The Benefits of Hunting: Supporting Wildlife, Conservation, and Community
 Hunters play an important role in conserving the wildlife and wild places that make Maine, Maine!
Read on to learn how hunting keeps wildlife healthy, funds wildlife research, conservation, and management, helps protect important habitat, and more.
Thanks for hunting in Maine!
Healthy wildlife populations
Every habitat has a carrying capacity, meaning as wildlife populations grow, they reach a point when there aren't enough resources to go around. Limited food, water, cover, and space puts animals at risk of starvation, disease outbreaks, and stress that can reduce reproductive health.
Hunting helps keep wildlife populations healthy by preventing populations from growing beyond what the habitat can support. It also helps biologists monitor wildlife health by providing biological data after harvest.
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Funding for wildlife conservation
Every time a hunter purchases a license, permit, or certain hunting equipment, a portion of that sale goes directly to wildlife conservation.
In 1937 the Pittman-Robertson (PR) Act was passed to match State funds, such as hunting license and permit funds, with federal dollars for wildlife management in each state. These PR funds are generated through a manufacturer-paid excise tax on archery equipment, firearms, and ammunition.
This funding is critical to our ability to implement management programs for game species like white-tailed deer, moose, and black bear as well as non-game species such as the Canada lynx, New England cottontail, and hundreds of resident and migratory birds.
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Protected and enhanced habitat for wildlife and public access for outdoor recreation
Hunters also help fund land acquisition – protecting important wildlife habitat for hundreds of species and securing public access for outdoor recreation for generations to come.
PR funds, revenue from Maine hunting license and permit sales, along with other funding sources such as Lands for Maine's Future and the Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund, and generous private donors have helped MDIFW acquire and manage wildlife habitat and public access on approximately 136,000 acres of State-owned Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) distributed across the State.
That's a lot of land for the public to hunt, trap, wildlife watch, and explore and space for wildlife species to thrive.
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Sustainable, local food sources
Hunters go beyond farmers markets to source healthy, free-range, lean protein directly from Maine's forests.
In addition to feeding their own families, each year hunters give hundreds of pounds of protein to Mainers in need through the Hunters for the Hungry program.
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Outdoor memories with family and friends
Hunting is a gateway to the outdoors for 200,000 Mainers. That’s a lot of people trading screen time for time outdoors gaining ecological knowledge, practical skills, memories to cherish, and bonds that will last a lifetime.
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Improved health and well-being
Hunting is a unique escape from the hectic, fast-paced demands of everyday life.
Outdoor exercise and time spent in nature are proven to support better mental health, physical fitness, and overall well-being.
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Economic boost
In addition to the meals provided for families, hunting in Maine supports over 3,400 jobs. Outdoor pursuit related employment opportunities are shared across many sectors of the Maine economy including sporting goods, transportation, and accommodations.
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