AUGUSTA — The 2018 hunting and fishing licenses are now available for purchase online or at any of the more than 800 licensing agents statewide.

The state offers a range of hunting and fishing opportunities. Maine is nearly as large as all the other New England states combined, with more than 17 million acres of forested land, 6,000 lakes and ponds and 32,000 miles of rivers and streams.

The department’s online licensing system offers the convenience of purchasing from home, camp or office and allows the opportunity to print out multiple copies of licenses. All proceeds from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses stay at the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. 

Lifetime licenses are also available for children younger than age 15 and adults 65 and older. Lifetime licenses allow the bearer to fish, trap and/or hunt in Maine for their lifetime, regardless of where they live in the future.

Revenues generated by these licenses are deposited in a special trust fund that provides long-term financial support for Maine’s fish and wildlife.

MDIFW also offers additional gift items in the online shop such as logo apparel, “The Maine Way” cookbook, season passes to the Maine Wildlife Park or the opportunity to support conservation efforts with the purchase of a Maine Birder Band or Heron Sticker.

FMI, license: mefishwildlife.com.

Maine has more than 6,000 lakes, one of which this man ice fishes. Fishing and hunting licenses for 2018 may now be purchased from the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.