Hunting Guide

How the Maine Moose Lottery Works: A Complete Guide

Maine’s moose hunting permit system is one of the most coveted — and competitive — big game drawings in the country. Every year, tens of thousands of hunters apply for a limited number of permits to hunt Maine’s iconic moose. Understanding how the lottery works can help you make better application decisions and improve your odds.

How the Lottery System Works

Maine’s moose hunting permits are allocated through a computerized random drawing. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) manages the system. Applications are typically accepted in the spring — usually from late March through mid-May — with the drawing held in June.

Each applicant selects their preferred Wildlife Management Districts (WMDs) when applying. You can list multiple zone preferences, and the system processes your application in order of preference. If your first-choice zone is full, it moves to your second choice, and so on.

Resident vs. Non-Resident Odds

Maine reserves a portion of permits for residents and a portion for non-residents. Generally:

  • Residents receive the majority of available permits (roughly 85-90%)
  • Non-residents compete for the remaining 10-15%

Non-resident odds are significantly lower due to the smaller allocation and high demand from out-of-state hunters. However, thousands of non-residents do get drawn each year.

Preference Points and Bonus System

Maine operates a bonus point system, not a traditional preference point system. Here’s how it works:

  • For each year you apply and are not drawn, you receive one bonus point
  • Bonus points accumulate over time — the more points you have, the more entries you get in the drawing
  • When drawn, your bonus points reset to zero
  • You can skip a year without losing your accumulated points

This system rewards persistence. Long-time applicants have significantly better odds than first-time applicants.

The Sub-Permittee System

Each moose permit allows the permit holder to designate one sub-permittee — a second hunter who can also carry a firearm and participate in the hunt. However, there is still only one moose tag between the two hunters.

Key points about sub-permittees:

  • The sub-permittee must be named when you accept your permit
  • Both hunters must hunt together and share the same moose tag
  • Once a moose is harvested by either hunter, the hunt is complete

This system is fantastic for hunting with a friend or family member — our guided hunts include the sub-permittee.

Group Applications

Maine allows group applications for moose permits. Here’s how they work:

  • A primary applicant (permit holder) can list up to one sub-permittee on the application
  • Both names go into the drawing as a unit
  • If drawn, both receive hunting permits

Group applications can be strategic because they pool bonus points. The application is evaluated using the average of all group members’ bonus points.

Choosing Your Zones

Zone selection is one of the most important decisions in your application. Consider:

  1. Tag allocation: Some zones issue more permits than others
  2. Moose density: Northern zones (WMDs 1-11) have the highest moose populations
  3. Access: Some zones have better road access than others
  4. Success rates: Historical harvest data is available from MDIFW

We hunt WMDs 1-11 and can advise on zone selection when you book your hunt.

What Happens After You’re Drawn

If your name is drawn, congratulations! Here’s what comes next:

  1. Notification: MDIFW notifies winners by email and posts results online
  2. Permit acceptance: You must accept your permit and pay the license fee ($585)
  3. Sub-permittee designation: Name your sub-permittee if you’re using one
  4. Orientation: Attend a mandatory moose hunting orientation (in-person or online)
  5. Book your hunt: Contact us to secure your dates!

The permit acceptance deadline is strict — typically within a few weeks of notification. Miss it and your permit goes to an alternate.

Tips for Improving Your Odds

  1. Apply every year to accumulate bonus points
  2. Consider less popular zones with higher draw odds (we can hunt many zones)
  3. Apply as a group to pool bonus points
  4. Be flexible on season dates — September and October both offer great hunting
  5. Check zone-by-zone odds in MDIFW’s annual harvest report before applying

Alternative: Lodge Tag Hunts

Don’t want to wait on the lottery? We also offer lodge tag hunts — moose permits allocated directly to outfitters. These don’t require winning the lottery. Learn more about lodge tag hunts →

Ready to plan your Maine moose hunt? Contact us to discuss zone selection, lottery strategy, and available dates.