Our Maine Street's Aroostook Issue 10 : Fall 2011 | Page 62

Moose Hunting In Maine by Warden Kevin Pelkey Since 1980 the one thing that seems to be the most coveted by a Maine hunter is the Maine moose hunting permit. During the early 1900’s moose populations in Maine had dropped to only a couple thousand due to changes in habitat, uncontrolled hunting pressure and market hunting. In 1935 all legal moose hunting in Maine was closed. In 1980, forty-five years later, moose hunting in Maine again became legal through a permit system. Only seven hundred permits were issued in this first hunt. After thirty-one years of hunting, the moose population has continued to rebound, and this year 3,862 permits have been issued throughout the state. The moose hunt is now a successful management tool, allocating set numbers of permits in specific areas to better control the balance between the desire of Maine residents to view moose and the public safety concerns of car moose collisions. The permits are issued through a lottery type system and are specific to the dates, geographical area of the state, and the gender of the moose that may be hunted. Much thought and effort should be put into a 62 FALL 2011 moose hunt, but the result could easily be memories that last a lifetime and enough meat to feed a household. As the season approaches there are many sportsmen anxiously planning their upcoming hunt. Whether it be booking with a guide, scouting locations, sighting in their rifles, or practicing their moose calling skills. The moose hunt occurs through different phases of the moose rut or breeding time. During this time moose can be very vocal and on the move looking for a mate. With proper scouting, calling to moose can be a very exciting and productive experience. The hunter in search of a bull or male moose makes calls resembling the sound a female moose makes when looking to mate. If conditions are right, this can lure in a bull moose. There are also many reputable guides in the state that can be booked for the hunt. Many offer good accommodations and a local knowledge of the area moose herd. Moose are large animals and can present a daunting task once it comes time for field dressing and removing the animal from the field. Being properly equipped, with both knowledge and equipment, can make this task go much