As publishedSeptember 26, 2026 - December 31, 2026
Statewide, all WMDs.Combined regulatory row with bobwhite quail in Maine's official table (same dates/limits apply to both).
MDIFW runs a real spring drumming-count survey (since 2014) but no standalone published forecast document; results have historically surfaced only via press coverage quoting an MDIFW biologist (Kelsey Sullivan), late September through December in prior years. A fresh 2026-08-19 search pass initially surfaced what looked like a live 2026 quote from Sullivan ("I expect this year's fall grouse population to be up from last year") across several outlets — direct-fetch verification of the underlying Penobscot Bay Press article confirmed it is dated December 19, 2024, describing the 2024 season, not a fresh 2026 finding (same stale-attribution trap flagged in the prior Tier B batch's Illinois prairie-chicken close). No genuine 2026-dated piece found; season opens Sept 28, 2026, so a Sullivan quote for this year isn't expected until closer to or after that date.