Most people who hunt and fish and feed their bodies and souls with the freedom and solitude found in the woods of Maine, have little patience with too many rules and regulations. But, alas, it is the times in which we live, and there is no getting away from red tape. And if you are an ethical, law-abiding sportsman there is no choice but to heave a big salutory sigh – and get familiar with the lawbook.

Getting the season dates nailed down is the first challenge. The firearms season for deer starts, for Maine residents only, on Oct. 27th. For all other deer hunters, opening day on whitetails is Monday, Oct 29. The general firearms season on deer ends Nov. 24th this year. This year’s Youth Deer Hunting Day is Oct. 20th. The blackpowder season for deer starts Nov. 26 and ends Dec. 1. In some Wildlife Management Districts (WMDs), the blackpowder season extends to Dec. 8. (Check your lawbook for the WMDs). The statewide archery season for deer is Sept. 27-Oct. 26.

Hunting deer with crossbows is permitted this year during the regular firearms season only. You must have passed a sanctioned crossbow education course from a certified instructor before hunting with crossbows. They are not legal devices during the blackpowder season.

The moose season for permit holders is Sept. 24-Sept. 29 in WMDs 1-6, and WMDs 11 and 19. The other moose season is Oct. 8-Oct 13. Moose hunters are required to wear hunter orange. If you are hunting upland birds in a moose hunting area during the moose week, you are also required to wear one piece of hunter orange. Speaking of upland birds, the grouse season this year is Oct. 1-Dec. 31. The proposal to shorten the Maine grouse season this year did not pass muster with state policymakers, which is probably just as well. (This would have required another stick-on correction to the late-arriving hunting lawbooks.).

As most of you know, the woodcock is a migratory bird. You don’t need a migratory stamp to hunt the timberdoodles, but you must have a plug in your shotgun that allows only three shells in your gun. Remember that, while its okay to shoot a grouse a half hour after sunset, all woodcock hunting must cease at sunset (migratory bird law). And, for whatever reason, there is a split season this year on woodcock. (See the breakdown below).

Maine Migratory Bird Season

Ducks – North Zone: Oct.1-Dec. 8. South Zone (split season): Oct. 1-27, Nov. 12-Dec 22.

Canada Geese: Special early season: Sept. 4-25. daily limit, 6; possession limit 12. Regular goose season: North Zone, Oct. 1-Dec.8.South Zone (split season): Oct. 1-27; Nov. 12-Dec 22. Daily limit, 2; possession limit, 4.

Woodcock: Oct.1-28 and Oct.27 and Oct.29-31. Daily limit, 3; possession limit 6.

Before you eyes glaze over, a couple more regulatory tidbits. Maine now has a wanton waste law on the books. This means that you can be summonsed for wasting wild meat. Although most sportsmen that I know were brought up not to kill anything they don’t eat, there is always the exception, hence the perceived need for another law.

Ethical hunters who have unwanted wild meat always have the option of donating that meat to the Hunters For the Hungry program. Treestands can get dicey, too. If you re not in an unorganized township, you need verbal or written permission from the landowner before erecting a treestand of any kind. You must also attach a label containing your name and address. If you want to put up a portable stand on land under LURC jurisdiction (unorganized townships), you do not need permission or a name label.

I think that’s it. (Sighhhh). Now let’s get out in the woods and enjoy the hunt!

The author is editor of the Northwoods Sporting Journal. He is also a Maine Guide, co-host of a weekly radio program “Maine Outdoors” heard Sundays at 7 p.m. on The Voice of Maine News-Talk Network (WVOM-FM 103.9, WCME-FM 96.7) and former information officer for the Maine Dept. of Fish and Wildlife. His e-mail address is [email protected].