Maine

Maine extends gray squirrel hunting season

Published

11 months ago

April 11, 2025

Maine extends gray squirrel hunting season

The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife expanded the hunting season for gray squirrels by a month and shifted youth waterfowl hunting dates in the north zone to start and end a week later than last year.

The bounty of food, including acorns, in the last few years has helped the gray squirrel population increase to a point that the department felt the hunting season could be expanded, especially in southern and central Maine. It will be held from the last Saturday in September through the end of January.

The season has in past years ended on Dec. 31.

Hunting of small mammals and birds is more appealing to new hunters and youths than big game hunting, according to the department’s basis statement for the rule change. It also aligns Maine’s gray squirrel season with other New England states.

“The one-month season extension would maintain healthy gray squirrel populations, avoid the time of year when females are rearing their young, and allow additional time to hunt outside of the popular big game seasons,” the department said.

Several people expressed support for the change through emails and a Facebook page focused on small game, according to testimony from Ed Stubbs.

Bag limits will remain the same at four daily and eight in the hunter’s possession at one time.

The eight members of the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Advisory Council who attended a meeting on March 18 voted unanimously to approve the expansion. A public hearing was held on March 6, where there was no opposition.

The season change does not affect hunting gray squirrels by falconry. That season will remain from the last Saturday in September through Feb. 28.

There is no open trapping season for gray squirrels.

In a second rule change, the department altered the dates for migratory bird seasons to comply with the 2025 calendar. Most moved by just one day, except for north zone youth waterfowl season, which will shift a week later this year from Sept. 14-Dec. 7 to Sept. 20-Dec. 13.

A long-tailed duck. Credit: Courtesy of Dave Small

For other migratory bird seasons, it was simply a day shift. For example, woodcock season was Sept. 28-Nov. 19 in 2024 and will be Sept. 27-Nov. 18 this year.

Most migratory waterfowl bag limits are the same, except the number of pintail ducks has increased from one to three daily, and those on black ducks, scaup, scoters, eiders, coots and mergansers have special exceptions to the daily bag limit of six ducks.

Be sure to check on the specific bag limits and zone restrictions in the migratory game bird laws. They can be found here.

Hunters also were warned to be aware of avian influenza. It has been found in southern and midcoast Maine in particular. There are no confirmed cases in the Bangor area. State upland biologist Kelsey Sullivan said during the public hearing that hunters should be diligent about processing meat and cleaning.

A wood duck. Credit: Courtesy of Dave Small

The migratory game bird rules are revised to implement the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the framework for them is provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The public hearing was held March 4, and included a presentation on the migratory game bird populations.

The changes were approved on April 9 without opposition.

All changes for the gray squirrel and migratory game bird hunts will go into effect on April 14.

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Maine

Maine Casino Sues State Over Recently Enshrined Online Casino Law

Published

8 hours ago

February 22, 2026

Press Room

Maine Casino Sues State Over Recently Enshrined Online Casino Law

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The operator of one of Maine’s commercial physical gaming establishments is trying to convince a federal court to vacate the law on constitutional grounds.

The expansion of online gaming in Maine under the control of tribal authorities within the state is facing a federal court challenge brought by the proprietors of the Oxford Casino Hotel in Oxford. The lawsuit argues that the state violated the United States and Maine constitutions when it approved a law that gives tribal authorities within the state the exclusive right to offer iGaming platforms to residents and visitors.

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Oxford Casino Hotel says iGaming law amounts to discrimination

According to Reuben M. Schafir and Morgan Womack of the Portland Press Herald, the federal complaint from the Oxford Casino Hotel argues that the new law contains a “race-based preference” that violates the Equal Protection Clause of both constitutions. The Oxford Casino Hotel is one of two land-based facilities in Maine offering casino-style games to bettors.

The new law represents an expansion of the current system that allows for online sports wagering in Maine under tribal auspices. Under the statute’s tenets, tribal bodies could build relationships with some of the best online casino operators in the US.

There is no official timeline for when licensed platforms with online casino games for real money could launch in Maine. If this lawsuit finds some success, it could prevent that implementation or delay it.

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Lawsuit could derail iGaming rollout out in Maine

The Oxford Casino Hotel’s lawsuit asks the court to overturn the statute currently enabling regulators in Maine to move forward in drafting rules for the gaming vertical. A court order to that effect could stymie the development of stipulations for casino bonus codes in Maine, even if just temporarily.

The Maine Gambling Control Unit must finalize regulations before apps can be licensed, and licensure is necessary for Maine residents to be able to play the best slots to play online for real money in the state legally. This litigation could also delay agreements between iGaming operators and tribal authorities.

Tribal bodies currently have agreements for legal online sports wagering with Caesars and DraftKings. It isn’t a foregone conclusion, though, that people in Maine will get access to deals like the Caesars Palace Online Casino promo code. They may also be able to play at Visa casinos depending on the final rules drafted.

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An uncertain future for the current framework for legal iGaming in Maine might make operators hesitant to negotiate deals. Everyone involved in gaming in Maine will be watching this lawsuit as it moves forward.

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Maine

Homeless from Georgia to Maine

Published

20 hours ago

February 22, 2026

Press Room

Do you suck at talking about yourself? Yeah, me too… anyway, here’s the definition of “homeless” home·less /ˈhōmləs/ adjective plural noun: the homeless; adjective: homeless Having no settled home and living on the streets or in temporary accommodation. Preamble : Hi, Read Below I’m going to be hiking NOBO on the Appalachian Trail this year, and here are my reasons why. Let’s start with a brief intro to me. I reckon that tents/hostels/hotels count as temporary accommodation, …

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Maine

Have You Checked Out These 5 New Maine Restaurants That Opened in January?

Published

1 day ago

February 21, 2026

Press Room

Have You Checked Out These 5 New Maine Restaurants That Opened in January?

Ready for some new bites for the new year?

January 2026 saw a handful of restaurants open their doors for the first time, marking a positive light of deliciousness in the darkness that is the biting cold winters of Maine.

Nothing a little food and drink can’t fix, right?

Maine Restaurants That Opened in January 2026

Several of the debut Maine restaurants in January have taken over the locations of former eateries.

In Brunswick, Baked on Maine has moved into the former Great Impasta location, which relocated right on down the road and opened at 11 Pleasant Street in March 2025.

That left 42 Maine Street wide open, and now, this new spot has moved in, serving fresh bakery items and tasty breakfast and lunch options.

Over in Westbrook, Bombay Bistro took over the former Frog & Turtle location at 3 Vallee Square.

After nearly 20 years, the well-known gastropub would close its doors and the location would remain empty for almost a year.

Now, the Indian restaurant Bombay Bistro has opened with a splash of green and is delivering authentic, flavorful cuisine.

Let’s take a look at some of the places that opened in the first month of 2026.

5 Maine Restaurants That Opened in January 2026

Gallery Credit: Sean McKenna

READ MORE: Maine Restaurant Serving the World’s Largest Lobster Roll Sets Opening Date for Its 48th Season

Have you had a chance to check any of these places out? Any you really want to try?

It’s fantastic to see new restaurant options and places locals can support. Bet there’s going to be a lot of satisfied stomachs coming up, and hopefully for many more years to come.