Why Is Maine’s Moose Lottery and Hunt Disappearing? – DownEast.Com

By George Smith

You’d have to conclude that hunters are losing interest in Maine’s moose hunt, judging by the huge decline in applicants in the state’s once-popular moose lottery.

Since lottery applications peaked in 1994 at 94,532, applications from residents have declined by 50 percent and from nonresidents by 37 percent.

In the last two years alone, applications have decreased by a stunning 23 percent.

The number of applications this year was the lowest in the twenty-eight years of the state’s modern moose hunt. A total of 49,729 hunters applied this year for moose hunting permits, including 37,012 residents and 12,717 nonresidents.

More than 60,000 resident and nonresident hunters applied for permits in the first regular moose hunting season in 1982. An initial “experimental” season held in 1980 attracted 36,636 applicants. That lottery was closed to nonresidents.

Department leaders said that the recession, high cost of the hunt, and lost interest on the part of hunters who have never won a permit are the reasons for the decline in sales.

They continue to deny that their decision in 2009 to stop printing and mailing applications to previous lottery participants, and instead to go to an online application process only, has made any difference. Clearly, it has.  Click link below for full story!

via Maine Nature: Georges-outdoor-news 2010 June – Why Is Maine’s Moose Lottery and Hunt Disappearing? – by George Smith.