A new law, which began Jan. 1, 2020, and lasts through Dec. 31, 2022, expands crossbow hunting to the regular October archery season on deer, October 2 to 29, 2021.
This gives hunters an additional hunting opportunity and especially for hunters who receive a bonus antlerless deer permit, additional time to try to harvest two deer over the course of Maine's deer hunting seasons.
Hunters must obtain a crossbow hunting permit. A person using a crossbow during the open archery season may not harvest an antlerless deer unless that person possesses an antlerless deer permit. To see the exception for those 65 years of age or older and persons with a special permanent disability permit, click here to read the Crossbow fact sheet.
Unless you are 65 years of age or older, or have a special permanent disability permit to hunt with a crossbow, you may NOT hunt deer with a crossbow during the muzzleloader season or during the expanded archery season, except during the regular October archery season
To hunt with a crossbow, you must successfully complete a crossbow hunting education program in addition to completing an archery hunting education program or a firearms hunter safety course. There is no set order in which the courses must be taken.
Crossbow hunter safety courses are now available online or in person.
To purchase a crossbow hunting permit, hunters must first purchase a valid hunting license (big game license for big game species or small game license for turkey and small game species) and must provide satisfactory evidence of completing the required courses.
To access the online hunting, fishing, and trapping licensing system, available to any resident or non-resident sportsperson looking to hunt, fish or trap in the state of Maine, click here.