Maine's youth deer hunt runs Friday and Saturday, Oct. 23-24, for hunters holding valid junior hunting licenses.
Children ages 10-15 must remain under a qualified supervisor's effective control and within visual and voice contact without binoculars, radios or other enhancement devices. Children younger than 10 must also stay within 20 feet of the supervisor, according to the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.
A supervising parent or guardian must hold or have held a valid Maine hunting license or have completed a hunter-safety course. Another adult may supervise if age 18 or older, approved by the parent or guardian, and meeting the same license or safety-course qualification.
A 16-year-old still using a junior license may participate and must have adult supervision on youth days, even after completing hunter safety. Accompanying adults may not carry a firearm, bow or crossbow, except a lawfully carried handgun that may not be used for hunting.
Junior hunters may take one antlered deer statewide. For 2026, they may instead take an antlerless deer without an antlerless permit in every wildlife management district and subunit. The department says that after harvesting a deer on youth days, hunters may take additional deer only if they hold antlerless permits or during the expanded archery season in designated areas with the required archery license and permits.
Sources: Junior Hunters.