Maine's antlerless deer permit lottery opens Thursday. Here's what's new for 2026.

Maine’s antlerless deer permit lottery opens Thursday, June 25, setting the start of the 2026 application window. The lottery runs until July 30, with the drawing scheduled for Aug. 13. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife approved the 2026 permit allocations on June 17, adjusting quotas across wildlife management districts (WMDs). Some districts will see increased allocations, while WMDs 12, 13 and 15 decline. WMDs 2 and 5, which received no permits in 2025, will each get 25 permits after successive mild winters. New “unlimited” permit districts for 2026 include WMDs 21–25 and 29, and hunters can hold a maximum of four antlerless permits. Applications are free; successful applicants pay a $12 permit fee plus a $2 agent fee.