What hunters look for in Maine
Deer hunters want big, connected woods where they can track a buck in fresh snow through spruce, fir and northern hardwoods. Black bear hunting is a signature pursuit that draws hunters from across the country each fall, and grouse and woodcock coverts, cedar swamps with snowshoe hare, and ducks on the coast and inland waters can fill a whole fall on one property.
The North Woods timber of Aroostook, Piscataquis and Somerset counties, the Down East region near the coast, and the western mountains are the best-known hunting areas. Maine is also the heart of the Northeast's moose range, hunted by limited lottery permit.
When hunters want to be on your land
Bear season typically begins in late August or early September, and grouse and woodcock open in early fall. Archery deer opens earlier in the fall and the firearm deer season generally runs in November, so a Maine lease can span the whole fall, from bear to the rifle season.
Seasons, licenses and regulations are set by the state and change every year; treat this as background, not official information. Some states also have rules for landowners who lease hunting rights.
Official source: Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Leasing your Maine land, answered
- Who would be hunting my land in Maine?
- A HuntingLeaseUSA member with a paid membership, booking under their own name, not an anonymous reply to a classified ad. In Maine, the hunters who lease private land are mainly deer, bear and grouse hunters. On a season lease, one party holds the ground for the season, bound by your rules.
- How do I get paid for a hunting lease in Maine?
- The hunter pays us when they book, so you never chase anyone for money. We keep our fee and pay your share to your bank account on our regular payout run after the month the access period starts. There is no fee to be listed.
- What about liability when hunters are on my Maine land?
- The hunter who books signs the Access Agreement, with your rules in it, and the Liability Waiver at checkout, before they pay. Check with your own insurer or attorney about what applies to a landowner who leases hunting rights in Maine.
Leasing land somewhere else? See every state.
How many acres, and what’s on it?
Tell us on a short call: how big the block of woods is, any water on it, and the deer, bear and birds you have seen. We’ll go through how listing works and what comparable ground nearby has been leasing for. No account to create and no fee to be listed.