Deer Harvest Record: Where Maine Hunters Found Success
Maine registered 55,876 deer last year, a 32% jump over 2024, and rifle season opens Nov. 2 with biologist Nathan Bieber expecting another good season but not a repeat of the record.
By George Parker ·
Maine hunters registered 55,876 deer in 2025, the state's highest total on record and 32% above the 42,259 registered in 2024. Buck harvest rose 16% while doe harvest climbed 59%. The resident-only hunt is set for Saturday, Oct. 31, and the regular firearms season runs Nov. 2 through Nov. 28.
Nathan Bieber, deer biologist for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, expects another good season but says he does not anticipate a harvest on par with last year's record. He points to a relatively mild winter and drought conditions that affected green forage and the availability of acorns and other mast as factors that may have contributed to the unusually high harvest. Those conditions may influence deer movement, and favorable hunting weather can also contribute to hunter success.
Last year's top producing Wildlife Management District was District 17, where 8,025 deer were registered, up from 5,618 in 2024. District 23 followed with 5,108 deer against 3,881 the year before. District 26 recorded 4,399 deer, up from 3,082, and District 16 recorded 4,395, up from 2,941. By town, Buxton led the state with 474 deer registered, followed by Sidney with 433, Corinna with 417, St. Albans with 412 and Bucksport with 406.
High harvest totals do not automatically translate to the right spot for every hunter. Harvest numbers reflect both deer abundance and hunting pressure. Southern Maine supports high deer densities, some coastal islands hold substantial deer populations with fewer residents and hunters, and northern Maine spreads deer across large forested areas. Bieber recommends looking for large public parcels or private land where hunters have permission, then moving away from convenient access points that tend to draw more traffic.
Age data adds another layer for hunters after a mature buck. Maine's 2025 deer age report shows 10.8% of sampled adult bucks in Region E were at least 5 years old, compared with 6.9% in Region F and 4% in Region B. Yearlings made up 62.6% of sampled adult bucks in Region A and 45.7% in Region B, but 24.5% in Region E.
Maine's resident-only deer hunting day falls on Saturday, Oct. 31, and the regular firearms season runs Nov. 2 through Nov. 28.
Source: Bangor Daily News
