M A I N E

MOOSE HUNTER’S GUIDE

UPDATED
JUNE 2023

BEFORE YOU GO
Review all Maine’s hunting laws.
Download a PDF copy of Maine
Hunting Laws and this book at
mefishwildlife.com/moosehunt.

Information appearing in this book may not be valid after July 2024.
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MAINE MOOSE HUNTER’S GUIDE
Tips for a Successful Moose Hunt............... 3 Transporting Your Moose to the
Plan Your Hunt........................................... 3 Registration Station + Meat Processor.... 22

Do Some Strategic Scouting........................ 3 Keep it Clean......................................... 22

Learn the WMD........................................... 4 Keep it Cool........................................... 22

Field Butchering, Packing, Radio Collars and Ear Tags................... 22

& Transport Supplies.................................. 4
Moose Meat + Hide Care.......................... 23
Pack Maps & Spare Vehicle Parts................ 4
Butchering................................................. 23
Get Some Guidance..................................... 4
How Much Did My Moose Weigh?........... 23
Consider Booking a Sporting Camp........... 4
When a Moose Yields More Meat
Choose a Hunting Method than you will Eat….................................... 23
that Works for You..................................... 5 Disposal of Unwanted Parts..................... 23
Ply the Waterways....................................... 5 A Caution on Liver & Kidney
Walk & Stalk................................................ 5 Consumption............................................. 24

Build a Blind................................................ 6 Parasites & Moose..................................... 24

Sit in a Stand................................................ 6 Tape Worm in Maine Moose..................... 24

Moose Calls.................................................. 6 Care for Taxidermy of Harvest Moose..... 25

Distinguishing Bulls, Cows + Calves........... 7 Moose Harvest Information..................... 26

Moose Age.................................................. 26
Make a Clean, Humane Kill........................ 9
Maine’s Moose Harvest Trends................ 26
Recommended Cartridges........................... 9
Where to Aim............................................... 9 Avoiding Moose Hunting Pitfalls............. 27
Tracking & Recovery................................. 10 Permit Requirements, Bag Limit + Permit
Type.......................................................... 29
After the Shot: Field Dressing,
Meat Care + Transportation..................... 11 Who May Hunt.......................................... 29
Plan for All Facets of Your Moose Hunt... 11 Bag Limit.................................................... 30
Permit Type............................................... 30
Field Dress the Moose.............................. 13
Permit Requirements................................ 30
How to Field Dress a Moose
Using the Gutless Method.................... 13 Three-Year Waiting Period........................ 30
Skinning a Moose...................................... 14 Hunter Ethics........................................... 30
Helpful Hints........................................ 15
Respect Maine’s Private Landowners....... 31
Cool, Clean & Dry!................................ 15
Safety....................................................... 32
Removing the Meat................................... 16
Moose Ovary Collection From Gut Pile... 19 North Maine Woods................................. 32
Other Information................................... 33
Phone Numbers You May Need................ 33
 CH E CK O U T G O O G LE E ART H
If you’re computer-savvy, you can use
Google earth to find young cuts and
twitch roads/winter roads to access
some of the best moose hunting areas.

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Tips For a Successful Moose Hunt
You are about to experience what many consider to be a once in a
lifetime opportunity – moose hunting in Maine! As a permittee you
are guaranteed the opportunity to hunt Maine’s largest mammal.
You are not guaranteed a successful hunt, a mature “trophy” bull,
or quality meat. A Maine moose hunt requires proper planning,
scouting, gear, and hard work.

Plan Your Hunt

Unless you live within the Wildlife Management District (WMD) where you will
hunt, you’ll need to do some planning to make your moose hunt both successful
and enjoyable. Specifically, you’ll want to:

Do Some Strategic Scouting

Prior to your hunt, scout your district for high use areas. Locate recent browsing, pellet
groups, rubs, wallows and tracks. If you put your time in scouting a week before the
hunt, your chances of success will improve. If you are unable to scout ahead of time,
utilize aerial photography, such as what is on Google Earth, to identify areas within
your WMD that would likely hold quality moose habitat, and attempt to check those
areas out the day before the hunt begins. This will assist you in narrowing down areas of
interest ahead of time, and help to improve your chances of success.
Spots to look include:
• .5- to 15-year-old clear cuts – these are favorite spots for browsing moose
• Areas with lots of young trees – look for areas with lots of saplings about the size of
your wrist, and some softwoods (such as fir or spruce trees) mixed in for cover.
• High terrain – big bulls can often be found in these spots during warmer parts of the day
• Older, overgrown clear cuts – these still offer good food and bedding areas for moose
• On the move – even after the rut, many bulls are still on the move looking for cows.
Moose do not like the heat of the day, so they’re more likely to be on the move in the
late afternoon or early morning.
• In the woods/Off the road – At one time, scouting for moose was as easy as driving
the roads and scouting clear-cuts. But today, the number of roadside 5- to 15-year-old
clear cuts has decreased, resulting in limited roadside visibility. Plus, increased road
traffic has made moose warier and less likely to be found standing out in the open
awaiting opportunistic hunters. A better option is to plan your hunt off the beaten
path, not unlike how you would hunt white-tailed deer.

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 Learn the WMD
You are required to hunt in the Wildlife Management District (WMD) your permit is for.
Learn the WMD borders by visiting mefishwildlife.com/wmd. A Maine Atlas and Gazet-
teer is a great tool to learn the topography and road network within your selected WMD.
Consider highlighting the border of the WMD in your Atlas.

