PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Saturday’s Maine Moose Lottery event, held this year at UMPI’s Gentile Hall, drew hundreds from across the state, including vendors and hunters hopeful their name would be called for one of the coveted moose permits.
Over 3,000 hunters found out they’d be taking part in what many call the “hunt of a lifetime.”
Doors opened at 11 a.m. with various displays attracting visitors of all ages. Bluegrass music was played from noon to 2 p.m., featuring the local bands the Fiddle Heads and the Left Over Biscuits. This was followed by the Maine Professional Guides Association’s moose calling contest. The L.L. Bean Bootmobile drew many to the parking lot, while a display of two bull moose locked in battle also garnered much attention.
The moose lottery got under way at 3 p.m. — considered the grand event of the June 14 Maine Lottery Festival.
Nick Archer, of the Presque Isle Fish & Game Club, served as emcee, introducing guest speakers and announcing the names of those designated to read winners’ names throughout the ceremony.
Presque Isle City Council Chair Emily Smith said the city of Presque Isle was “absolutely thrilled to host the event.”
“I hope you enjoy the city, come back soon and good luck,” said Smith, whose family’s land is open to hunting.
Theresa Fowler, executive director of the Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce, noted that the region represents much of Maine’s hunting land and welcomed those in attendance to The County.
Commissioner Chandler Woodcock, Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, spoke next, announcing the location of next year’s drawing.
“The 2015 Maine Moose Lottery will be held in Bethel,” said Woodcock, as he kicked off the reading of the winners’ names. Those waiting to read names waited beside the stage, lists in hand. Winners present to hear their names called were presented with a bright orange hunting hat to mark the occasion.
Among the first to win a permit was Ina Cyr, 82, of Presque Isle, who’d come early and was seated in the front row. Walking with a cane, Cyr gingerly made her way up to collect her cap, pumping her left fist enthusiastically as she passed the stage.
Local ladies seemed to have good luck early on, including Traci Bushey, of Masardis, who had her name called within the first few hundred winners announced.
“This is my second permit, my husband, Thomas (Bushey) is my sub-permittee. He’s never gotten a permit,” said Bushey, who serves as the secretary for the Maine Warden Service in Ashland.
Bushey said she spent the better part of Saturday taking in the sights and sounds of the festival.
“I’ve never been to one of these events. I thought it was neat — a lot of fun. We got there around 11 a.m. and spent the day talking with vendors and listening to the names being called,” she said.
“I enjoyed some ice cream; we made a day of it,” said Bushey.
This year, 53,577 people applied for the chance to hunt moose, including 15,158 non-residents. There were 3,095 permits available this year, 10 percent of which go to non-residents.
Hunters may hunt moose in one of 25 wildlife management districts (WMD’s), which cover over 21,000 square miles. The moose hunt is divided into four separate seasons that take place from September through the end of November.
The annual moose lottery generally draws several hundred hopeful people to the event. Since 1999, the DIFW has rotated the lottery throughout the state. Prior to 1999, it was always in Augusta. Over the past 15 years, lotteries were held in: Millinocket, Boothbay Harbor, Old Town, Bucksport, Scarborough (three times), Presque Isle (this marks the second time), Rumford, Phippsburg, Kittery, Fort Kent, Freeport, Oquossoc and Greenville.
For those unable to attend the lottery drawing, the names of permit winners are posted on the DIFW’s website www.mefishwildlife.com.
