready for anything in their...
08/27/2026

Back to school and focused on the future.

Send your Junior Game Warden back to class feeling ready for anything in their new MDIFW gear. Our store is stocked with bold looks for youth, built for putting their best boots forward: mefishwildlife.com/store

You’re not seeing double. We’re heading into the second half of Deer Spy 2026!From twins and triplets to solo does and a...
08/27/2026

You’re not seeing double. We’re heading into the second half of Deer Spy 2026!

From twins and triplets to solo does and a buck for good luck, every good day of Maine wildlife watching is a perfect match for community science from now through the end of September. Spending the final days of summer as a Deer Spy is twice as much fun. Help multiply the data for Maine deer management with this simple two-step process:

1️⃣ Watch for deer anywhere in Maine as summer ends and fall begins.
2️⃣ Report your observations at mefishwildlife.com/deerspy.

📷Every fawn photo in the comments is a treat, but please also make your observations official by submitting the online form.

Coyote pups are homeschooled in Maine’s greatest classroom- the wild outdoors. By late summer, the bell has rung, and li...
08/26/2026

Coyote pups are homeschooled in Maine’s greatest classroom- the wild outdoors. By late summer, the bell has rung, and life lessons are in full swing.

🧮 In math class, parents teach pups to calculate the angle and power of pounce. Predator precision comes with paws-on practice. Coyotes earn high marks in ecological excellence.

📖 Communication is at the core of the coyote curriculum. Pups explore language arts throughout a summer of song dog scholarship. Every yip and howl has a meaning!

🍎 It’s off to the habitat lab for science class where pups take notes on nutrition. Fruits, nuts, insects, birds, and mammals, are all building blocks of a balanced coyote diet and self-sufficiency across seasons. A+ for adaptability.

Coyote parents are territorial teachers who defend their student’s need for a place to learn from mistakes on their quest for independence. Simple solutions to safely share space with Maine’s outdoor interns include keeping your distance, removing common attractants, and being a responsible pet owner.

Do your homework at mefishwildlife.com/livingwithcoyotes.

The next step toward opening day: Claim and purchase your antlerless deer permit.📋 Find your name on the lottery list at...
08/24/2026

The next step toward opening day: Claim and purchase your antlerless deer permit.

📋 Find your name on the lottery list at deer.informe.org. If you are a recipient, purchase your permit online by September 10, 2026 at 11:59pm.
🦌 Make note of your permit number which is required when registering a deer.

If you pre-paid at the time of application or are a superpack permit winner, the list will reflect that, and all you need to do is lookup your permit number: deer.web.maine.gov/cgi-bin/online/deer_permit/permit_lookup

📆The next date for your deer calendar: Extra permits (due to more permits than applicants) will be available online on a first come, first served basis starting September 15, 2026.

08/22/2026

Bird hunting with your best friends is the ultimate sign your autumn is on point. 🐶Show us your four-legged partridge partners in the comments!

From the first drop of the tailgate to the last savory taste from the skillet, bird hunting in Maine strips away life’s daily demands, and welcomes you back to simple pleasures - being present in nature, working with dogs fully in their element, and anticipating the rush of thundering wings.

The challenge culminates in the kitchen, swapping stories with your favorite people, and if you’re lucky, sharing a sustainable, self-sourced meal. Let the countdown begin!

✅Plan your season:
Ruffed grouse and woodcock open September 26, 2026. For other season dates and bag limits, to get your hunting license, and to find a place to hunt, visit mefishwildlife.com or explore our app, ME Outdoors.

Recreational target shooting: Fun hobby, serious firepower for wildlife conservation.When habitat restoration, wildlife ...
08/21/2026

Recreational target shooting: Fun hobby, serious firepower for wildlife conservation.

When habitat restoration, wildlife research, hunter education, public land access, and sustainable ecosystems are the targets, recreational shooters step up to the line and make a difference. Here's the connection:

The Pittman-Robertson (PR) Act allocates excise taxes from fi****ms, ammunition, and archery equipment to state conservation programs. For the last 80 years, the echo of every shot at the range has rippled through the state as funding for habitat, wildlife, and Maine's outdoor way of life.

Lock in your place in Maine's conservation community during National Shooting Sports Month. MDIFW ranges are free, open to the public, and offer workshops for new and experienced shooters: mefishwildlife.com/ranges

Forget about foliage (for a minute). The first sign of fall in Maine is bear hunting season.Maine’s fall hunting seasons...
08/20/2026

Forget about foliage (for a minute). The first sign of fall in Maine is bear hunting season.

Maine’s fall hunting seasons kick off with TWO Youth Bear Days on August 28 & 29—giving junior hunters with a valid junior license (or a lifetime license) two dedicated days to hunt before the regular season opens on August 31.

Bear hunting is a Maine tradition, an important wildlife management tool, and a great way to get outdoors with family and friends. Plus, a successful harvest can provide locally sourced protein for the freezer.

🐻 Youth Bear Hunting Days: August 28–29
📅 General Season: August 31–November 28

Learn about season dates, regulations, permits, and more:
mefishwildlife.com/hunt

Respecting private land helps keep Maine's outdoor traditions strong. As hunting season approaches, remember that access...
08/19/2026

Respecting private land helps keep Maine's outdoor traditions strong.

As hunting season approaches, remember that access to private land depends on the relationships we build with landowners. A little courtesy can go a long way.

✅ Always ask permission—and check in each year
✅ Respect landowner requests and preferences
✅ Introduce yourself and communicate clearly
✅ Give back when you can
✅ Know property boundaries
✅ Leave no trace
✅ Follow the law and always say thank you

Together, we can help ensure land access remains available for generations to come.

Learn more and download helpful landowner resources at mefishwildlife.com/outdoorpartners.

Address

353 Water Street
Augusta, ME
04330

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8am - 4:30pm
Friday 8am - 4:30pm

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