We all enjoy seeing moose. And even though ticks are killing some of them, we still have a high population, between 60,000 and 70,000, so we can offer moose hunting. This year, moose hunting applications reached a 15-year high, at 65,634. And the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife increased moose hunting permits to 3,135, 11% more than last year, with the increases coming in northern Maine.

DIFW moose biologist Lee Kantar told Press Herald staff writer Deirdre Fleming, “Perhaps people also realize what a phenomenal resource we continue to have with moose despite struggles with winter ticks. Maine should be considered a top choice of anywhere for moose hunting.”

Maine moose hunting guide Roger Lambert and his clients certainly know this. Roger has lots of wonderful moose hunting stories, and I am very pleased that he has published some of them in his book, “The Great Maine Moose Hunt.” Subtitled “Celebrating 40 Years of Modern Moose Hunting in Maine,” it is all of that and lots more.

Roger would tell me some of his amazing moose hunting stories, and when I urged him to write them down, he would insist that he couldn’t write. So I convinced him to tape record his stories, and our friend James Cote typed them up.

I think Roger made a good decision when he invited some of his clients and other guides to add their best moose hunting stories to the book. And I was fascinated by all the wonderful photos in the book.

One of the stories and photos is about the time more than 1,000 of us, at the Skowhegan Fair Grounds, set a Guinness world record for the most people doing a moose call together. My wife Linda and I are in the crowd and photo. And the call was organized and led (of course) by Roger Lambert.

In 1980, Maine reestablished its moose hunt, and a group quickly qualified a citizen petition to stop the moose hunt. I worked in the campaign to defeat that initiative and was very pleased when the people of Maine did just that.

One of my favorite stories in this book was about Roger’s moose hunt in 1980 with his dad, Elbert Lambert, who won a permit. They shot an awesome bull moose. There’s a great photo of Roger and his dad with their moose. I can tell you that you’ll feel like you are right beside Roger as you read his stories.

Fairly quickly after that hunt, Roger became a moose hunting guide, and quickly earned a reputation as one of the best. Wait ‘til you see all those huge moose his clients shot!

Maine’s moose hunt is an amazing experience, even if you don’t get the moose you wanted. While it is never — or at least not usually — an easy hunt, we have a surprisingly high success rate. Many moose hunters hire guides like Roger Lambert, which really improves their opportunity to be successful. Roger is a very busy guy, including work on his farm, and he knows the woods and just where those big bull moose roam. Anyone who hunts with him is very lucky.

I’ve never won a permit, but I’ve enjoyed moose hunts with a friend who has a camp on the north end of Moosehead Lake. I hope you know that you can enjoy moose hunting with your friends even if you are not the shooter.

As Lonnie Humphrey wrote in her story in the book, “Please remember, the hunt isn’t about the trophy. It’s about the scouting, the preparation, the meals, the time around the campfire, and most importantly, the time spent with family and friends in the great outdoors.” That is so true.

You may be able to find Roger’s book in your local book store, but you can also order it by emailing him at rmllambert@hotmail.com. A lot of people have been ordering a bunch of the books to give them to family and friends.

I hope you enjoy a moose hunt this year. And I guarantee if you read Roger’s book, you’ll want to do that.

George Smith can be reached at 34 Blake Hill Road, Mount Vernon 04352, or georgesmithmaine@gmail.com. Read more of Smith’s writings at www.georgesmithmaine.com.

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