Maine · Turkey · 2026–27 Edition
Maine Turkey Season 2026–27: Fall & Spring Dates, Bag Limits
01 — Fall turkey
| Season | Zones | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Youth Fall Wild Turkey Day | Statewide (WMDs open to fall turkey) | Sep 12 – Sep 12 |
| General Fall Season (5-turkey WMDs) | WMDs 15-17, 20-25 | Sep 14 – Nov 7 |
| General Fall Season (3-turkey WMD) | WMD 26 | Sep 14 – Nov 7 |
| General Fall Season (2-turkey WMD) | WMD 28 | Sep 14 – Nov 7 |
| General Fall Season (1-turkey WMDs) | WMDs 3, 6-8, 10-14, 18, 19, 27 & 29 | Sep 14 – Nov 7 |
02 — Spring gobbler
| Season | Zones | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Youth Spring Wild Turkey Day | Statewide | Apr 30 – Apr 30 |
| General Spring Season (2-bird WMDs) | WMDs 7 & 9-29 | May 3 – Jun 5 |
| General Spring Season (1-bird WMDs) | WMDs 1-6 & 8 | May 3 – Jun 5 |
03 — Bag limits
| Fall — WMDs 15-17, 20-25 | 5 wild turkeys for the season, no more than 2 per day (either sex, any age) |
|---|---|
| Fall — WMD 26 | 3 wild turkeys for the season |
| Fall — WMD 28 | 2 wild turkeys for the season |
| Fall — WMDs 3, 6-8, 10-14, 18, 19, 27 & 29 | 1 wild turkey for the season |
| Fall — WMDs 1, 2, 4, 5 & 9 | Closed to turkey hunting |
| Spring — WMDs 7 & 9-29 | 2 bearded turkeys for the season |
| Spring — WMDs 1-6 & 8 | 1 bearded turkey for the season |
04 — Shooting hours
Legal light on opening day (September 12, 2026) 05:42 — 19:22
Rule: Half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset, based on Bangor sunrise/sunset times (per MDIFW). Sunrise/sunset shift daily — the times above are computed for opening day; use your local Maine sun times for any other date.
05 — License
A Maine hunting license and turkey permit are required. Spring and fall permits are often sold separately, and some states cap the number of gobblers per hunter per year across both seasons.
Maine hunting license cost & turkey permits →
Where to hunt public land in Maine — WMAs by county & access rules →
06 — Scouting gear
Patterning a gobbler's roost and strut zone before Maine's opener usually means glassing from a distance and running a trail camera through late winter and early spring.
- Hunting binoculars on Amazon →
- Trail cameras on Amazon →
- Trail camera SD cards — class, capacity & format explained →
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. These are category links, not a single named pick — we run no product tests of our own.
07 — FAQ
When does turkey season start in Maine?
The earliest 2026–27 opener is September 12, 2026. Fall and spring seasons run separately — see the tables above.
When does turkey season end in Maine?
The latest 2026–27 closing date is June 5, 2027. Individual segments and zones close on their own dates.
When does spring turkey season start in Maine?
Youth Spring Wild Turkey Day opens April 30, 2027 (Statewide).
When does fall turkey season start in Maine?
Youth Fall Wild Turkey Day opens September 12, 2026 (Statewide (WMDs open to fall turkey)).
How many turkeys can you shoot in Maine?
2026–27 bag limits: Fall — WMDs 15-17, 20-25 — 5 wild turkeys for the season, no more than 2 per day (either sex, any age). Fall — WMD 26 — 3 wild turkeys for the season. Fall — WMD 28 — 2 wild turkeys for the season. Fall — WMDs 3, 6-8, 10-14, 18, 19, 27 & 29 — 1 wild turkey for the season. Fall — WMDs 1, 2, 4, 5 & 9 — Closed to turkey hunting. Spring — WMDs 7 & 9-29 — 2 bearded turkeys for the season. Spring — WMDs 1-6 & 8 — 1 bearded turkey for the season. Limits are set per zone and per permit — check the agency's own regulations before you hunt.
What time can you start shooting turkey in Maine?
On opening day (September 12, 2026) legal light runs 05:42 to 19:22. The rule is: Half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset, based on Bangor sunrise/sunset times (per MDIFW). Sunrise and sunset shift daily, so work the offset against your local Maine sun times for any other date.
Can I hunt turkey on my own land in Maine without a license?
A Maine resident and their immediate family may hunt without a license on land they're legally entitled to possess and actually live on, if it's 10 or more contiguous acres. Moose still needs a license regardless of land ownership.
Verified · Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife · Last verified 2026-08-16
Publisher's note. Dates from MDIFW's own '2026-27 Maine Hunting Seasons' quick-reference summary. Maine sets the fall turkey bag limit per Wildlife Management District (WMD) — anywhere from 5 turkeys down to a full closure — rather than one statewide number; the WMD groups below are reproduced exactly as the source groups them. WMDs 1, 2, 4, 5 and 9 are closed to fall turkey hunting entirely. Fall allows archery equipment or shotgun; spring the same. No Sunday hunting in Maine at any time of year.