Maine Antlerless Deer Permit Website Crashes

Wildlife officials are asking for patience after their website crashed on opening day of online antlerless deer permit sales.

UPDATE: Permits will go on-sale Tuesday, October 11, at 11 a.m.

ORIGINAL STORY:

The website for Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is down. October 5 is the first day of online "any deer" permits being sold for the upcoming season. Wildlife officials said on Facebook: "For those attempting to purchase an antlerless deer permit online, we are aware the site is currently down and you are likely seeing a "504 Gateway Time-Out" message. We will announce when the site is live here on Facebook. Thank you for your patience."

Unclaimed or leftover tags from the antlerless deer lottery will be available to purchase on a first come, first serve basis. The tags are being sold online on the MDIFW website. As is with all antlerless permits, they will be sold by designated WMDs around the state. A hunter may hold multiple antlerless permits. You do not need to fill your tag before you purchase another.

Tags cost $14 ($12 tag + $2 agent fee). The $12 will go to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Maine Deer Management Fund. The newly created program works to enhance deer habitat. The funds are used for predator control, and to acquire or enhance deer habitat. In addition to antlerless deer permit fees, $2 from collected deer registrations will go to the management fund. Doe tags are expected to fetch over $750,000 for the fund. The collected funds will be matched 3:1 with money from the Pittman-Robertson Act.

Maine resident hunters will get a jump-start on the rifle season October 29, for Maine Residents Only day. Youth Hunters also get a special day to hunt, October 22. Only junior hunters who hold a valid junior hunting license can participate in this specially designated hunting day.

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The season wraps up with a two week (in some areas) muzzleloader season. Week one, November 28 through December 3, is statewide. Week two, December 5-10, is only in WMDs 12, 13, 15-18, 20-26, 29.