Erik Francis, 28, of Pleasant Point harvested his bull moose at 7 a.m. in Zone 8 on Passamaquoddy tribal land. He was one of hundreds of hunters who hit Maine’s woods on opening day of the regular 2024 moose season.
This week was for bulls only. There will be another bull week Oct. 14-19 and an antlerless moose week Oct. 28-Nov. 2. Adaptive hunts will be held in the last half of October until Nov. 2.
The hunt this week in 12 wildlife management districts for the state permits people received through the annual moose lottery encompasses Aroostook, Washington and northern Penobscot counties. But for the Passamaquoddy, archery season opened on Sept. 1 on tribal land.
It was Francis’ third moose this year, and it weighed 814 pounds and had a 9-point rack. Francis shot it from 30 feet away with a compound bow that had belonged to his grandfather. The moose ran another 200 feet before collapsing dead, he said.
It was the second animal he has killed with a compound bow. The first was a 603-pound cow moose on Sept. 14, which he kept for meat in his household. The bull he shot Monday will be given to a disabled tribal elder and her family.
Francis said he has been hunting with his bow for more than 10 years and didn’t get anything with it until this year.
He shot his first moose in August with a .308-caliber rifle. That animal and a buck that weighed more than 100 pounds were harvested for the annual Celebrational Passamaquoddy Days — the equivalent to a powwow, Francis said.
“The personal goal of killing a big moose with a sharp stick always drew me. You get a real sense of connection with an animal when you harvest with a bow,” he said. He also pointed out the connection that hunting with a bow has to his tribal heritage.
Francis said he almost didn’t go to the woods today, but he knew the animals would be moving because it was colder in western Maine. His truck registered 37 degrees Fahrenheit for an outside temperature.
The fog that socked in the morning had receded by the time he reached the hunting grounds. He drove the woods roads in Zone 8 near Jackman until he spotted the bull about 30 feet into the woods. He slid out of his white Ram truck with his grandfather’s 60th anniversary Martin compound bow, nocked the arrow and shot the moose.
Francis said he drives around when the animals are on the move and he usually hunts alone. His friend from Lefty’s Butcher in Jackman helped him get the moose out of the woods. He said he usually uses that butcher’s services to process his meat..
“I was blessed to be able to harvest a moose. I told the Creator that if I was blessed with a bull, I would slow down my hunting,” he said.
Francis plans to hunt at the end of October with his girlfriend, who has a state tag for an antlerless moose.
Northern Maine seemed to be warmer than western areas of the state. Brenda White of Gateway Trading Post said it was 51 degrees in Ashland this morning. She had 26 moose registered at her station by 4 p.m. Her largest was 882 pounds, brought in by Brittany Demmons of Windham.
Lento Sporting Camps in Blaine had some success Monday as well. One large bull weighed 811 pounds, with a 47-inch antler spread and 15 points.
This week’s bull hunt ends Saturday.