Rules and regulations. 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 salutary sigh and get familiar with the law book.

Getting the season dates nailed down is the first challenge. The firearms season for deer starts, for Maine residents only, on Nov. 1. For all other deer hunters, opening day on whitetails is Monday, Nov. 3. The general firearms season on deer ends Nov. 29 this year. This year’s Youth Deer Hunting Day is Oct. 25. The blackpowder season for deer starts Dec. 1 and ends Dec. 6. In some Wildlife Management Districts (WMDs), the blackpowder season extends to Dec. 13. The statewide archery season for deer is Oct. 2-31. The expanded archery season for deer is Sept. 6-Dec. 13. New this year for bow hunters in either archery season: Bucks only in any WMDs that issue no any-deer permits.

Hunting deer with crossbows is permitted this year during the regular firearms season. You must have passed a sanctioned crossbow education course from a certified instructor before hunting. They are not legal devices during the blackpowder season. There is also a fall turkey hunt that is mostly for bow hunters, but does allow shotguns in a few WMDs. (It’s complicated. Check your lawbook).

The general season on bear runs from Aug. 25-Nov. 29. Hunting bear over bait ends on Sept 20. Unfortunately, there is another new twist. For the first time, non-resident firearms hunters cannot take a bear without a special non-resident bear permit. (We are supposed to welcome our tourists. When are we going to smarten up?)

The moose seasons for permit holders are, depending upon your specific permit: Sept. 22-Sept. 27, Oct. 13-Oct.18. There is also a new moose season in WMD 29 on Nov. 3. 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.

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 OK to shoot a grouse a half hour after sunset, all woodcock hunting must cease at sunset (migratory bird law). There is a split again this year on woodcock. (See the breakdown below).

Maine Migratory Bird Season

Ducks – North Zone: Oct.1-Dec. 9. South Zone (split season): Oct. 1-25, Nov. 10-Dec 23.

Canada Geese – Special early season: Sept. 2-25. Regular goose season: North Zone, Oct. 1-Dec.9.South Zone (split season): Oct. 1-25; Nov. 10-Dec 23.

Woodcock – Oct.6-28 and Nov. 4 and Oct.27-31. Daily limit, 3; possession limit 6.

Before your 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!

V. Paul Reynolds 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].