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Maine Hunting & Fishing

306 guides, outfitters, and charters in Maine.

306
Listings
12
Species
1
Draw Deadlines
Northeast
Region

Hunting & Fishing in Maine

Maine is the Northeast's last great wilderness, with millions of acres of unbroken North Woods, thousands of lakes and ponds, and a rugged Atlantic coastline. Hunting guides in Maine, many of them licensed Registered Maine Guides, run moose hunts in the famous lottery-drawn zones, black bear hunts over bait and with hounds, and whitetail deer hunts where a big-woods buck is a genuine trophy. The guiding tradition here is among the oldest in the country.

Fishing charters in Maine split between cold inland water and the sea. Inland, guides chase wild brook trout, landlocked salmon, and lake trout in remote ponds reachable only by float plane or logging road. On the coast, charters target striped bass, bluefish, and groundfish. Whether paddling a canoe into a remote pond or trolling the rocky coast, Maine offers a back-to-basics outdoor experience.

Top Hunting & Fishing Regions

North Maine Woods

A vast privately owned working forest open to recreation, offering remote moose, bear, and deer hunting with Registered Maine Guides.

Moosehead Lake

Maine's largest lake anchors a region of guided fishing for landlocked salmon, lake trout, and brook trout amid deep wilderness.

Rangeley Lakes

A chain of clear western Maine lakes famous for trophy brook trout and landlocked salmon with a long sporting-camp heritage.

Down East Coast

The rugged eastern coastline offers charter fishing for striped bass and groundfish among islands and tidal rivers.

Tips for Hunting in Maine

  • Apply for the Maine moose lottery through the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife; drawing a tag can take years but the hunt is worth it.
  • Hire a Registered Maine Guide for North Woods hunts, where the scale of the forest makes navigation a real challenge.
  • Fish remote brook trout ponds early in the season, just after ice-out, when wild fish feed aggressively near the surface.
  • Bring serious cold-weather and rain gear; Maine weather turns fast in both spring and fall.

Did you know? Maine has licensed Registered Maine Guides since 1897, making it the oldest professional guiding program in the United States.

Application Deadlines

Maine Moose Lottery Deadline

Deadline for ME Canadian moose lottery.

2026-05-15
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Events & Expos

class

Maine Hunter Education Course

Required for hunting license. Fully online for ages 16+; ages 10-15 require online plus in-person session. Seven safety disciplines offered.

2026-04-18 · Maine
class

Maine Boater Safety Course

Required for those born after 1/1/1999 operating motorboats over 25hp. Online course $24.95 via Boattests101.

2026-05-23 · Maine

Species in Maine

Top-Rated in Maine

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All Hunting & Fishing Listings in Maine

306 guides, outfitters, charters, and outdoor businesses across Maine.

Guide & Outfitter listings in Maine (195)

View all 195 guide & outfitter listings in Maine

Boats & Vehicles listings in Maine (53)

View all 53 boats & vehicles listings in Maine

Gun Dog Trainer listings in Maine (10)

Accommodation listings in Maine (4)

Taxidermy listings in Maine (3)

Game Processor listings in Maine (3)

Shooting Range listings in Maine (2)

Education listings in Maine (1)

Preparing for a Maine Hunt?

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