Field Butchering, Packing & Transport Supplies

While many of the same techniques that apply to deer hunting can be translated to
moose, there’s one major exception - you may find yourself with an animal on the
ground weighing nearly 1,000 pounds.
More than likely, you will not be able to drive to where the animal falls, so you will need
to carry equipment to field butcher your animal, pack it out, and transport it to a tagging
station. Make sure your equipment list includes the following:
q Game bags or several cotton bed sheets or pillow cases. 1 large bag for each quarter, and
1 bag for neck meat, rib meat, backstraps, and tenderloins, for a total of 5 bags.
q Whether using a gutless method or gutting the moose-then quartering, a good, sharp
hunting knife (drop point 3.5"-5" blades are nice) is essential.
q Sharpening stone
q Cloth wiping rags
q 1/4" to 1/2" nylon rope (at least 100 feet)
q Sharp axe or hatchet
q Large sheet of polyethylene or light tarp (to lay meat on while processing)
q Sturdy hand saw, preferably a boning saw
q Heavy-duty pulley and/or a winch or come-along (1-ton minimum capacity)
q Large cooler (keep coolers with ice out of the sun!)
q I ce – frozen milk jugs are best! Bags of ice will not do the job. Note that ice that has been
frozen for longer periods of time lasts much better (i.e. won’t thaw as quickly) than ice
that was formed the night before. Moose hunters should freeze their milk jugs a month
or two in advance, if possible.
q Latex and/or cut resistant gloves
q Tarps to protect your meat and moose from dust during dry conditions
q Pack frame and/or plastic game sled (for transporting meat)

Pack Maps & Spare Vehicle Parts

If you’re going to be hunting in remote commercial timberlands (and you probably will
be), take some precautions to ensure you don’t get lost or stranded. Bring sufficient maps
of your hunting area, consider a GPS unit with maps, OnX, Huntwise, GoHunt, Garmin
Earthmate, or other Hunt applications for smartphones where you can cache your maps.
Always pack extra fuel, tow straps, tools, and spare tires for your vehicles and trailers.

Get Some Guidance

Hunters who utilize Maine Guides are typically more successful than those who don’t.
To view listings of local guides, visit maineguides.org or maineguides.com.

Consider Booking a Sporting Camp

More than just places to stay, many such camps are located in popular hunting areas,
staffed with helpful Mainers, and typically employ or partner with registered Maine Guides.
For a directory, visit mainesportingcamps.com.

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Choose A Hunting Method
That Works For You

Moose hunting in Maine is a rare opportunity, so consider making your hunt a

traditional hunt off the beaten path! Hunters who plan to “drive the roads” are less
likely to harvest a moose than those who get out of their vehicle and into the woods
where the moose are. There are many ways to hunt backcountry moose. Here are a few
to consider:

Ply the Waterways

With miles of shoreline along lakes and ponds, rivers, and streams throughout the
moose hunting districts, water hunts via a canoe can be especially successful, allowing
you to slide up quietly on an unsuspecting moose. Floating, when used in conjunction
with calling, can be most effective, allowing you to cover greater ground and provide
for a wonderful hunting experience. When hunting near water, alternate calling and
pouring water to simulate a moose walking and feeding in the water. But keep in mind
that shooting a moose in the water can cause enormous difficulties. Some will sink, and
all are hard to get ashore.

Walk & Stalk

This is another effective method. Once you have scouted out some moose holding
areas, use a DeLorme Maine Atlas and Gazetteer to identify old logging roads or jeep
trails that are no longer traveled – these make ideal paths for stalking. Slowly walk the
road, stopping every so often to call, then wait. Be sure to stop in places where there
is cover (patch of alders, behind a tree, etc.), avoid stopping in the middle of the road
where there is no cover. Be patient – many hunters will wait for 20-30 minutes before
proceeding, patience often pays off.

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 Build a Blind
If you have found a prime area that moose frequently visit, you may consider building a
blind or a series of blinds over a wide area using downed trees and available brush. You
may want to build a morning blind and an afternoon blind. Pick out a spot with good
visibility that allows for comfortable, quiet sitting. Calling is optional, but can be very
effective. Attracting scents such as a cow in heat and bull urine, scent sticks, and scented
gels can help draw animals within range of your blind. These work especially well if
applied the night before you plan to sit. Be sure to disassemble at the end of the week.

Sit in a Stand
Hunting from a tree stand provides an added advantage over a blind by increasing your
visibility and getting your scent off the ground. Again, calling is effective, but sitting
quietly works well if you’re hunting an active trail. Remember to refresh yourself on the
laws applying to the use of tree stands.

Always be mindful of wind direction! Whether you are walking and stalking
or hunting from a tree stand or blind, it is essential you hunt with the wind in
your face, and not in the direction that you are looking or expecting to see an
animal from. This not only prevents an animal from smelling the hunter, but also
minimizes the chance that the animal will hear them, too.

Moose Calls
During the rut, both cow and bull moose respond to a variety of calls. Cows will respond
to cow calls, looking for companions, as will bulls looking to mate. If you plan to call, you
first need to select a call and practice. It is especially effective to practice on real moose
during your pre-hunt scouting.
• First, consider using one of many commercially produced calls. These calls are well
designed and have been extensively tested. When used by a hunter who has practiced,
they deliver the right sound.
• If you desire a more traditional call, construct a “bull horn” from birch bark, much the
same as the Native Americans did.
• Another form of a “bull horn” is to use a large coffee can. Put a small hole in the center
of the bottom and soak a 24-inch rawhide string in water overnight. Feed the rawhide
through the bottom of the can, securing with a knot. By pulling the string through your
fingers at varying rates you can easily simulate the desired moose call.
• “Bull horn” type calls can be heard over long distances even on windy days. However,
hearing a responding call on a windy day can be quite difficult.
• Another call is the hand call. To do this, cup both your hands together, and bring them
to your mouth. You can simulate both the cow in heat call and bull grunts.

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Distinguishing Bulls, Cows + Calves
This may seem obvious, antlers vs no antlers, but knowing the different physical characteris-
tics between bulls and cows will help ensure your target and increase efficiency. In the thick
woods of Maine, it is more common to see parts of a moose than the whole! Honing your
observation skills for the hunt is a key but often overlooked ingredient to success.

BULLS
1. The face of a bull is bicolor; that means
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it has a dark muzzle that contrasts with
a brown face.
2. The hind end of a bull will be dark with
no vulva patch.
3. The dewlap or bell of a bull, especially
as they grow older will tend towards a
disk shape and may or may not have a
rope attached below the disk.
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4. And of course, usually have antlers

COWS
1. The face of a cow is typically uniform
in color and can be light tan or brown.
2. All cows have a white vulva patch
1 below the tail. 99% of bulls do not.
3. The dewlap or bell tends to be small
and rope-like.

