CARIBOU, Maine — The popular annual drawing for moose permits will return to Aroostook County next year, as Caribou will play host to hundreds hoping for their chance to hunt.
Chandler Woodcock, commissioner of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, announced June 11 that the 2017 Moose Permit Lottery would be held in Caribou.
“This fantastic event, which draws hundreds of people from around Maine and New England, is an excellent opportunity for people to see all that Caribou has to offer,” said Caribou City Manager Austin Bleess. “The city is honored to host such a great event.”
A moose hunt is often described as the “hunt of a lifetime,” and many people wait years to hear their name called at the lottery. The state often receives nearly 49,000 entries, and draws names from all 50 states and around the world.
The city submitted an application to the MDIFW earlier this year and received local support from State Sen. Peter Edgecomb for the application. Bleess cited the great leadership of Caribou’s event and marketing coordinator, Lydia Kieffer, as the driving force behind the application.
“We are very excited to host the event in 2017, and we look forward to hosting a weekend full of activities around the permit lottery,” the town manager added.
This year’s lottery was held on June 11 in Kittery. The drawing was last held in Aroostook County in 2014, hosted by Presque Isle.
