Spring Turkey Hunting Season Begins Monday

This will be the first year in modern history that hunters will be able to bag a turkey in  Northern Maine.

State bird biologists say turkey counts are excellent and turkey are hunted less in Maine in general allowing the option to hunt state wide this year starting May 4th.

As this is the first year for turkey hunting in northern Maine there will be two, split seasons. 'A' group and 'B' group will be based on hunters birthdays allowing both groups to alternate hunting weeks throughout May and the first week of June will be open to all licensed hunters.

You need a valid Maine big game hunting license, turkey hunters can purchase a wild turkey permit for just $20 for both residents and nonresidents. This permit allows turkey hunters to take up to two wild turkeys in the spring, and an additional two turkeys in the fall. Legal hunting hours for turkey hunting stretch from 1/2 hour before sunrise and 1/2 hour after sunset.

There will be a special youth hunting day Saturday, May 2.

The Department strongly encourages all turkey hunters to reach out to landowners before hunting. Please remember to ask first before accessing private land, and respect any and all requests of the landowners.

For more information on the turkey hunting season visit the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife website.