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 CALVES
The majority of the time a calf will
be with or near a cow, especially
when spooked.
DON’T SHOOT!
You may kill 1. Calves have a short snout relative
both animals. to adults and can be readily
This image is distinguished when side by side.
intended to 2. The body of a calf appears square,
show size
while adult moose are rectangular.
comparison
and behavior. 3. Behavioral cues are important
when you see a big moose and a
small moose but cannot readily
determine sex and age. When alert
and responding to movement from
hunters or other disturbance, calves
will typically shadow the cow and
when stopped may touch snout to
snout with cow. By October calves
will typically be close to
400 pounds.
4. Male calves which qualify as
antlerless moose have small bumps
(pedicels) on either side of their
ears but no hardened antlers

Photos by Tori Lee Jackson and Ron Logan.

Target, sex/age identification is critical to a moose hunt, specifically with the

subpermittee system! Even in the thick Maine woods it remains critical to use binoculars
to identify target and remain on the same page and in direct communication with the
subpermittee. Since cow-calf pairs travel together and the limit is one moose per hunter
it remains imperative to identify your target and ensure that you know what is behind
the target including another moose! Thus, identification coupled with shot placement is
imperative.
By law, an antlerless moose is a moose without antlers. That means an antlerless moose
permit allows you to shoot a female moose without antlers, a female calf, or a male calf
moose without antlers. Male calves in October/November have small bumps (pedicels)
on either side of their ears but no hardened antlers. Yearling bulls can have short spike
antlers or branched antlers (these are illegal to harvest during the antlerless and adaptive
unit hunt).

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Make A Clean, Humane Kill
You should make every effort to make the quickest, most humane kill possible. This requires
use of the proper firearm, larger caliber, and the ability to hit vital areas. Moose can be
stalked to distances under 100 yards, so try to get as close as possible to the moose to provide
the most effective, well placed, and humane shot. Consider using a range finder (ranging the
moose is a good job for the subpermittee) to measure the exact distance.
Recommended Cartridges
There are vast options of appropriate firearm calibers and cartridge combinations to swiftly
and humanely kill a moose. The most important factor is marksmanship and shot placement.
However, it is important to choose a combination that has a bullet weight and terminal
ballistics that is powerful enough for moose. Magnum cartridges can help with this, but
are not necessary to efficiently kill a moose. It is important to remember that a .17 and .22
caliber rimfires are not legal calibers for moose.

Where to Aim
Placing your shot in a vital area is key to making a clean, ethical, and humane kill. The vital
target area of a moose includes the heart and major blood vessels, lungs, and liver.
Depending on the angle of the moose, where you need to aim to hit this area changes.
If you are not confident you will hit the vital area, respect the animal and do not shoot.
Running shots are never recommended even for the most experienced shooters; the chance of
wounding an animal when aiming for the head or rear end is extremely high – don’t do it.
The best shot for a quick, humane kill is a broadside shot.

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 Tracking & Recovery
Moose seldom drop in their tracks when shot and may not show any indications of having
been hit (there may not be any blood). Even if vitally hit, the moose may travel 100
yards without a major blood trail. As a hunter, you must make every effort possible to
recover that animal. After shooting, it is best to wait a few minutes before beginning the
search, and then do so quietly. Pursued immediately, a wounded moose may travel a great
distance before dying.
If the moose leaves your sight, mark your area and the last point the moose was seen.
Carefully inspect the area for blood and hair. If you find blood or hair, continue that trail.
If you don’t find blood where you shot the moose or in the last spot you saw the moose,
this doesn’t mean you didn’t hit the moose. You should spend time looking for blood, hair,
and/or tracks. Because moose have such large bodies, it often takes a longer time for blood
to start dripping on vegetation or the ground and you may not find blood in the trail right
away. To ensure you have adequately searched, you should cover several hundred yards
before giving up the search. Avoid walking where the moose was to prevent stepping on
important sign. You may also want to read additional information about blood sign and
what it tells you about the hit. In some situations use of a blood tracking dog may be the
best solution.

When You Find the Moose, Approach With Caution

1. If the moose is standing or moving, ensure this is the same moose – You can only
harvest one moose.
2. If the moose is laying down, make sure it’s dead – Approach the animal to within
10 feet. Look at its eyes. If they are closed, the animal is probably still alive. If so, kill it
with a shot to the base of the ear (if head is not to be mounted). If the eyes are open and
the animal is not moving, prod it with a sturdy stick to determine whether it is alive.
Always approach the moose from its back side, not in front of its legs, as nerve twitches
could cause a leg to kick out.
3. Rotate the legs – When you’re certain the moose is dead, take each leg separately and
straighten it out and rotate it several times. You should do this because, even after
death, nerve impulses may cause a leg to strike out suddenly, possibly injuring or
even killing the unsuspecting hunter.
4. .Tag it – Tag the moose with the official transportation tag portion of your moose
hunting permit, following instructions on the tag. The full name and address of the
person who killed the moose should be written on the transportation tag.
5. Document it (optional) – Now is the best time for picture taking, before you field dress.

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After the Shot: Field Dressing,
Meat Care + Transportation
You just had a successful moose hunt that you enjoyed with
family or friends, don’t you want to cherish those memories
by taking home hundreds of pounds of delicious, wholesome
moose meat? Don’t spoil your hunt! Be prepared to get your
moose out of the woods as efficiently as possible and properly
field dress and cool your meat.

Plan for All Facets of Your Moose Hunt

✔ This includes getting moose out of woods, processing moose, and care of meat
• Do not underestimate the challenge of getting a 400-1,000+ pound animal out of
the woods – we highly recommend quartering moose to get the moose cooled off
as quickly as possible for the highest quality meat
• When scouting an area, keep in mind how you will get your future harvest out
of the woods
✔ Know ahead where you are going to tag/register your moose
✔ Contact meat cutter/processor ahead of time, preferably in the summer
(visit mefishwildlife.com/moosehunt to find a list of moose meat processors)
✔ Know where they live, how to get there, and hours of operation

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 Decide if you will quarter the moose or bring the moose out in its entirety.

