AUGUSTA – In an effort to expand Maine hunting opportunities and broaden the revenue base of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, a special archery season for deer hunters will take place this September.

Archers who take advantage of this special September hunt will be permitted to also take an additional deer either during the regular October archery season for deer or during the November firearms season. The September hunt will take place only in specifically designated areas that have high deer populations.

Although rules for this special hunt are still subject to a public hearing in May and approval by the Fish and Wildlife Advisory Council, it is expected that the September hunt will be Sept. 15-30. Proposed fees for this special bonus deer permit, which will not require a regular archery license, are $40 for Maine residents and $80 for nonresidents.

According to DIFW wildlife director Ken Elowe, “the principal purpose of the hunt is to provide additional hunting opportunity in areas where high deer populations can allow for a bonus deer option without having an impact on the number of any-deer permits allocated for those areas or the remainder of the state.”

The proposed hunt zones for the special September archery hunt will be located south of Interstate 95 between Kittery and Brunswick. Most of Maine’s coastal islands will be part of the newly designated hunting areas as well.

Any person eligible to obtain a regular archery hunting license is eligible to purchase a permit for this expanded archery hunt.