WRITTEN BY STEPHANIE BOUCHARD

Maine’s moose hunt was resurrected in 1980, and since then, it has gone through a variety of changes. This year, the biggest change is that lottery applications began in April instead of January, but what isn’t changing is a family-friendly experience on lottery day: Saturday, June 15.

This year, the moose lottery and associated activities take place in Fort Kent. While event specifics were still being determined as of early spring, those attending can look forward to food trucks, educational and fun presentations on-stage and off, entertainment for all ages (moose calling contests, for sure), and vendors for the shopping inclined.

Fort Kent’s moose lottery festival takes place the same weekend as the annual Ploye Festival, which is Friday, June 14, at Lonesome Pine Lodge, so there will be plenty of food and fun for those making a weekend of it. The moose lottery events take place June 15 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Go to www.fortkent.org for a schedule of events.

“[People] can bring lawn chairs if they want to sit outside of the pavilion,” says Suzi Paradis, Fort Kent’s town manager, “but we’ve contracted to have 750 chairs brought in.” There’s also a restroom facility at the park, and there will be additional portable bathrooms on-site. While there’s no ATM at the park, banks with ATM access are nearby, and many vendors have the capability to take digital payments, she says.

While ployes are pretty irresistible, the big draw of the weekend, of course, is the actual lottery, which will take place at the Riverside Park Pavilion from 2 to 5 p.m.

To have a chance in the lottery draw, you have to apply before 11:59 p.m. (ET) on May 15. Maine’s Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, which manages the moose permits and the lottery, no longer accepts paper applications; applications are only online (if you do not have a computer and/ or internet at home, MDIFW recommends going to your local library or asking a friend or relative for assistance).

Go to maine.gov/ifw/hunting-trapping/ hunting to apply, and to learn all about how to apply, who can apply, how to swap permits, district selection, and bonus points. One lottery chance is $15 or one bonus point. Maine residents who have their name drawn on June 15, must pay $52 for the permit; non-residents pay $585.

The chances of getting a coveted moose hunting permit vary year to year. The number of permits issued each year is based on the department’s moose management goals. For 2024, a total of 4,105 permits will be available. For more details, visit the MDIFW’s website.

Last year, about 8% of Maine residents (about one for every 12 applicants) were selected in the lottery, with 3,712 permits issued. MDIFW received 46,242 applications from residents and 26,204 from non-residents. Non-resident permits issued totaled 394, or about one permit for every 67 applicants. In total, MDIFW received 72,446 applications and issued 4,106, an increase of 26 permits over 2022.

The best immediate option to increase your chances of getting a permit this year is to choose a district when you apply that has a higher moose population. Higher moose populations result in a higher number of permits. A chart detailing permit allocations by district will be available on MDIFW’s website in early spring.

If you’re playing the long game, you can increase your chances by accumulating bonus points. For Maine residents, bonus points are gained for each year they apply but do not get a permit. Non-residents can purchase additional chances.

The list of lottery winners will be posted on MDIFW’s website by 6 p.m. the day of the drawing.