For the highest quality moose meat, the Department HIGHLY recommends quartering
the moose in the field, especially if the air temperature is 40 degrees or above.
Working fast and efficient is critical because meat starts to spoil above 40 degrees
Fahrenheit. The sooner you can get the hide off and start cooling off the moose,
the better. In the same amount of time it takes to twitch a whole moose that was
harvested a few hundred yards off the road, you can quarter a moose and put the meat
in game bags and coolers. Quartering a moose in the field not only saves time, frustra-
tion, and often some physical labor, but also gives you the best quality meat possible.
Keeping it cool: Moose are 101 degrees Fahrenheit on the inside, even if the day is
cool, the moose is not. To prevent spoilage, the temperature of the meat matters, not
the air. At temperatures above 40F meat begins to spoil and when the thermometer
hits 70F bacteria double every 20 minutes! For example, at 50F you may have between
3 and 6 hours to get the moose meat completely cooled down to refrigerator tempera-
ture (40F). So, removing the hide, parting out the hindquarters, neck meat, rib meat,
backstraps, and tenderloins and putting in coolers is critical.

Before going afield, check out our YouTube channel

for helpful tips and information.

mefishwildlife
youtube.com/c/mefishwildlife

Quartering a Field Dressing Locating and collecting

Moose in the Field a Moose Ovaries from Cow Moose

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Field Dress the Moose
You must cool off the moose as soon as possible to protect the meat from spoiling, and
to ensure the highest quality table fare possible. Immediately field dress the animal.
✔ Warm weather (above 40 degrees), dirt, hair, rumen contents, and urine are your
meat spoilage enemies-take field dressing slowly and methodically to preserve the
highest quality meat
✔ If a cow, find the ovaries and place in a bag to bring to tagging station
(Learn how on page 19-21)

How to Field Dress a Moose Using the Gutless Method

Quartering a Moose in the Field
There are different ways to field dress a big game animal. The method described here is
an efficient method that does not require removal of the guts. This technique is partic-
ularly useful for larger animals such as moose. However, it should not be used if you
intend to leave the animal intact overnight before removing the meat. This will cause
spoilage regardless of outside temperature. In this case you should gut the animal.

BEFORE AFTER

In the field, you’ll need these basic field dressing tools:

q Sharp knife or two
q Bone saw and/or axe
q Knife sharpener
q Game bags (check the size and quality)
q Tarp (helps keep meat clean and dry)
q Rope and pulley (for tying off legs, lifting quarters or moving carcass)
q Latex and/or cut resistant gloves
q Pack frame and/or sled (for transporting meat)

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 Skinning a Moose
Remember, the first thing you should do after killing a moose is attach your
transportation tag. To begin skinning, lift the top, hind leg. Start by cutting around
the hock (heel/knee). Continue cutting down along the inside of the animal’s leg
toward the anus.
Just before reaching the anus, turn your knife and cut along the side of the genitals,
leaving them naturally attached to the meat. Continue up the belly along the mid-line
toward the chin. Cut around the hock of the front leg, then down the inside of the leg
to the existing cut at the mid-line. Skin the hide back to just beyond the backbone.
Spread out the hide to make a clean surface for working. Make sure to keep hair away
from the meat since moose hair often carries a pungent odor during the rut that can
taint the meat’s flavor.
Some hunters choose to skin their moose by making the main cut along the mid-line
of the back instead of the mid-line of the stomach. This approach reduces the risk of
puncturing the gut.

STEP 1
With the animal on its side,
skin half of the hide back.

STEP 2
Spread out the hide for a clean
surface to work on.

KNOW THE REGULATIONS!

All edible meat, the head, and evidence of sex must be presented for registration.
The head is your evidence of sex (Maine Hunting Law Book, page 13.)

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Helpful Hints
TYING OFF THE LEGS: If you remove the lower legs, use a bone
saw, or knife, to cut them off just below the hock. Make sure to
leave the Achilles tendon intact. You can thread a rope through
the tendon to tie the legs up. Later this same technique can be
used to hang the quarters.

SKINNING TECHNIQUES: When skinning, use short knife strokes.

Always move blade from the inside of hide to the outside reducing
contamination of meat with hair. Keep your knife at a shallow,
45 degree angle to avoid puncturing the abdomen or other organs.
It is also helpful to use the fingers of your other hand to guide the
knife under the skin as you cut. Once you get started, you may be able
to use your hands to separate the hide from the underlying muscle.

Cool, Clean & Dry!

Once you remove the meat from the animal, it should be placed in clean, dry game bags
and hung in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place. Under these conditions meat can last for
longer periods until it can be processed and frozen.
COOL: To reduce spoilage, keep meat cool. Field dress the animal as soon is it is killed
and never leave the guts inside the animal overnight.
CLEAN: Clean meat ensures better tasting meat. Trim away blood clots and bloodshot
meat. Dirt and hair should be wiped off meat immediately. If intestinal contents touch
the meat, the area should be washed with clean water, and then dried immediately
(normally you should not wash the carcass; water removes the glaze of blood that helps
prevent bacterial growth).
DRY: Allow meat to develop a dry crust on the outside. This reduces spoilage and deters
egg-laying insects. Some people also spray meat with citric acid to reduce bacterial
growth.
Do not wrap meat in plastic garbage bags, or stack game bags on top of one another.
Proper air circulation is essential to keeping meat from spoiling.

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 Removing the Meat

STEP 1 STEP 5
FRO N T Q UA RT ER

HI N D Q UA RT ER
After skinning, lift the front The hip is held together Hip joint
shoulder providing upward by a ball and socket joint.
tension. Pull the leg away from Cut through the tough
the body and slice into the ligaments holding this
armpit. Cut through chest joint in place. Free leg by
muscle into the loosely filleting muscle off top of
attached connective tissue. pelvis following it to the
To remove the front center line of back.
shoulders you do not have Place quarter in clean,
to cut through bone. dry game bag.

