WMD 22, Maine
Unit info
- Game species
- Deer, Turkey, Bear
- Group
- WMDs 20–29
- Area
- 624 mi²
- Public land
- N/A
Black Bear — season & harvest
- Reported harvest
- 0
Draw odds for Black Beararen't on file for this unit yet. Check your state wildlife agency website for current draw statistics.
White-tailed Deer — season & harvest
- Reported harvest
- 2,968
Draw odds for White-tailed Deeraren't on file for this unit yet. Check your state wildlife agency website for current draw statistics.
Season & harvest data is published for Black Bear, White-tailed Deer so far. Deer, Turkey, Bear also occur here — that data can be added as the community contributes.
About this unit
AI-compiled · sourcedWMD 22 is a high-density deer district spanning south-central Maine from Portland and the coast through the Androscoggin Valley towns of Auburn, Lewiston, Gray, and Gardiner — one of Maine's most productive deer hunting zones with antlerless permits guaranteed available all season. Turkey hunting is open for both spring and fall seasons, bear hunting is permitted with bait and dogs, and no moose permits are issued in this WMD. Public land is limited compared to northern Maine but includes MDIFW Wildlife Management Areas and scattered state lands; hunting pressure is moderate to high given proximity to population centers.
Mixed agricultural and forested lowlands in the Androscoggin and Kennebec river valleys; suburban-rural fringe with woodlots, river bottomlands, regenerating clearcuts, wetlands, and farm edges. Elevation is modest — predominantly rolling hills below 1,000 ft. Forest cover is mixed hardwood-softwood (maple, beech, oak, hemlock, white pine). Highly fragmented landscape interspersed with towns including Portland, Auburn, Lewiston, Gray, Windham, Gardiner, Topsham, Brunswick, and Bath across parts of Cumberland, Androscoggin, Kennebec, Lincoln, and Sagadahoc counties.
Moderate to high — WMD 22 sits adjacent to Maine's largest population centers and is explicitly listed by MDIFW as one of the state's deer hunting hotspots. Access competition is real on public parcels; private land hunters have better odds.
Either-sex (any-deer) hunting is permitted with a standard big game license during firearms and muzzleloader seasons — no antlerless permit required for one deer. Antlerless permits are continuously available for purchase throughout all deer seasons (guaranteed availability, no sellout risk), up to 4 antlerless permits per hunter annually. Target deer density: 18–22 deer per square mile. Regular archery Sept 12–Dec 12; firearms Nov 2–Nov 28; muzzleloader Dec 7–Dec 12.
DEER: High density, 18–22 deer/sq mi target. Either-sex with license (no permit needed) during firearms and muzzleloader seasons. Antlerless permits guaranteed available, up to 4/hunter/year, $12+$2 fee. Archery Sept 12–Dec 12; Firearms Nov 2–Nov 28; Muzzleloader Dec 7–Dec 12. TURKEY: Open for both spring and fall. Spring season approx. May 3–June 5, 2 bearded birds. Fall season approx. Sept 14–Nov 7, up to 5 birds either sex. Permit required. BEAR: Statewide season Aug 31–Nov 28. Baiting legal Aug 31–Sept 26. Hound hunting legal Sept 14–Oct 30. Bag limit: 1 bear by hunting per year. MOOSE: No permits issued in WMD 22.
One of Maine's top deer-producing WMDs with guaranteed antlerless permit availability and either-sex firearms hunting; excellent spring and fall turkey hunting; bear hunting with bait (Aug 31–Sept 26) and dogs (Sept 14–Oct 30) legal statewide including WMD 22; river valley agricultural edges and hardwood ridges create ideal whitetail habitat.
Questions, tips & discussion
Ask anything about WMD 22— or drop a tip or trick: access points, where game holds, glassing spots, conditions, crowding, gear that worked. This is where the unit's species-specific intel gets built, hunter by hunter.
Nothing posted yet about WMD 22.
Be the first — ask a question (“Best public access on the north end?”) or share a tip (“Glass the burn scars off the main ridge at first light”).
Boundaries: MDIFW official Wildlife Management Districts. Community info last updated 23d ago.