For many, drawing the coveted moose tag, can be the highlight of your hunting career in Maine. Many go decades without being selected even as a resident. Should the time come when your name is drawn in the lottery you need to have thought about how you are going to get this hunt done and be prepared and act quickly to put some planning in before the best guides and motels are taken. This year’s drawing was held on June 12. If you were successful, Congratulations! Are you satisfied with your hunt dates and location or do you want to trade with another successful lottery winner? Will you stay in an area motel or camp? Reservations? Have you cleared the dates with your sub-alternate and other prospective members of your party? How will you hunt—spot and stalk, float a river or stream, drive the logging roads, climb a tree stand? How are you going to get your moose out of the woods and to the check station and butcher? Lots of questions and options confront the recent selectee but they all add to the excitement of the hunt. Here are some thoughts to help you through many of these questions, many you have no doubt already thought of, some maybe not.
Schedule
IFW will confirm dates of your hunt and send you your permit paperwork. Decide early if you will use a guide or rely on your sub-alternate and friends to first find then get your moose out of the woods. Many underestimate the level of effort required. Set up several scouting trips to scout the area you will hunt so you can be efficient about getting around in the area you have and getting your moose out should you be successful. Plan to arrive on a non-hunting day i.e. Scout Sunday. Figure out where the closest check in station is and a local meat processor if you are going to use one.
Before you leave home make sure you have all your paperwork in order such as Maine Hunting License/moose/deer permit. Have you Health Insurance cards, cash, credit cards, checkbook and driver’s license. Be prepared for unexpected costs such as food and billeting money, check station fees, meat processing costs, unexpected equipment costs such as additional coolers, guide fees and tips, tolls and gas fees, miscellaneous costs such as alcohol, cigars, snacks and drinks.
Travel Issues (if driving)
Have good maps of the areas you will hunt. The Maine Gazetteer is surprisingly useful when you get up into the Unincorporated areas and logging roads. Tires/snow chains can get you out of mud encountered on some logging roads and early snowstorms. Decide early whether you will use a utility trailer or an ATV to help you move your animal. Consider throwing in a chain saw and all its support requirements as some of the logging roads see infrequent maintenance and you may have to “create a road” to where your animal is down. Take spare sets of keys for all vehicles and brief all members of your party where they are kept. Take non-hunting clothes for travel and camp wear.
Have good maps of the areas you will hunt. The Maine Gazetteer is surprisingly useful when you get up into the Unincorporated areas and logging roads. Tires/snow chains can get you out of mud encountered on some logging roads and early snowstorms. Decide early whether you will use a utility trailer or an ATV to help you move your animal. Consider throwing in a chain saw and all its support requirements as some of the logging roads see infrequent maintenance and you may have to “create a road” to where your animal is down. Take spare sets of keys for all vehicles and brief all members of your party where they are kept. Take non-hunting clothes for travel and camp wear.
Equipment
Although this is a moose hunting trip, consider what other members of your party might wish to hunt (for example, birds, deer, bear where the seasons overlap) and bring the necessary gear. Cell phone coverage can be spotty at best. Consider using the FRS radios which are short range and sometimes line-of-sight only but good for coordinating group moves. Take things that will help you find your way out of the woods after dark for example headlamps, compasses, GPS. Also consider the kind of light, such as a Coleman lantern, that will give you area lighting for skinning and butchering. For field dressing bring rubber gauntlets and gloves. Calls can be effective during the rut so don’t forget them. Game meat cloth bags for transport from the field are also handy. Shorter sections of parachute cord or rope come in handy when it comes time to butcher and to transport the meat as well as slings, straps, snatch blocks, pulleys and winches. Pack boards and bags can make the pack out easier. Clothes I will leave to your discretion. Expect wet cold weather and you won’t be disappointed. Remember Blaze Orange requirements.
Although this is a moose hunting trip, consider what other members of your party might wish to hunt (for example, birds, deer, bear where the seasons overlap) and bring the necessary gear. Cell phone coverage can be spotty at best. Consider using the FRS radios which are short range and sometimes line-of-sight only but good for coordinating group moves. Take things that will help you find your way out of the woods after dark for example headlamps, compasses, GPS. Also consider the kind of light, such as a Coleman lantern, that will give you area lighting for skinning and butchering. For field dressing bring rubber gauntlets and gloves. Calls can be effective during the rut so don’t forget them. Game meat cloth bags for transport from the field are also handy. Shorter sections of parachute cord or rope come in handy when it comes time to butcher and to transport the meat as well as slings, straps, snatch blocks, pulleys and winches. Pack boards and bags can make the pack out easier. Clothes I will leave to your discretion. Expect wet cold weather and you won’t be disappointed. Remember Blaze Orange requirements.
Actions to be Accomplished Before Departure
Provide emergency phone numbers and itinerary to spouse/family
Sight-in rifle for 1 to 300 yds with or without gloves
Prepared Meals
Decisions/Discussions with your partners before the hunt
Sharing of meat and processing costs
Overdue Hunter Procedures
Sub-Alternate shooting plan—when, if ever, does he/she shoot?
How will the decision be made and by whom and when?
Enjoy your hunt! <
Sight-in rifle for 1 to 300 yds with or without gloves
Prepared Meals
Decisions/Discussions with your partners before the hunt
Sharing of meat and processing costs
Overdue Hunter Procedures
Sub-Alternate shooting plan—when, if ever, does he/she shoot?
How will the decision be made and by whom and when?
Enjoy your hunt! <
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