STEP 2 STEP 6

B AC K STR A P
Once the leg is almost detached, See step 10 illustration for location of backstrap.
locate the top of the shoulder With knife against the vertical spine, cut from
blade. Cut until leg is free. pelvis to neck. Keep knife as close to vertical
Cutting as close to the ribs spine of vertebrae as possible.
as possible will result in more
meat on the front quarter Vertical
Spine
instead of on the ribs.
Place quarter in clean, Backstrap
dry game bag.
Head

STEP 3
H I N D Q UA R TE R

Lift skinned hind leg providing

upward tension. From inner
STEP 7
thigh work downward. Cut Where ribs end, find horizontal spine of vertebrae.
through the loose tissues Use the tip of the spine as a guide to make a second
toward the genitalia. shallow cut perpendicular to the first. Keep knife
Genitals at shallow angle facing the original cut.
If a bull you can remove the attached
Fillet backstrap off ribs. Horizontal
penis and scrotum, if a cow Spine
you can cut around the milk Place backstrap in
sac if evident and remove. clean, dry game bag.

STEP 4 STEP 8
RI BS

Follow the natural sepa- Use a knife or saw to detach ribs from
ration between the two leg spine. Then use a saw to cut through
muscles. Cut until reaching cartilage attaching ribs to sternum.
Bladder below
midline of pelvis bone. Turn Alternatively, you can
knife to a shallow angle and Midline of pelvis cut rib meat off the
fillet muscle off lower pelvis bone in some areas
exposing the hip joint. (rib meat not
Keep your knife close to the required but good
bone and at an angle to avoid option). Liberally
Sternum
nicking the underlying bladder trim blood shot meat.
and intestines.

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 STEP 9 STEP 13
RI B S

SKI N OT HER SI D E
The diaphragm muscle is attached to the last rib Skin exposed side following same procedure as
and separates the abdominal cavity (do not punc- previously described. Spread hide out to provide
ture) from the chest cavity. Cut through diaphragm a clean surface to work.
to detach ribs from carcass. Then use knife to
remove flank muscle which is found between ribs
and rear legs. Diaphragm
Place ribs and
flank in game bag
with backstrap.

Flank

STEP 10
STEP 14
TE N DE R LO I N

The tenderloins run inside abdominal cavity along backbone

down into the hip. Make a shallow cut just under horizontal From the remaining side of animal, remove front and hind
spine of vertebrae. quarter, backstrap, tenderloin, and ribs following steps 1-11.
Do not puncture intestines. Look over the carcass and use a boning fillet knife to remove
Backstrap any remaining meat from bones.
Vertical Spine
All edible meat, the head, and evidence of sex must be
Backstrap
presented for registration. View additional tagging and
registration requirements in the Maine hunting law book.
Horizontal
Spine
Tenderloin Tenderloin

STEP 15
NECK

Expose neck by skinning hide to the skull just behind ears.

STEP 11 Removing neck meat can be difficult, some people remove
Once tenderloin is exposed, reach into body cavity, use fingers the entire neck with bone intact. Alternatively,
to work it free from the connective tissue. Cut both ends and cut along the natural separations between
remove. muscles and fillet along bones to remove as
Place tenderloin in game bag with backstrap and ribs. much meat as possible.
Although it is possible to leave the guts inside the moose Place neck meat in clean, dry game bag.
cavity for the entire field dressing process, you may choose
to remove the guts at this time. If you do so, prevent spillage
of stomach contents and fecal material by tying off trachea,
esophagus, and anus before making any cuts.

STEP 12 STEP 16
RO LL M O OS E OVER

HEAD

Use the two remaining legs to roll animal over onto Remove the head to bring to registration.
the clean skinned hide exposing the unskinned hide See MDIFW Video, Moose Hunting in Maine:
of other side. Quartering a Moose in the Field to see
To help with maneuvering, leave lower legs demonstration of how to remove the head.
attached until quarters are removed. If you harvested a cow, you must then remove
If moose has large antlers the guts (entrails) and locate the ovaries
sever the neck first or lift by following steps on page 18-20.
antlers and turn them
as moose is rolled
over.

Illustrations copyright Erica Craig. Permission required for future use. Text copyright Alaska Department of Fish and Game, used with permission and
adapted to meet Maine registration requirements.
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 ATTENTION COW HUNTERS
Don’t forget to remove and bring the ovaries to the registration station!

Removing the ovaries from all yearling and older cows is the most important
information the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife can get from
the moose hunt. Your cooperation in removing these 2 ovaries and presenting them
at the registration station is greatly appreciated.
Cow ovaries are the best source of information to determine whether the cow would
have 0, 1, or 2 calves the following May. Some cows will not be successful in carrying
a calf to full term. The annual feeding on moose by winter ticks, results in loss of body
condition in adult cows. The size/weight of an adult cow going into the fall breeding
season is critical to her ability to ovulate and carry a fetus through to calving. By
examining the cow’s ovaries, we have a very strong indication of cow productivity in
the region, twinning rates, and age of 1st reproduction. Getting the age, weight, and
reproductive status of these cows is vital to the management of moose and allocation of
annual moose permits.

Photo by Tori Lee Jackson

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 Moose Ovary Collection From Gut Pile
STEP 1: After you field
dress the moose, and
once the guts are rolled
out onto the ground,
Intestines
stretch out the organs
so the stomach is at one
end and rectum is at
other end of pile.
Stomach

Uterus &
Uterine Horns
Rectum

STEP 2: Uterus
tissue is elastic and
smooth. Here are the
Uterine Horns uterus and ovaries laid
in one’s hands.

Rectum

Ovaries

STEP 3: Ovaries are

Uterine egg-shaped, and there
Horns are two – one at each
end of the uterus to
the far left and right.

Ovaries

19
 Moose Ovary Collection From Gut Pile Cont.
STEP 4: Here is some
round fatty tissue next
to the ovary, that may
look yellow. Do not
confuse this. Note that
the inside of the ovary
looks like it has dark
circles/holes in it.

STEP 5: The knife is

pointing to the ovary
which should be cut
out. Ovaries are less
than one inch in length.

Ovary

STEP 6: Cut out

each ovary and store
in a bag. Bring to
registration station.
Thank you!
Reminder: Bring
BOTH ovaries!

