Maine’s Moose Seasons Going Strong
Maine’s 2025 regular moose seasons got underway on September 22 (bull-only, in selected WMDs) and will continue through October and – in some areas – into early November (Zone 4A’s adaptive unit hunt lasts as late as November 8).
For many hunters, the pursuit of a moose represents the culmination of a once-in-a-lifetime adventure – gathering gear; scouting, practicing calling, and deciding whether to hire an outfitter. While tagging stations are reporting steady business, we’ve also heard from folks who learned late in their hunt-weeks that compared to years past, fewer moose stand around in fields these days.
This month’s cover photo, by Presque Isle resident Paul Cyr, pays homage to Maine’s majestic bull moose.
We continue the theme with a pictorial “center spread” (pages 38 – 39), containing a list of new members in our Maine Sportsman Moose Patch Club. Congratulations to all successful moose hunters.
The hunt also continues for our state’s other “big, big game” species – the black bear. While the “hunting with bait” season stopped September 20, the general firearms season on bear continues through November 29, and both trapping and hunting bear with dogs are allowed through October 31. In The Maine Sportsman’s October issue, Staci Warren (page 21) explains that bear trapping is a viable alternative to baiting or still-hunting, while Steve Carpenteri reports on how hunters, including bear hunters, can outfit their ATVs to help them haul big game out of the woods.
The seasons on whitetail deer are coming right up, and this issue of The Sportsman helps readers prepare with solid, where-to and how-to information, including:
- Crossbow Hunting for Deer (p. 12)
- “Understanding the Rut” (p. 26 and p. 61), and
- “Bowhunt your Buck” (p. 29)
And what else? Are you hungry? How about a slice of “Robin Pot Pie” (p. 14), a bowl of gray squirrel stew (p. 17), or snowshoe hare cooked in a crock pot (p. 36)?
And so much more – ducks, pheasant and grouse! Freshwater trout and saltwater stripers! And the most entertaining jokes, cartoons and funny stories about duct tape (p. 73) you’ll find anywhere between Winkumpaugh Corners and Wytopitlock.
And don’t forget to check out the new and improved digital Maine Sportsman magazine. Click here to order a single electronic copy ($4.95) or a full year of 12 issues ($24.95). And remember – your one-year subscription includes full access to a digital library of over ten years of The Maine Sportsman magazine, our state’s best resource for hunting and fishing information.
