Maine offers several ways for veterans and service members to take advantage of the state’s many parks, beaches and the Maine State Museum. The Maine Resident Free Lifetime Veteran Park and Museum Pass provides a day use pass to Maine’s state parks and historic sites, as well as the Maine State Museum to veterans who are residents of Maine and received an honorable discharge or general discharge under honorable conditions. The Veteran State Park and Museum Pass does not expire and is valid for the lifetime of the holder.
The park pass is valid for the veteran only and is limited to Maine state parks and historic sites operated by the Maine Department of Conservation. Passes are non-transferrable and may not be used by anyone other than the veteran. Please note that Maine veterans age 65 years or older will not be issued a park pass as they are automatically entitled to free admission as a Maine senior citizen.
The Maine Resident Day Use Park Pass for Active Military Personnel entitles the holder, and the holder’s spouse and unmarried children (when accompanied by the holder), to free admission at Maine’s state parks and historic sites.
Eligible service members must have Maine as their home of residence and must be serving in an enlisted grade in the armed forces as defined in 10 United States Code, Section 101(a)(4). Passes are issued for a calendar year and may be renewed upon application and verification of continuing eligibility.
Neither pass may be used at the following locations:
• Acadia National Park
• Baxter State Park
• Allagash Wilderness Waterway
• Penobscot Corridor
• Penobscot Narrows Observatory
• Maine Wildlife Park
100% disabled veterans, their spouses, and unmarried children are exempt from paying:
• Regular day use entrance fees to Maine’s state parks.
• Shelter reservation fees.
• Family camping and reservation fees.
• Group camping and reservation fees (applicable to disabled veteran only).
To take advantage of this benefit, the veteran must display either the special disabled veteran plate or similar placards and must be present in the car. Any group members that are not spouses or unmarried children are subject to regular use fees. State parks rules dictate that no more than 6 individuals may be on a family site and that the disabled veteran must be present for the entire reservation
A disabled veteran who has a service-connected disability evaluated at 50% or more may obtain a complimentary license to fish, trap, and hunt (including archery, muzzleload, crossbow). Maine’s complimentary hunting and fishing license extends to: bear, migratory bird, pheasant, spring/fall wild turkey, coyote night hunt, one expanded archery antlerless deer permit, one expanded archery either sex permit, and - upon meeting the qualifications - a license to guide.
This license is available to disabled veterans who are residents of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont.
This license remains valid for the life of the license holder, as long as the license holder continues to satisfy Inland Fisheries & Wildlife’s residency requirements and the license is not revoked or suspended. Please visit the above website for more details and an application.
Since 2009, Maine has offered disabled veterans a free chance to participate in a controlled moose hunt in Aroostook County. Held in conjunction with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IF&W) and Smoldering Lake Outfitters, the Hunt provides permits to in-state residents and permits to out-of-state residents to hunt on broccoli fields to help with crop protection and herd management.
This Hunt is a very unique program and is unlike the regular IF&W moose lottery, as it requires each hunter to team up with a registered Maine Guide who has specific training for the Controlled Moose Hunt. Each year the Hunt is comprised of small groups of veterans and personal guides who hunt during August and September.
Typically, applications for the Hunt are posted on the Bureau of Veterans’ Services’ website at the beginning of April with the in state participants drawn by lottery system in May. Maine residents interested in applying for the Hunt must have a Maine Disabled Veteran Complimentary Hunting License. Out of state residents must have a big game license from their home state.
Veterans who have previously tagged a moose through the Disabled Veterans’ Controlled Moose Hunt are ineligible to hunt again.
Last Updated: July 31, 2024