20
The previous process helps one locate and remove the ovaries after the moose is field
dressed. If you wish to locate the ovaries while field dressing your harvest:
1. Push the internal organs up towards the chest so you see where two tubes (the
rectum and the vagina) exit through the pelvic bone.
2. The vagina is the tube nearest the belly. Grasp this tube and follow it carefully
towards the chest until it forks into two tubes, which are the left and right horns of
the uterus.
3. Locate the uterus and insert your fingers under it until the organ lies in the palm of
your hand. Notice a thin, almost transparent membrane that connects this organ to
the animal’s back. Carefully follow the horns of the uterus (left and right sides) to
the ovaries. These are bean-shaped organs less than 1 inch in length (about the size
of a grape) depending on how big the cow is. They may be covered with fat so keep
looking! The ovaries will appear more pinkish in color and will be firmer to the touch
than fat globules.
4. Cut the membranes holding the ovaries in place then place them in a plastic bag.
Both ovaries are needed. If you have any problems the entire uterus can be removed
by cutting through the vagina. The ovaries and the uterus can be kept together and
cooled until registering your moose.

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 Transporting Your Moose to the
Registration Station + Meat Processor
Once you have field dressed and/or quartered your moose and brought the moose out
of the woods, you must register the moose at the closest Moose Registration Station.
The person who killed the moose must remain with the animal until it is registered
(exceptions can be found in law book). Remember that not all tagging stations register
moose, find a moose registration station by visiting mefishwildlife.com/moosehunt.
When transporting a moose to the registration station, your main concern should be
keeping the meat cool and protecting it from dirt and exhaust fumes. Although Maine
law requires that the moose be open to view until after it is registered, the whole animal
need not be displayed - only some prominent portion (leg, head, antler, etc.). Additional
Tagging, Transportation, and Registration Laws can be found in the hunting law book.

Keep it Clean
Dust and mud can make a mess of your moose. Use game bags, cheesecloth or sheets to
protect open meat from flies and road dirt, don’t pile gear on the moose, and take care to
avoid contamination with gasoline from ATVs and spare gas cans. If you transport your
moose using a snowmobile trailer, make sure you protect the moose from dirt thrown up
by the tires. This is especially important if you will be traveling a long distance on unpaved
logging roads.

Keep it Cool
Some hunters rig special insulated boxes in the back of pickup trucks or on snowmobile
trailers. Cooled with dry ice, these are great for transporting meat long distances in warm
weather. You can also pack ice (bagged or in plastic gallon milk jugs) or dry ice in the
body cavity or around the quartered pieces. Just don’t allow water from the melting ice to
contact the meat (water aids bacterial growth and can speed up spoilage), and don’t put
dry ice in direct contact with the meat; use several layers of newspaper for separation.
If you can’t provide any other kind of cooling, at least allow air to circulate around each
piece of meat. You can use a rack of tree limbs to elevate the meat off warm surfaces and
separate the pieces on top of each other, but the best approach is to arrange the pieces all
in one layer with good air circulation above and below.
If you have a long distance to travel and the weather is warm, don’t take your moose
directly home – especially if you’ll be traveling during the day. Instead, take your moose
directly from registration to the nearest facility with a large cooler (a custom meat cutter,
a common carrier with refrigerated trucks, a supermarket, etc.) where it can be hung and
cooled, butchered, frozen, or properly packed in ice.
Radio Collars and Ear Tags
Any radio collars and ear tags found on harvested moose must be submitted to the
agent when the animal is presented for registration. Please do not cut radio collars. If
necessary, radio collars can be left on the moose until it can be removed by a tagging agent
or Department employee.

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Moose Meat + Hide Care
Butchering
If you don’t have the time, equipment, and know-how to process your own moose, have
it processed at a commercial facility. A list of custom cutters who will process moose
can be found at the MDIFW Moose Hunting information website: mefishwildlife.com/
moosemeatprocessing.

TIP: It is best to reserve a spot and let them know your hunt plans as soon as
possible to have available space.

How much did my moose weigh? How much meat will I get?
Many successful moose hunters are interested in knowing how much their moose
weighed alive and how much edible meat they might expect it to yield. Weighing a moose
after it is brought out of the woods (without heart, lungs and other viscera) will give you
the dressed weight. Although there are a number of variables (sex, age, blood loss and
dehydration, etc.) that may affect weight, a reasonable estimate of a moose’s live weight
may be obtained by adding 30 percent to its dressed weight. Those same variables also
influence meat yield. For instance a large bull will have a higher percentage yield than a
young cow, but even more important are shot placement and field care. Meat damaged by
the shot, dirty meat, and spoilage all can lead to lost meat if not careful.
In a perfect situation a hunter can expect to get more than 45% of the dressed weight
in boned out meat. A more realistic expectation is around 40% of the dressed weight.
Remember a lot of things affect the actual amount of meat you will get and many of them
are up to you.

When a Moose Yields More Meat than you will Eat…

Consider donating to the Hunters for the Hungry, a program that provides low-fat
moose, bear, and deer meat to food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters. For more
information, please visit maine.gov/dacf/ard/tefap/hunters_for_hungry.shtml.
Disposal of Unwanted Parts
Dispose of any waste from your moose by deep burial. Disposal of dead animals or
animal parts is illegal on dumps and landfills. A person may not dispose of the parts
not presented for registration where they are visible to a person traveling on a public or
private way.

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 A Caution on Liver & Kidney Consumption
The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and the Maine Center for
Disease Control and Prevention recommend that the liver and kidneys of moose not be
eaten because of possible contamination with the heavy metal cadmium. Several states,
Canadian provinces and Scandinavian countries have issued similar warnings. While
cadmium may accumulate in the liver and kidneys, there is no known health risk from
eating the meat of moose.
Air pollution from copper and nickel industries and from the burning of fossil fuels
accounts for much of the cadmium deposited in eastern North America. Cadmium is
ingested by moose with their food. Human symptoms of acute cadmium poisoning
include severe nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle cramps and salivation.

