PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • October 21, 2026
Licensed junior hunters are allowed to harvest a deer on Friday or Saturday, an opportunity to try their luck before the firearms season opens for adults. For 20-plus years, the state offered a single Youth Deer Hunting Day. In 2023, Maine expanded that program to two days. Any child under 16 years old can get a junior license and must be accompanied on Youth Deer Hunting Days by an adult who meets certain licensing or safety criteria.