Hunting in Maine: 3 Animals To Hunt in the Spring

As the snow melts and new vegetation sprouts, changes also show up in the available choices of wild game for hunting in Maine. Here are three animals that can be legally hunted during springtime months in the Pine Tree State.

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1. Wild Turkey
Wild turkey might not have been part of the very first Thanksgiving celebration, but the bird was extremely plentiful at the time the Pilgrims first landed in the New World. Wild turkey remains so popular in Maine that, these days, the state allocates two seasons for hunting: spring and fall. In October, fall hunters in much of the state can use a choice of shotgun or bow and arrow to square off against turkeys of any gender and age. Then, in the spring, hunters can choose a shotgun, bow and arrow, or crossbow to pursue bearded males only. The daily bag limit is one or two turkeys, depending on individual Wildlife Management District (WMD), according to the State of Maine’s tentative hunting schedule for 2015.

2. Crow
Because of their high metabolic rate, crows are constantly searching for food, making them very vulnerable to hunters, according to Grandview Outdoors. Maine has designating several seasons for pursuing the birds. Like most animals, crow can be harvested throughout the year in Maine by hunters with archery licenses. However, in the case of crow, guns can be used during multiple seasons. In WMDs 1 through 6, the firearms season generally takes place from early August through late September and again from early February through mid-April. In other WMDs, the firearms season runs from early August through late September and again from late January to the end of March.

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3. Coyote (Day and Night)
Like the woodchuck, porcupine and red squirrel, the coyote stands out as an exception in Maine hunting rules. These four animals can be hunted at any time of year with either firearms or bow and arrow. However, out of the four, only the coyote can be hunted at night. Whether by day or night, coyotes can be tough to harvest because the animals move swiftly. However, some hunters make money off of the kill by selling coyote hides for as much as $50 each, according to Foremost Coyote Hunting.

The night season runs for about eight months of the year, from mid-December through the end of August. A special license is required for night hunting. You may hunt coyote at night from sunset until midnight. Keep in mind, however, that hunting any animal on Sunday is illegal in the State of Maine.

This article is for information only. Please check current regulations before hunting.

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