Orange River Wildlife Management Area: hunting, access and rules
Orange River Wildlife Management Area is 285 acres of Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife land in Whiting, inside WMD 27. MDIFW lists 1 access point for it. Hunting is allowed, with MDIFW's rules for its WMAs.
Data updated October 2026. Boundary and access points: MDIFW's WMA layers. Seasons: MDIFW 2026-27 Maine hunting seasons.
State public lands and parks (BPL)MDIFW land (WMAs)National wildlife refugeOther state landOrange River WMAMDIFW access pointWMD lineHighway
| Size | 285 acres (MDIFW) |
|---|---|
| Towns (MDIFW) | Whiting |
| Wildlife Management District | WMD 27 |
| MDIFW region | Region C |
| Access points | 1 |
| What MDIFW lists to do here | Walking, Boating, Canoeing, Wildlife Watching (Eagles and Osprey, Deer, and Water Birds), Waterfowl Hunting, Trapping, Fishing (Cold and Warm Water Species), Ice Fishing |
| Not allowed (MDIFW) | Camping, fires, and swimming are prohibited. |
| Nearest towns | Lubec (11 mi), Eastport (12 mi) and Machias (13 mi) |
Where do you get into Orange River WMA?
MDIFW lists 1 access point for Orange River WMA:
| Point | Where (MDIFW) | Latitude, longitude | Directions (MDIFW) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Playhouse Lane | 44.78460, -67.19031 | From Machias head north on Rt. 1 for approx. 16 miles. Turn left onto Playhouse Lane. At the end of Playhouse Lane turn right onto the gravel drive which leads to the parking area with a metal WMA sign and a path to the launch site. |
Source: MDIFW WMA access points.
What are the rules on Orange River WMA?
MDIFW: "Camping, fires, and swimming are prohibited. Some WMAs have recreational vehicle trails which are managed by local ATV and snowmobile clubs. Please visit the local ATV or snowmobile club's website for trail information." Hunting and trapping are welcome under MDIFW's rules for its WMAs: stands or blinds left more than one day need a permit and the owner's name and address, permanent structures are not allowed, trapping and hunting over bait need a permit, and game cameras may be used if labeled.
From MDIFW WMA access points.
When can you hunt Orange River WMA in 2026-27?
Seasons follow WMD 27: deer firearms November 2 to 28 (residents only day October 31), archery October 3 to 30, muzzleloader November 30 to December 5 and December 7 to 12. Moose by permit: September 28 to October 3 (bulls only); October 12 to 17 (bulls only).
| WMD | WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Moose, 2025 | Bears, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WMD 27 | 285 | 1,167 | 2 | 53 |
Seasons: MDIFW 2026-27 Maine hunting seasons. Harvest: MDIFW's figures by town, added up by district. Added up by FilledTag from MDIFW's figures by town: each town is counted in the district that holds its centre, so a town on a district line counts wholly on one side.
How do you get to Orange River WMA?
Highways within five miles: US 1, ME 191 and ME 189. Nearest towns: Lubec (11 miles), Eastport (12 miles), Machias (13 miles) and Calais (24 miles).
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on Orange River WMA?
Yes. MDIFW welcomes hunting and trapping on its WMAs, with rules: a removable stand or blind left more than a day needs a permit and the hunter's name and address, permanent stands are not allowed, and trapping or hunting over bait needs a permit. Orange River WMA lies in WMD 27, so its seasons follow that district's.
Where do you get into Orange River WMA?
MDIFW lists 1 access point: Playhouse Lane (44.7846, -67.1903).
Can you camp on Orange River WMA?
No. MDIFW lists camping, fires and swimming as prohibited on the area.
What WMD is Orange River WMA in?
WMD 27. Hunters registered 1,167 deer and 2 moose in WMD 27's towns in 2025, adding up MDIFW's town figures.
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Where these facts come from
- Boundary, acres and towns: MDIFW Wildlife Management Area boundaries. Access points, rules and directions: MDIFW WMA access points.
- Seasons: MDIFW 2026-27 Maine hunting seasons. District harvest: MDIFW white-tailed deer harvest by town; MDIFW moose harvest by town; MDIFW black bear harvest by town.
- Public land around it: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US 4.1). Highways and towns: U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line 2024 primary and secondary roads; U.S. Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer, places.
FilledTag is not part of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.