Maine WMD 29: deer, moose and bear hunting, harvest and public land
Maine's Wildlife Management District 29 covers 4,411 square miles, most of it open water: its line runs out into the Gulf of Maine around the islands and shore inside it. Hunters registered 897 deer, 0 moose, 0 bears and 32 turkeys in its towns in 2025, adding up MDIFW's town figures. The USGS Protected Areas Database shows almost no public land in the district.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: MDIFW's registered harvest by town. Seasons: MDIFW 2026-27 Maine hunting seasons. Land: PAD-US 4.1.
State public lands and parks (BPL)MDIFW land (WMAs)National forestNational wildlife refugeNational Park ServiceOther state landMilitary (closed unless the base allows)WMD 29Neighboring WMDsHighway
| Size | 4,411 square miles (MDIFW), mostly open water |
|---|---|
| Public land | 0.3% (7,794 acres) |
| Wildlife management areas | Kennebec River Estuary WMA, Scarborough Marsh WMA, Peaks Island WMA |
| Deer registered, 2025 | 897 |
| Moose registered, 2025 | 0 |
| Bears registered, 2025 | 0 |
| Turkeys registered, 2025 | 23 spring, 9 fall |
| Deer firearms season, 2026 | November 2 to 28 (residents only day October 31) |
| Deer on a big game license, 2026 | Either sex during firearms and muzzleloader seasons (MDIFW) |
| Moose seasons, 2026 | None |
How many deer, moose and bears are taken in WMD 29?
897 deer were registered in WMD 29's towns in 2025, against 1,051 in 2024. The last 15 years:
| Year | Deer | Moose | Bears | Spring turkeys | Fall turkeys |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 897 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 9 |
| 2024 | 1,051 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 9 |
| 2023 | 815 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| 2022 | 980 | 0 | 0 | 21 | |
| 2021 | 846 | 0 | 0 | 18 | |
| 2020 | 947 | 0 | 0 | 20 | |
| 2019 | 779 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 8 |
| 2018 | 743 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 8 |
| 2017 | 724 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 16 |
| 2016 | 597 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 16 |
| 2015 | 505 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 16 |
| 2014 | 597 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 11 |
| 2013 | 640 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 23 |
| 2012 | 734 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 7 |
| 2011 | 642 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 8 |
Sources: MDIFW white-tailed deer harvest by town; MDIFW moose harvest by town; MDIFW black bear harvest by town; MDIFW wild turkey harvest by town. 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. A blank cell means MDIFW lists no figure for the district's towns that year.
Which towns in WMD 29 have the most deer registered?
| Town | Deer, 2025 | Bears, 2025 | Moose, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vinalhaven | 156 | 0 | 0 |
| Georgetown | 151 | 0 | 0 |
| Harpswell | 150 | 0 | 0 |
| North Haven | 150 | 0 | 0 |
| Islesboro | 130 | 0 | 0 |
| Swans Island | 54 | 0 | 0 |
| Chebeague Island | 43 | 0 | 0 |
| Cranberry Isles | 30 | 0 | 0 |
Source: MDIFW's figures by town.
When are the 2026-27 seasons in WMD 29?
| Season | Dates, 2026-27 |
|---|---|
| Deer, regular archery | October 3 to 30 |
| Deer, youth hunt | October 23 to 24 |
| Deer, Maine residents only day | October 31 |
| Deer, firearms | November 2 to 28 |
| Deer, muzzleloader | November 30 to December 5 |
| Deer, muzzleloader (second week, this WMD) | December 7 to 12 |
| Bear, hunting with bait | August 31 to September 26 |
| Bear, hunting with dogs | September 14 to October 30 |
| Bear, general season | August 31 to November 28 |
| Turkey, fall (archery or shotgun) | September 14 to November 7 |
| Turkey, spring (bearded birds) | May 3 to June 5, 2027; 2 birds in this WMD |
Source: MDIFW 2026-27 Maine hunting seasons. Antlerless deer permits, moose permits and bag limits are set by district; MDIFW's law book has them.
How much public land is in WMD 29?
0.3% of WMD 29 is public land: 7,794 of its 2,823,818 acres. The largest share is National Park Service, 3,487 acres.
| Manager | Acres | Share of WMD 29 |
|---|---|---|
| National Park Service | 3,487 | 0.1% |
| National wildlife refuge | 1,889 | 0.1% |
| MDIFW land (WMAs) | 1,162 | under 0.1% |
| State public lands and parks (BPL) | 1,116 | under 0.1% |
| Other state land | 140 | under 0.1% |
| Military (closed unless the base allows) | 6 | under 0.1% |
Measured by FilledTag inside MDIFW's district line from USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US 4.1). Much of Maine's woods are private land open to hunting by custom; this table counts only public ownership.
Wildlife management areas in WMD 29
| WMA | Acres in WMD 29 |
|---|---|
| Kennebec River Estuary WMA | 408 |
| Scarborough Marsh WMA | 153 |
| Peaks Island WMA | 22 |
Which districts border WMD 29?
| WMD | Public land | Deer, 2025 | Moose, 2025 | Bears, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WMD 22 | 2.3% | 4,134 | 0 | 0 |
| WMD 23 | 2.7% | 5,108 | 0 | 7 |
| WMD 24 | 4.4% | 1,849 | 0 | 0 |
| WMD 25 | 1.9% | 3,853 | 0 | 2 |
| WMD 26 | 5.7% | 4,399 | 0 | 72 |
| WMD 27 | 3.7% | 1,167 | 2 | 53 |
Highways crossing WMD 29: none numbered. Towns inside: Portland.
Questions hunters ask
How many deer are taken in Maine WMD 29?
Hunters registered 897 deer in the towns of WMD 29 in 2025, adding up MDIFW's town figures; the five-year average to 2025 is 918 and the most since 2005 was 1,051 in 2024. The most came from Vinalhaven (156), Georgetown (151) and Harpswell (150).
Is there a moose season in WMD 29?
No. MDIFW's 2026 moose seasons do not include WMD 29.
When is deer season in WMD 29 in 2026?
Regular archery October 3 to 30, youth day October 23 to 24, residents only day October 31, firearms November 2 to 28, and muzzleloader November 30 to December 5, with a second muzzleloader week December 7 to 12 in WMD 29 (MDIFW 2026-27 Maine hunting seasons). In WMD 29 a big game license allows one deer of either sex in the firearms and muzzleloader seasons.
How much public land is in WMD 29?
7,794 acres, 0.3% of the district, by PAD-US 4.1. MDIFW's wildlife management areas here: Kennebec River Estuary (408 acres), Scarborough Marsh (153 acres) and Peaks Island (22 acres).
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Where these numbers come from
- Harvest: MDIFW white-tailed deer harvest by town; MDIFW moose harvest by town; MDIFW black bear harvest by town; MDIFW wild turkey harvest by town.
- Seasons: MDIFW 2026-27 Maine hunting seasons.
- District boundary: MDIFW Wildlife Management Districts. WMAs: MDIFW Wildlife Management Area boundaries. Public land: 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. Numbers are copied from MDIFW and federal sources, added up from MDIFW's town figures, or measured from their maps; nothing on this page is estimated by FilledTag.