Maine hunters may soon be able to tag deer from their phones

By Wendy Watkins, Bangor Daily News Staff

A new law requires the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to launch a pilot program for electronic deer tagging.

The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Donna Bailey, D-Saco, took effect Sept. 24. Bailey said the idea came from a constituent, Roger Chisholm of Saco, who urged her to make it easier for hunters to report their harvests while still providing data for biologists.

“Deer hunting is a tradition that preserves our heritage and promotes the outdoors, in addition to helping folks put food on the table and fill their freezers for the winter,” Bailey said in a statement. “Allowing for the electronic tagging of deer can ensure that hunting is accessible and available to the hunters of today and tomorrow.”

According to Nate Webb, wildlife division director for the department, most New England states — including neighboring New Hampshire — already offer online deer registration.

Maine already allows hunters to register turkeys online. After harvesting a turkey, hunters can go to mefishwildlife.com/tagaturkey to register at no cost.

In his written testimony, Chisholm said he believes it’s time for hunters to have an online option for registering deer that still provides the data biologists need. “Whether that offers restricted days to register deer electronically, or restricted zones if needed,” he wrote.

Webb also supported the bill, noting that many hunters would benefit from a self-reporting tool for deer.

In 2024, Maine had its second-highest deer harvest ever, with 42,258 deer taken statewide.

The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife must report back to the Legislature’s Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee on the pilot program by Jan. 14, 2026.