Moose are the center of our world in the North Woods. They are elegant, awkward, majestic creatures and they are the No. 1 reason tourists go out of their way to explore the Moosehead Lake region. And, they are at risk.

Maine’s Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife is the organization that is charged with caring for and protecting our moose herd and they are the very people who are prioritizing killing versus caring for them. Why? Predictably, it’s money. The MDIF&W is a self-funded state organization that generates revenue through fishing and hunting licenses, fines and moose hunt lottery fees. The moose hunt lottery fees have been the fastest growing part of their budget and they want more. How are they going about it?

They have quietly proposed to add an additional week of moose hunting, and move up the current week, in the three zones surrounding Moosehead Lake during peak fall tourism season. The proposed two-week moose hunts would fall on the last week of September and the second week of October, effectively shutting down the North Woods to tourists for two of the busiest weeks of the season. And the fall foliage season, the second most popular reason tourists come to Moosehead Lake, only lasts for three weeks. This move would be devastating to small businesses in the area, resulting in lost revenue and lost jobs in a region of the state that can’t afford it.

Jennifer Whitlow
Greenville