Why Maine is doing a survey on the state’s moose hunt

The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife wants to hear from anyone who uses Maine’s woods, whether it’s for hunting or recreation.

The state has hired Resource Management, a professional firm that will conduct two public surveys. One is a scientific survey using random calling and the other is an online town hall where residents and nonresidents can enter their opinions.

The surveys will be used in the next phase of decisions the state makes about managing its moose population and hunting season structure. The goal is to balance the needs of hunters and those who take part in other outdoor activities in the fall, while doing what’s best for the healthiest moose herd, according to Lee Kantar, Maine’s moose biologist.

The state has received complaints from hunters about the timing of the moose hunt, especially when the first week overlapped the start of grouse season; the number of moose allowed in certain zones; how the hunt limits access to other recreation and conflicts between moose watchers and hunters, among others on a laundry list of discontent.

The Maine Legislature directed the wildlife department to convene a group of moose stakeholders to decide the next steps in managing the herd. Members included people from the department, guides, outfitters, wildlife viewers, chambers and several others. There also were people with expertise in various areas, such as Kantar, who answered questions the committee had as it met.

The committee came to consensus on three steps to take, the first of which was the two-part study that began July 22 to figure out what the specific issues are around moose management and the annual hunt, Kantar said.

The three primary questions in the online town hall are on how people view the status of the moose population, what the primary issues are for moose in Maine and whether the participants feel they know enough about the status of the herd. Questions could be added if the online discussion warrants them, so participants are encouraged to check back after their initial responses.

The town hall forum closes on Aug. 10.

The committee’s second step was the need for moose hunter education. There already is mandated training for those who participate in the adaptive hunt, which takes place in specific areas the state is studying and monitoring. There is a voluntary training program for other moose hunters, but it could become mandatory by 2025, he said.

The impetus behind the education is that the uniqueness of Maine’s moose hunt — such as the size of the animals, the rough terrain they live in and the difficulties with getting them out of the woods once shot — warrants education beyond regular hunter safety.

The third recommendation was to change grouse season so that it opens on the last Saturday in September, but closes during the first week of the moose hunt if they share that time period. That change goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2025.

When the law was changed in 2019 to allow upland bird season to open on the last Saturday in September, it set up a conflict in years when there is a full week of bird hunting in September. The first moose hunt is typically the last full week in September.

The Legislature passed LD 2216 this year to revise that law to allow upland season to open on the last Saturday of September but suspend bird hunting when the first weeks of moose and grouse hunting coincide. The revision should eliminate the conflicts between the two types of hunters during that week, Kantar said.