To look up your Maine hunting license online, go to the Maine Online Sportsman’s Electronic System (MOSES), the official portal run by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Sign in with your MOSES ID or with your name, date of birth, and zip code, and you can view your license, see any attached permits, and save or print a PDF copy in under a minute.
Step-by-Step Lookup in MOSES
Open the MOSES page on the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife website. The first screen asks whether you have your MOSES ID number. If you do, enter it along with your name and date of birth. If you don’t, leave that field blank and enter your first name, last name, date of birth, and zip code.1Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife. IFW Hunting and Fishing Licenses – Frequently Asked Questions
You’ll then select your residency status (Maine resident or non-resident), indicate whether you’re on active-duty military service, and pick the license category you want to pull up, such as hunting and fishing, trapping, or whitewater trip registrations.2Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife. IFW Hunting and Fishing Licenses When the system matches your entries to a record on file, a confirmation screen appears with your profile and current credentials.
Where to Find Your MOSES ID
Every person who has bought a Maine hunting or fishing license is assigned a unique MOSES ID. It’s printed in the top left corner of any paper license you’ve previously received.2Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife. IFW Hunting and Fishing Licenses The ID makes lookup faster, but it isn’t required. Your name, date of birth, and zip code are enough for the system to find you.1Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife. IFW Hunting and Fishing Licenses – Frequently Asked Questions
If the search comes back empty, the usual cause is a small mismatch with how you originally registered. Try adding or removing a middle initial, or a different spelling of your first name. If nothing lands, contact the Department directly.
Viewing, Saving, and Printing Your License
The confirmation screen shows your personal details, residency status, the type of license you hold, the issue date, and any permits or stamps attached to your account. From that screen you can open a PDF of the license itself, save it to your phone, or print a paper copy.
Maine lets hunters carry either an electronic or a paper copy in the field.3Maine Dept of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Hunting License Information – Section: Keep Your License With You Showing a warden the PDF on your phone is valid proof. Phones die, though, and cell service in a lot of Maine’s woods is thin. Printing a backup before the trip is cheap insurance.
Getting a Printed Copy From a Licensing Agent
If you’d rather do it in person, authorized licensing agents around the state have direct access to the MOSES database. Agents include town clerks and certain retail stores appointed by the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.4Maine State Legislature. Maine Code Title 12 10801 – Establishment of Agents Bring a valid government-issued photo ID. The agent can pull up your record and print an official duplicate at the counter.
Agents can charge a service fee, capped at $6 per transaction under state law.5Maine State Legislature. Maine Code Title 12 10803 – Agent Fee Cap A transaction covers a single visit, so if you pick up more than one license or permit at once, the agent fee still tops out at $6.
Why It’s Worth Doing Before You Head Out
Maine law requires you to carry your hunting license and any necessary permits while hunting or transporting game.3Maine Dept of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Hunting License Information – Section: Keep Your License With You An electronic copy on your phone meets this rule as long as you can display it on request to a game warden, a department employee, a registered Maine guide, or the landowner where you’re hunting.
Hunting without a valid license is a Class E crime. The penalty is a minimum fine of $50 plus twice the applicable license fee, and it’s charged per day.6Maine State Legislature. Maine Code Title 12 11109 – Licenses and Fees For a resident big game holder, that works out to at least $102 for a single day. Pulling up your record in MOSES the night before takes about a minute.
If Your Record Has an Error
If your MOSES record shows an outdated address, a misspelled name, or the wrong residency status, neither the online portal nor a licensing agent can edit that information. You’ll need to contact the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife directly, by phone at 207-287-8000 or by email at info.ifw@maine.gov. Sorting out any discrepancy before the season starts is easier than explaining a mismatched license to a warden in the field.