Maine Moose Lottery is open

Kevin L. · January 30, 2010, 12:56:00 PM

If you want to try for a chance to hunt moose in Maine, go to www.mefishwildlife.com and apply for the Moose lottery.

Hint for you folks from "away". You can buy 10 chances for $55 and you can buy as many as you want, also.

Good Luck!!

Kevin

DHR · January 30, 2010, 01:00:00 PM

Thanks for letting us know,

I'm applying for the first time this year.

Dan

Highlandwarrior · January 30, 2010, 02:15:00 PM

Kevin, I did mine the day it started! Last week I think? Hoping to finally get mine, though I doubt it with this draw system. Bet 15 chances still don't do me any good!

DHR Good luck, but be ready to do it for a while before you get it. Two things to remember- Non-res can buy an unlimited amount of sets of 10 chances for $55!!!
Second if you miss one year you lose all your bonus points

Kevin L. · January 30, 2010, 03:01:00 PM

Yeah, it's a hard tag to draw. I'm 0/11 so far, but I'm in deep enough on bonus points, I have to keep putting in. Besides, that's a lot of meat for the freezer. I'm hoping to draw the special guide and landowner lottery in the County. I'd be happy to take one of the cow tags and guide the other two.

Good luck!!

Izzy · January 30, 2010, 04:14:00 PM

It took me 11 years to draw my cow tag.Had to sit out last year but this year Im in again.It cant take another 11 years can it?

hayslope · January 30, 2010, 04:54:00 PM

Been applying there about 15 years and counting......I buy as many chances as I can afford at the time........we own property up at Sebec Lake.....I am (un-patiently) waiting to draw that coveted tag. Sure isn't for want of preference points!!!! Maybe this will be MY year!!

Highlandwarrior · January 30, 2010, 05:00:00 PM

preference points in maine are nothing more than an extra chance, they dont move you up the list. Supposed to be random but most people take 10-30 years to draw and a few families get 2-3 EVERY year, they pretty much just rotate through the wait period. Doesn't seem very random!

jhg · January 30, 2010, 07:29:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by hayslope:
.....we own property up at Sebec Lake....

I grew up 10 minutes from there. I shot a 245lb deer there (dressed). I have hunted a lot of the sebec/bowerbank area too.

Joshua

Kevin L. · January 30, 2010, 07:47:00 PM

Yep, some good hunting up by Sebec. I guide over around the Forks and Bingham areas, plus up in The County some. Beautiful country and I'll admit, I'm spoiled with all the land that's open to everyone.

Irish Archer · January 31, 2010, 07:24:00 PM

I think it's a bit of a scam really. I applied for five years and built up points.

Then on my sixth year, I set my application off to the side when it came and forget to send it in until about 2 weeks after it was due(my fault for sure).

Lost all of my points. I won't be able to force myself to start up again. Of course, they're banking on fellas like myself.

Just can't start over again after I've read stories of it taking guys 20 years to draw.

I know a fella that drew a bull tag his first year and didn't go.

Kevin L. · January 31, 2010, 08:59:00 PM

One thing's for sure, you can't win if ya don't play.

TTT for those who want to apply.

Jim now in Kentucky · January 31, 2010, 09:55:00 PM

I went about 20 years before being drawn. It's certainly tilted toward folks who are willing to spend extra for more chances.

If you are drawn there is some homework to be done. You need to know that there are two hunting weeks, separated by a week of no hunting. If you are drawn for the second week, the rut will pretty much be over and any scouting done before that will be wasted. You'll have to just find the feed and bedding areas. If it's still warm the moose will still go after the water plants. If the water is frozen over, they will be eating willow twigs and browsing in year-old clear cuts.

Most Maine moose are shot by folks driving the roads all day until they see one. Kind of like a spin of the roulette wheel--a moose might walk out on the road a minute after you go around a bend out of sight.

You also need to be prepared for any kind of weather. It can be in the high 70s daytime, 40s at night or 30s daytime and teens at night. Dry weather, cold rain or snow.

It's a great experience, and I'm glad I have done it.

Jim

JohnV · January 31, 2010, 10:57:00 PM

I think it stinks that Maine lets you "buy" all the additional chances you want. As someone who has been applying for a tag for over 10 years now it shows that the state cares little for fairness and those who have been applying for many years.

George D. Stout · January 31, 2010, 11:45:00 PM

KevinL said, "One thing's for sure, you can't win if ya don't play."

But when you play, you mostly don't win....just like the real lottery. That old cliche, "You can't win if you don't play" has bankrupted many a person I'm sure. Some people could invest their money more wisely.

wapitimike1 · February 01, 2010, 05:22:00 AM

Yeah hard is not the word I'm 0/23 and climbing!!

February 01, 2010, 08:51:00 AM

I'm 0/22 and counting. Didn't enter one year due to hip surgery and lost all my preference points!

buckster · February 01, 2010, 11:35:00 AM

I am putting in for the first time, will be doing 10 chances for $55 I recon.

Anyone want to share their strageties to getting picked. Should I lean towards the areas that have the the highest number of permits?

Should I choose anterless vrs. bull only to up my chances, etc.?

Thanks in advance!

buckster · February 01, 2010, 11:37:00 AM

Here is another question...

I have a very good friend that lives in Maine. Is it legal for him to donate or sell his tag to me if he puts in and gets drawn??

I am guessing that a Maine resident has a much better chance of being drawn?

February 01, 2010, 12:10:00 PM

Buying more "chances to win" just means higher odds--doesn't really do anything for you. And no, the choices you make about areas don't help either--you have to get drawn, first.

DDyer · February 01, 2010, 05:48:00 PM

Buckster, your friend can put you in as his sub-permitee and then either one of you can shoot the moose,the sub-permitee has to be hunting with the permit holder.You have to name the sub-permitee at the time of application.