Interest In Hunting Maine’s Moose On The Slide
June 11, 2007
When Maine began its moose hunting season, it was quite a novelty. At its peak, over 85,000 hunters filed an application for a chance at the random drawing. Today, the number of applicants has dwindled to around 65,000 and this Thursday’s drawing at the Phippsburg Elementary School is expected to reflect the same downward trend.
I have read several newspaper accounts of this and all reports state that the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife can’t figure out why. Really? Are they sure about that? I think they do know but just don’t want to say.
I don’t think you can put your finger on any one specific thing that has caused the waning interest. I believe it is a compilation of many factors, none of which are being addressed by MDIFW officials.
Here’s my attempt at listing some of the things that I think contribute, at least to some degree, to the lack of interest for moose hunting. I also realize I will overlook and/or miss several things so feel free to add to the list in the comments section.
1. The novelty has worn off. Like with anything, once the honeymoon is over, it is only natural that some people will tend away from being a part of the hoopla.
2. The number of moose in Maine has increased over the years. With better management of the moose, along with help from Mother Nature, moose populations statewide have increased and people can view moose most anytime – even at times when they don’t want to. This kind of goes hand in hand with number 1.
3. More people have had an opportunity to hunt moose. As the years have progressed, the number of hunters having experienced a moose hunt, whether as the main licensee or a named partner, has increased. Let’s be real here! There has to be a certain number of hunters who, once they experienced the hunt, decided, “Well, that was a great experience but I don’t think I’ll do it again.”
4. Land access issues. In one article I read yesterday, one hunter said he believed that the growing trend toward less land available to hunt on has added to the declining interest. I think this is a no-brainer. It is a nationwide trend that is hampering the opportunities of hunters to be able to get into the woods. In some cases it’s quite discouraging.
5. Rising cost of gasoline. Nothing to really discuss here.
6. Rising cost of hunting license and permit fees. Ditto!
7. Growing number of disgruntled hunters who have been applying for a moose permit since day one and never getting picked. They really get ticked off when they see others who have been selected multiple times.
8. The realized cost of going on a moose hunt. I believe there are a certain number of people who go into a moose hunt for the first time not fully comprehending the total expense of the hunt – gas, lodging, ice, etc. say nothing about the amount of work.
9. The perception by Maine residence that MDIFW is using the moose hunt as a major fund raiser. Some people are very adamant about how officials use the moose lottery for raising money with little or no concern for the applicant. Even though Maine uses a system that gives an applicant who has applied repeatedly an added opportunity to get picked, many perceive this as not a fair or viable system, especially those who have had no luck.
10. Perception of hunters that buying chances (points) is politically motivated an does nothing to help those who have never been drawn. It just adds to the expense. Every time the cost of hunting, whether through the increase in license fees, application fees, etc., goes up, there will always be someone who calls it enough and hangs up the old rifle or in this case, just decides a moose hunt is not worth it.
11. Part of a downward trend nationwide in the number of hunters. No secret here. As recruitment of hunters continues to decline, it is only natural that the number of those interested in moose hunting will also decline.
12. How you have to hunt the moose has changed. Some will agree with this and others will disagree but at least consider it. When Maine first began it’s moose hunt, it had been decades since the large mammal had been hunted. Over the years, the moose has learned more to be wary of humans. This has had to contribute to the difficulty now being realized at finding a moose. Hunters are having to get out of their warm trucks and go into the woods and do some calling, etc. Many hunters like this challenge and it actually adds interest to the hunt, while the proverbial “heater hunter”, the lazy one doesn’t and some of those will not have the desire to make the change.
I’m sure I have left some things out but when we stop and examine all aspects of the moose hunt, I don’t really think it takes a rocket scientist, or in this case a wildlife biologist, to figure out why interest is on the decline. This decline has been progressing gradually and officials in Augusta have known that, yet what have they really done to make changes that would assist in keeping the interest high? Raise rates?
Thursday in Phippsburg is the annual lottery drawing. About 2,800 permits will be drawn and as has always been the case, thousands of hunters will go online or pick up the newspaper on Friday and do some real cussing and swearing as once again, they were not selected. How many times do you have to kick a guy before he finally walks away?
I hope to see some of you at the drawing. I plan to attend the early portion of the show and mingle and meet people, takes some pictures and perhaps nab a story or too. If you’re there, look me up. I’ll be the good looking moose hunter in the crowd. Ha!
Tom Remington
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Yup, I agree with everything you said!
1940 was the last “open” moose hunt, where a man could go out and shoot something big enough to SUPPLY ENOUGH MEAT FOR THE WINTER!
In 1980, they came up with a lottery then sometime later the Legislature figured out how to make them selves some money saying “Hunters will pay any fee to hunt moose!” They were right to a point, but it has gone on too long and folks are disgruntled over the whole mess.
I hope to see you there, Tom.
[...] Tom over at Black Bear Blog has an interesting story today on the drop in numbers of applicants for … Here is my take from my perspective on the topic. [...]