The Maine moose hunt.
Another year, another successful Maine Moose Hunt. Believe me when I tell you the process takes almost the WHOLE year. The Maine moose lottery will open usually in February. UPDATE: Maine has changed the lottery opening date for 2024 to April 1st. This is when the strategies begin, (wink, wink). Seriously though, there is no strategy. The Maine moose lottery began in the 1980s as a way to manage the state’s growing moose population. It quickly became a popular annual event for hunters, with thousands of applications submitted each year. The lottery has undergone several changes over the years, including the switch to an online-only application process in the early 2000s.
Despite the slim odds of being selected, many hunters continue to apply year after year in the hopes of winning a coveted moose hunting permit. Some lucky hunters have been selected multiple times over the years, (like my husband) while others have yet to be chosen.
Oh, the anticipation…
Sometime in early to mid-June is the big day. Moose Lottery Day. It’s pretty much a state holiday at this point. Friends and family gather to listen online, if available, anxiously awaiting their names to be called. If the lottery is not available through streaming or radio, the State of Maine website. will post the lucky hunter’s names by 6 PM. Also, there is always a “festival” in a different town in Maine each year, where the potential hunters can watch the drawing live. We all know someone who is attending in person, who will also promptly notify us if a family member is drawn. Yes, it’s that big of a deal.
Research is key to a successful moose hunt.
The next few months leading up to the hunt are all about research and planning. Who will accompany you on this hunt? Where will you stay for the week? Maine is separated into many managed hunting zones. so your hunt could potentially be several hundred miles from home. As a wife and mother to avid hunters, I do know every detail is considered, every day, until the actual day of the hunt.
Take the time to Scout your zone.
This practice is crucial to the hunt. Maine is a small state but the land is vast. Hunters must comb the area, looking for moose, paying attention to any sign in the area, and finding those important areas that are open to hunting. You can go months before, weeks, or days. The important part is to get out and do it.
Cross your t’s and dot your i’s.
Licensing information comes via postal mail, and it is important to go online and pay your fees, by the due date. Don’t mess this up, there is an anxious alternate on a wait list just hoping for this very thing!
Folks, this is just the tip of the iceberg, the fun is just beginning. We’ve got lots to share, so come back and visit. Learn more About us here.
I almost forgot! There is apparel. I’m not talking camouflage or blaze orange. I’m talking T-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, and can coolers. Anything you can imprint with the details of your hunt, to offer to friends and family. It’s a big deal, brag about it!
Our choice for fun apparel this year.
