Our Maine Street's Aroostook Issue 10 : Fall 2011 | Page 63

easier. One of the things that need to be considered by the
hunter is proper handling of the moose once it has been
harvested. Adequate cooling of the meat is an important
consideration. Allowing the animal to cool and be iced
down as soon as possible is an important step in preventing
the spoilage of the meat. Black pepper placed on exposed
meat also helps prevent flies from being drawn to the moose
and allowed to lay eggs. If the hunter decides not to butcher
the moose themselves, it is advisable to reserve a spot with a
local meat cutter.

Maine game wardens also look forward to moose
season. This is generally a busy time of year for them with
many people taking to the woods. Game wardens are there
to help insure that everyone has a safe hunt and abide by
Maine hunting laws. Many a sportsmen has been able to
successfully end their hunt after a conversation with a game
warden, who pointed them in the direction where moose
had just recently been seen.

Game wardens are also kept busy by addressing
violations they encounter.
Safety concerns of loaded
guns in motor vehicles, not wearing adequate hunter’s
orange, shooting from a roadway, and others are addressed
annually. Other violations encountered are killing more
than one moose, killing a moose of the wrong gender for
their permit, and hunting moose without a permit. Small
bulls are sometimes mistaken for cows and shot. When it
is discovered that the moose shot was not the proper sex,
the shooter may leave the moose there to rot. Some people
get excited and end up shooting more then one moose,
registering one and again leaving the other to rot. These
criminal acts are taken very seriously by Maine game wardens
and great effort is put forth to bring the responsible people
to justice. These violators face loss of hunting privileges, loss
of firearm, thousands of dollars in fines, and imprisonment.
If you are in the fields or woods of Maine this year and
see any of these, or other violations, please help protect
Maine’s resources and call Operation Game Thief at 1-800253-7887 (1-800-ALERT-US). This is a tip line to report
poaching in Maine. The caller can remain anonymous and
does not need to give their name.

If you are one of the lucky ones to be selected for a
Maine moose hunting permit