Parasites & Moose

Hunters should be aware that most wild animals have parasites including moose.
Most moose parasites (i.e., muscle worms) do not cause any recognizable disease.
And while the presence of parasites may be unsightly, most parasites cannot be
transmitted to humans nor do they make the meat inedible. Often the whitish cysts of
muscle tapeworm (Taenia krabbei) are found when butchering but it does not affect the
meat. Muscle tapeworm can either be butchered out or cooked to internal temperature
of 165 degrees. As a precaution it is always advisable to wear latex/nitrile or similar
glove when field dressing and butchering wild animals.

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Tape Worm in Maine Moose (Echinococcus granulosus)
Echinococcus granulosus (EG) is a small tapeworm (typically found in the lungs) that
has a two part lifecycle; one in canids (coyotes/foxes/domestic dogs) and the second in
moose. There are several known genotypes of this tapeworm, and this is the northern,
or least pathogenic, form. Although Echinococcus granulosu can infect humans, it is also
very likely that we have coexisted with these tapeworms for years with no apparent
problems. Humans may become infected by eggs of the parasite, which can be picked up
by contact with canid feces.
In conjunction with the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention and
University of Maine Animal Health Lab/Cooperative extension, we recommend the
following: Hunters should avoid harvesting sick or injured animals and always wear
rubber or latex gloves when field dressing animals. People should avoid contact with
dead animals and contact with carnivore feces. Also consult with your veterinarian to
keep your dogs dewormed and do not let dogs eat organs from either hunter-harvested
animals or from “roadkill” animals. Practice good personal hygiene, wash hands and
contaminated clothes, especially after handling animals or anything that could be
contaminated with feces.

Care for Taxidermy of Harvest Moose

If you are considering mounting your harvest, contact your taxidermist for standards of
care before your hunt.

25
 Moose Harvest Information
Moose Age
When you register a moose, MDIFW biologists retain one of its teeth (the canine). This
tooth can help us determine the moose’s age as well as other critical info about the herd.
If you’re curious how old your moose was, you can look it up by the year of your hunt.
If your name is not listed, or no age is listed, either no tooth was submitted, or we were
unable to determine the age from the tooth.
Learn more at mefishwildlife.com/harvestinformation.

Curious how your moose stacks up, and how Maine’s moose harvests
are trending year to year?
Bulls lose weight between the September and October seasons due to rutting. The average
bull in September will weigh ~715 pounds and in October ~650 pounds. The average bull
shot will be ~4.5 years old and antler spreads will be around 35”. The average weight of an
adult cow will be ~540 pounds.
Check mefishwildlife.com/harvestinformation after the hunting season to see the
updated stats.

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 S U M M A R Y O F

Avoiding Moose Hunting Pitfalls

M A I N E
HUNTING

L AWS As a hunter and moose permit holder it is your responsibility

to understand and follow all of Maine’s hunting laws. Below we
have included a few reminders, but before you go, be sure to
2023-2024

Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife | Season dates for hunting are revised annually. Information appearing in this book may not be valid after July 2024.

view all of Maine’s hunting laws at mefishwildlife.com/laws.

• Hunter Orange Requirement – Anyone who hunts any species with a firearm or
crossbow in a Wildlife Management District that is open to moose hunting must
wear one article of solid-colored hunter orange clothing (hats count). When moose
season overlaps the firearms season on deer, then two pieces must be worn. On youth
deer hunting days, and starting the opening day of firearms season on deer for Maine
residents, through November, all hunters must wear two articles of orange.

TIP: Always keep your orange on, even when in the vehicle traveling.
This way you do not forget it when you leave the vehicle.

• Permittee/Subpermittee and the hunting together requirement – The permittee

and subpermittee must physically be in the presence of each other while hunting,
without the aid of visual or audio enhancement devices. The permittee may hunt alone,
but if the permittee and subpermittee hunt together they must be in contact. The
subpermittee may not hunt unless in the presence of the permittee.

TIP: The subpermittee should ALWAYS be with the permittee. If a moose

crosses the road, do not spread out in hopes of finding “the moose” as you
may think you are harvesting one moose, and, be looking at two different
targets. Direct communication is essential and a requirement by law.

• Loaded firearms - Riding in bed of truck/trailers – Rules have changed in the past
few years regarding loaded firearms in and on motor vehicles. No loaded firearms
are allowed in a parked vehicle, moving vehicle, or a vehicle with the engine running.
A loaded magazine inserted into a weapon is considered loaded.
– A person who is hunting may rest a loaded firearm or crossbow that is under
their control on the vehicle to shoot only when the vehicle is not in motion and
the engine is off.
Note: you cannot stand in the bed of a truck and use the roof as your rest spot.
Feet must be planted on the ground. It is unlawful to shoot from an observation stand
located in the bed of a truck.

• Hunter listed on multiple permits – It is prohibited to hunt/kill more than one moose
per year. Once you have killed a moose – you are done hunting moose for that year
regardless of how many permits a hunter may be listed on.

27
 • How to avoid double kills – Moose often travel in groups and calves often stand close
to a cow. Especially after the breeding season (rut), moose of the same sex will group up
together. As a hunter it is your responsibility to be sure of your target and beyond.
Before you shoot, always check to make sure there isn’t a second moose behind your target.
One well-placed shot is best. If you must take another shot, always be sure you are
shooting at the original moose you shot at to begin with. Take a breath and make sure
there aren’t two separate moose. If you end up having two moose down, please follow guidance
under “Mistake Kills”.
• Identify your target – Hunters need to put effort into checking for antlers. Binoculars and
another person looking for the shooter is very helpful when looking for antlers to be sure
of a legal harvest. If you end up shooting a moose with antlers and have a cow permit – do
not disturb the scene – leave the moose where you shot it and follow steps outlined below.

TIP: View page 7 to learn how to identify the differences between a bull, cow,
and calf moose beyond just looking for antlers.

