This article was first published in 2022 and has been updated for the 2026 moose hunting season.
With Maine’s 2026 moose hunting season approaching, permit holders are preparing to head into the North Maine Woods, a tract of 3.5 million acres of privately owned commercial forestland.
The region contains four of the state’s wildlife management districts open to moose hunting and attracts permit holders from across Maine and beyond each fall.
Since access to the land is gated and special rules govern its use, it is important for hunters to know what activities are allowed during their visit.
“We’re one of the only places in the country that allows the extent of recreational use that we do here in Maine on private land and we ask that people be respectful of that,” former North Maine Woods Executive Director Tom Pelletier said in 2022.
Logging gets the right of way
Perhaps the No. 1 rule in the North Maine Woods is that logging trucks and harvesting equipment have the right of way on the roads. Commercial forestry operations remain active throughout the region and trucks can move quickly along the gravel road network.
Visitors should drive cautiously and be prepared to pull over when encountering a logging truck or other harvesting equipment. Hunters also should avoid blocking side roads and park well off the traveled portion of the roadway.
Hunters can take advantage of MURS radios, which are commonly used by loggers to monitor activity and call out mile markers to oncoming traffic.
“If you encounter a logging truck, pull over and stop,” Pelletier said.
ATVs are forbidden
One of the most important things moose hunters need to know is that all-terrain vehicles are not allowed in the North Maine Woods.
Hunters who harvest a moose must have a plan for retrieving the animal without using an ATV. Depending on where a moose is harvested, retrieving the animal may require trucks, trailers, winches and several people to help move hundreds of pounds of meat.
Visitors who arrive at an entry checkpoint with an ATV in tow will be required to leave it behind.
Restrictions on camper trailers and mobile homes
Mobile homes are not allowed in the North Maine Woods for recreational use. Only single vehicles, including motorhomes and RVs, less than 28 feet in length are permitted. Vehicles towing trailers must have a combined length of less than 48 feet.
Don’t block roads
Hunters may not use vehicles to block roads or restrict access to hunting areas.
“Don’t be blocking off 4 miles of prime hunting area just because you saw a moose down that road,” Pelletier said. He added that the Maine Warden Service may be notified when access roads are blocked.
Fire permits
Fires may only be built in authorized steel fire rings provided at campsites. Any fire outside one of those rings requires a written permit from the Maine Forest Service.
“Our North Maine Woods campsites are very well taken care of and our folks that maintain them take a lot of pride in making sure that they are presentable,” Pelletier said.
Hunters wishing to camp elsewhere in the North Maine Woods may use approved gravel pits and other designated areas that do not interfere with traffic or logging operations.
Campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Know the conditions
Weather
Conditions can change quickly during moose season.
Maine’s 2026 moose hunts are scheduled for Sept. 28-Oct. 3, Oct. 12-17 and Oct. 26-31. Hunters may encounter warm afternoons, frosty mornings, heavy rain and muddy road conditions during any of those weeks.
Layered clothing, rain gear and cold-weather camping equipment are recommended.
Cell service and navigation
Cell service is limited or nonexistent across much of the North Maine Woods.
Hunters should carry paper maps, such as the Maine Atlas and Gazetteer, and download digital maps before entering remote areas. Do not rely solely on a smartphone or vehicle GPS, as many roads may not be accurately reflected in navigation systems.
A satellite communication device such as a Garmin inReach can be useful for sending messages, sharing locations and contacting emergency services when cell service is unavailable.
Fuel and supplies
Gas stations and other services can be far apart in northern Maine. Hunters should fuel up whenever possible and avoid assuming fuel will be available near their hunting area.
Bringing extra food, water and emergency supplies is also a good idea when traveling in remote areas.
Be prepared to pay
Access to the North Maine Woods is not free.
Visitors who are Maine residents pay $13 per day of use, while the cost is $18 for nonresidents.
There is an additional fee for camping of $12 per night for residents and $15 per night for nonresidents. Anyone younger than 18 may use the North Maine Woods and camp for free, while visitors age 70 and older receive free day use.
Hunters and other frequent visitors may find a seasonal pass more economical. Fall season day-use passes, valid from Aug. 20 through Nov. 30, cost $95 for Maine residents and $140 for nonresidents. Season registrations that include unlimited camping are available for $140 for residents and $180 for nonresidents.
Fees are payable by cash, check and credit card at staffed checkpoints during normal operating hours. Hunters should review the current fee schedule before traveling.