Maine Best Times to Hunt
Solunar calendar and moon phase predictions for Maine
Best Times to Hunt in Maine
Solunar reference for Maine hunters: timezone, ME agency rules, and major/minor period guidance tuned to Maine-specific notes.
How Maine hunters read the solunar calendar
Maine-specific timing patterns — what makes ME different from the surrounding region
Big-woods rules apply. Northern timber bucks move on a tight November 5-15 rut, and the heaviest daylight cruising aligns with the first prolonged stretch of below-freezing daytime temps. The northwoods firearm season opens in early November and runs almost a month, but the productive window inside that month is much shorter — once snow sticks, mature bucks slip into bedding sanctuaries that can hold them for the rest of the season. Moose hunters drawn for the September split work bull-cow vocalizations during the early rut; October-permit holders chase post-rut bulls feeding hard on hardwood ridges before snow. Black bear over bait kicks the calendar off in late August. A deep early-November storm can shift deer into wintering yards weeks ahead of schedule and rewrite the entire month's plan.
Maine Solunar Information
Hunting conditions and wildlife patterns
- Timezone
- New York
- Hunting Notes
- Big-woods rules apply. Northern timber bucks move on a tight November 5-15 rut, and the heaviest daylight cruising aligns with the first prolonged stretch of below-freezing daytime temps. The northwoods firearm season opens in early November and runs almost a month, but the productive window inside that month is much shorter — once snow sticks, mature bucks slip into bedding sanctuaries that can hold them for the rest of the season. Moose hunters drawn for the September split work bull-cow vocalizations during the early rut; October-permit holders chase post-rut bulls feeding hard on hardwood ridges before snow. Black bear over bait kicks the calendar off in late August. A deep early-November storm can shift deer into wintering yards weeks ahead of schedule and rewrite the entire month's plan.
- Wildlife Agency
- Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
This information is for reference only. Always verify regulations with your state wildlife agency before hunting or fishing.
Last verified: January 2026
Run the Maine solunar calendar
The interactive calendar lives on the main tool page. It will pre-load with Maine (ME) and the New York timezone.
Maine Best Times FAQ
Common questions about solunar hunting in Maine
What timezone do Maine solunar tables use?
The Maine calendar runs in the New York timezone (America/New_York). Major and minor periods on this page are already shifted to local ME time, so you can match them directly against your sunrise and sunset. Big-woods rules apply. Northern timber bucks move on a tight November 5-15 rut, and the heaviest daylight cruising aligns with the first prolonged stretch of below-freezing daytime temps. The northwoods firearm season opens in early November and runs almost a month, but the productive window inside that month is much shorter — once snow sticks, mature bucks slip into bedding sanctuaries that can hold them for the rest of the season. Moose hunters drawn for the September split work bull-cow vocalizations during the early rut; October-permit holders chase post-rut bulls feeding hard on hardwood ridges before snow. Black bear over bait kicks the calendar off in late August. A deep early-November storm can shift deer into wintering yards weeks ahead of schedule and rewrite the entire month's plan.
What's specific to hunting in Maine that changes the timing?
Big-woods rules apply. Northern timber bucks move on a tight November 5-15 rut, and the heaviest daylight cruising aligns with the first prolonged stretch of below-freezing daytime temps. The northwoods firearm season opens in early November and runs almost a month, but the productive window inside that month is much shorter — once snow sticks, mature bucks slip into bedding sanctuaries that can hold them for the rest of the season. Moose hunters drawn for the September split work bull-cow vocalizations during the early rut; October-permit holders chase post-rut bulls feeding hard on hardwood ridges before snow. Black bear over bait kicks the calendar off in late August. A deep early-November storm can shift deer into wintering yards weeks ahead of schedule and rewrite the entire month's plan.
Other States
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