Navigating the Maine Moose Permit Lottery

How to Navigate the Maine Moose Permit Lottery: A Comprehensive Guide

It is the most coveted hunting tag in the Northeast. If you are dreaming of a trophy bull, you need to understand how to throw your hat in the ring for the Maine Moose Permit Lottery.

The Maine bull moose. Standing up to seven feet tall at the shoulder and weighing over a thousand pounds, it is the undisputed king of the North Woods. For hunters across the country, harvesting a trophy Maine moose is a bucket-list dream.

But unlike our abundant white-tailed deer or black bear populations, you cannot simply buy a moose tag over the counter. Because the demand far outweighs the sustainable harvest numbers, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) manages moose hunting through a strict lottery system.

The process can seem daunting—the Maine Moose Permit Lottery operates differently than most Western states—but someone has to win. At Thibodeau Outdoor Adventures, we guide moose hunts in some of Maine’s premier zones (4, 7, 8, 9, and 14), and we want to help you understand the process so you can take your shot.

Here is a breakdown of how the application process works.

1. The Timing: Maine Moose Permit Lottery Deadlines

The lottery runs to a fixed annual calendar, and the cut-offs are hard. These are the confirmed 2026 dates:

• Application window: 1 April to 18 May 2026, closing at 11:59pm ET. Applications are accepted online only.
• The drawing: held 20 June 2026 at the Acton Fairgrounds, with results online the same evening.
• Auction Deadline: If you plan to bid on an auction permit, the deadline is typically mid-February.

If you win, you must pay for the permit by 16 July 2026 or you forfeit it. Miss the application deadline and you miss the hunt for that year — there are no exceptions. Click here to access the online application portal.

2. The Cost: “Buying Chances”

Maine uses a system that functions more like a raffle than a standard western application fee. You can purchase multiple “chances” to increase your odds in the draw.

• 1 Chance: $15
• 3 Chances: $25
• 6 Chances: $35
• 10 Chances: $55 (You can purchase multiple blocks of 10 entries at $55 each to further increase your odds).

• Moose Permit: Approximately $585 (in addition to your standard ~$115 hunting license).

Note to Non-Residents: Non-residents are eligible for up to 8% of the permits. While the competition is stiff (3,705 permits were issued in 2026 across every season and district), people do draw these tags every year for some of the best trophy zones in the state.

3. The Long Game: Understanding Bonus Points

This is the most crucial part for repeat applicants. While you can buy chances (raffle tickets) in bulk, you can only earn a set amount of Bonus Points per year based on your history of applying.

• 0–5 Years: 1 point per year
• 6–10 Years: 2 points per year
• 11–15 Years: 3 points per year
• 16+ Years: 10 points per year

4. Choosing Your Zones and Seasons

When you apply for the Maine Moose Permit Lottery, you get up to 10 choices for Wildlife Management Districts (WMDs). You do not have to fill all 10 slots; only select the areas you are willing to hunt. You can view the official WMD maps here.

You also have the option to select your preferred season: September or October.

• September Season (WMDs 1-6, etc.): Typically runs in late September.
• October Season (WMDs 1-15, etc.): Typically runs in mid-October.

In zones that offer both, the lottery fills the September slots first. Unless you have strict date restrictions, we recommend applying for both seasons to maximize your chances of drawing a tag.

Thibodeau Outdoor Adventures focuses our guided moose hunts in Zones 4, 7, 8, 9, and 14. These areas offer a fantastic mix of high moose populations, trophy bull potential, and accessible terrain.

5. Sub-Permittees (No Party Applications)

Unlike some states, Maine does not allow party applications where a group applies together for multiple tags. However, they do offer the Sub-Permittee system.

• You can designate a “sub-permittee” (spouse, child, hunting partner) on your application.
• This allows you to hunt together, and either of you can shoot the moose.
• Important: You are still limited to one moose total per permit.

6. The “Swap” Option

Did you draw a permit for a zone far from your camp? Uniquely, Maine allows permit holders to swap zones with other permit holders.

• This is a great option if you draw a zone that wasn’t your first choice but you find someone else willing to trade.
• Swaps must be completed by mid-July (forms are usually mailed to Augusta).

If You Win the Lottery…

First, celebrate. You have just secured one of the hardest tickets to get in the hunting world.

Second, start planning immediately. A moose hunt—especially for a trophy bull—requires significant logistical planning, scouting, and gear. Moose are massive animals, and recovering one from the deep woods is a monumental task.

This is where we come in. If you draw a permit for Zones 4, 7, 8, 9, or 14, contact Thibodeau Outdoor Adventures. Our fully guided six-day hunts ensure that you maximize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We handle the scouting, the calling, and the heavy lifting of extraction and transport, so you can focus on the thrill of the hunt.

Click here to apply now and good luck in the draw!