A total of 3,705 hunters drew permits in Maine’s 2026 moose lottery. Some applicants drew their first year of applying, while others waited years for the opportunity to pursue the state’s largest game animal. The 2026 hunt includes 2,645 bull permits and 1,060 antlerless permits.
A lot of time and effort goes into a successful moose hunt. Long before the season opens, hunters are scouting, setting trail cameras and searching for the best places to call moose with grunts, bellows and cow calls. There’s also the race to line up guides, lodging and game processors. For many hunters, friends and family take time off work to be part of the experience.
Ahead of your hunt this fall, here are six videos that offer a glimpse of the preparation, challenges and excitement that come with a Maine moose hunt.
Some hunters use a Cocall electronic game call to imitate a cow, while others rely on nothing more than their hands. Another option is a traditional birch bark call, like the one demonstrated here by Butch Phillips of Milford. Drawing a bull away from a cow can be challenging, but these techniques showcase the range of calling methods hunters use to bring moose within range.
There’s not much more exciting than getting a decent bull on camera, especially right before your scheduled hunt. Bulls can be unpredictable, traveling long distances in search of cows during the rut. But if you place trail cameras during the summer and check them regularly, you may be able to identify areas frequented by cows and predict where a bull is likely to show up next.
Hopefully you see some moose before your hunt, but not quite as close as this encounter captured by Allagash Antlers. Caleb Lewis captured this footage of a bull moose that eventually charged him. The animal’s body language, including its flattened ears and the visible whites of its eyes, indicated it was uncomfortable with the close proximity.
Mainers are ingenious when it comes to getting a moose out of the woods. Four-wheelers, chains, ropes, chainsaw winches — you name it. But sometimes, especially in areas far from logging roads or in places where four-wheelers aren’t allowed, such as the North Maine Woods, field dressing is a necessity. If your hunt takes you into one of these areas, or if you simply enjoy processing your own game, this video is for you. Registered Maine Guide Dave Hentosh and wildlife biologist Lee Kantar demonstrate the steps of properly field dressing a moose.
The registration station should be your first stop once your moose is in the vehicle or trailer. Registration stations will take an incisor from your moose that is later used to determine its age. The following year, you can search your permit number online and find that information. Body measurements, including weight and antler beam diameter, are also taken at the station. In many areas of Maine, the registration station is a place of camaraderie and stories. A picture of a moose hanging from a scale is part of Maine’s hunting heritage and a long-standing tradition for many. Harvested moose and deer in Maine are often judged more by their body size and weight than by their antler size.
Having a video of your hunt is a trophy in itself, preserving memories long after the meat is gone and the antlers are on the wall. This one is particularly special. In 2021, John and Emma Altman, their son Rye and a close family friend embarked on a Maine moose hunt accompanied by two videographers from HuntingME. The video captures everything from camp life and a close-range encounter to field dressing and the pack-out. Not only were they successful, but the moose was harvested with a bow — a feat that’s challenging to accomplish with any big game animal.