• Mistake kills. Hunters may find themselves in the unfortunate position of having
killed an antlered moose while they have a permit for an antlerless moose. There are
also instances of double kills. Many of these incidents begin as a non-intentional act.
However, leaving an unused moose to spoil in the woods is intentional and is not a
responsible way to handle an unfortunate incident. In addition, if a hunter kills a moose,
leaves the moose to spoil and then continues hunting and kills another moose, the hunter
has committed numerous extra violations during the process. We encourage all hunters
who find themselves in one of these unfortunate circumstances to leave the moose in
place and report the incident including GPS coordinates as soon as possible to the Maine
Warden Service. Each incident will be investigated independently.
• Learn the WMD boundaries before the hunt – Hunters must hunt within their assigned
Wildlife Management District during their assigned season. Take the time before your
hunt starts to become familiar with the boundaries in your zone: mefishwildlife.com/wmd.
• Hunters drawn for WMD 7 or 13; WMD 12 or 15; 14 or 17; or WMD 27 or 28, may hunt
in either district. Example: A hunter with a moose permit for WMD 12 may harvest a
moose in WMD 12 or WMD 15.

TIP: Purchase a Maine Atlas—it is the best way to ensure you know where you are.

Reminder: There may be areas closed to hunting within your designated Wildlife Manage-
ment District, including Native American Territory and some State Parks, learn more in
the Maine Hunting Law Book.
• Use of drones – A person on the ground or airborne may not use aircraft (including
drones & remote-controlled aircraft) to aid or assist in hunting deer, bear, or moose.

28
• Transporting a harvested moose – Prior to registration, any harvested moose in
transit must be open to view, meaning that the animal is not concealed and can be
readily observed in whole or in part from outside of the vehicle or trailer transporting
it. A transportation tag with the hunter’s name, address, and hunting license number
must be attached to the moose.
• Never block roads – Hunters will often find their area to hunt in and find it
frustrating that other hunters/vehicles keep driving on a road they are actively
hunting on. We get multiple complaints about this every year. Remember, blocking a
road is a violation of the law.

TIP: If you want to hunt a road that is a dead end road, it’s acceptable to
leave one of your helpers or even a vehicle at the end of the road to let
other hunters know that you are hunting that road – without blocking it.
MOST hunting parties will know what this means and be respectful and hunt
somewhere else. If you leave a person at the end of the road, they can let
other vehicles know that there is a hunting party hunting on the road but they
cannot block the road or tell other hunters they can’t proceed onto that road.
View all of Maine’s hunting laws at mefishwildlife.com/laws.

Permit Requirements, Bag Limit +

Permit Type
Who May Hunt
Only holders of valid moose hunting permits and their designated subpermittee may
hunt moose. The permittee must possess the permit at all times while hunting. Hunters
may hunt moose with bow and arrow if they possess an archery license, or they may
hunt moose with a firearm if they possess a big game hunting license. Hunters may
use a crossbow if they possess either a big game hunting license or an archery license,
and a crossbow permit. Hunters may use a muzzleloader if they possess a valid big
game hunting license (no additional muzzleloader permit is needed). The permittee
may hunt alone, but the subpermittee must always be in the presence of the permittee
while hunting; that presence must be unaided by visual or audio enhancement devices,
including binoculars and citizens band radios. Other individuals may be in the hunting
party, but only permittees and subpermittees may hunt or kill a moose. A person may
assist in a hunt without a license or permit for that activity as long as that person does
not carry hunting equipment (firearm, bow and arrow, or crossbow). The “alternate
subpermittee” may assist the hunt, but cannot carry hunting equipment unless that
individual has been designated the only subpermittee prior to the hunt and notified
MDIFW by completing proper paperwork.

29
 Bag Limit
There is a bag limit of 1 moose per permit holder or designated subpermittee, per year.
It is unlawful for any person to hunt moose after having killed or registered one during
the open season of that calendar year.

Permit Type
• A bull only permit holder may shoot one bull moose (a “bull moose” means a moose
with antlers).
• A cow (antlerless only) permit holder may shoot one antlerless moose. “Antlerless
moose” means a moose without antlers -which may be a calf of either sex (5 months old).
A moose may be shot by either the permittee or the subpermittee.

Permit Requirements
Hunters must have a valid big game resident or nonresident hunting license.
An apprenticeship hunter license cannot be used to meet the licensing requirements for
using a moose permit.

Three-Year Waiting Period

Anyone receiving a Maine moose hunting permit must wait three years before being
eligible to receive another permit. This requirement affects status as a permit holder
only; it does not affect hunters who have been subpermittees, hunters who have
harvested a moose as a subpermittee, nor does it prohibit a hunter from being a
subpermittee during the three-year wait.

It is illegal to sell a subpermittee or alternate subpermittee designation on a

moose permit.

Information related to swapping permits can be found on the Moose Permit page of our
website: mefishwildlife.com/moosepermit.

Hunter Ethics
Hunting in Maine has been a long-standing tradition; providing opportunity to secure
food naturally, become more connected to wildlife, and provide solace from a fast-paced
world. The future of Maine’s hunting traditions are and will continue to be a reflection
of hunter behavior. Your actions as an ethical hunter have the opportunity to improve
and enhance positive perspectives from non-hunters, demonstrating the true value
of hunting. There is a personal code of ethics that goes beyond legal requirements by
respecting landowners, the wildlife resources, and other outdoor users. As you enjoy
your hunting experience, please conduct yourself with the highest level of respect in all
aspects to ensure Maine’s hunting traditions can be viewed positively, ensuring it can
persist for years to come.

30
Respect Maine’s Private Landowners
Most of Maine’s hunting occurs on private property. After all, more than 94% of Maine’s
forest land is privately owned. Obtain landowner permission before you hunt and
always remember that you are a steward of the land. Treat the property with respect to
help ensure future access.
• Be respectful of logging trucks – they ALWAYS have the right of way: The majority
of moose hunting in Maine takes place within the industrial timberlands of the state.
Most of this hunting territory is privately owned, and the roads were privately built
for the purpose of managing and moving forest products. Many private landowners
generously share their roads with members of the public to provide access for hunting,
fishing, and wildlife watching opportunities. Respect their livelihood:
- Be alert for log trucks and PULL OVER. Treat logging trucks with the same
respect you’d give to an ambulance or fire truck- pull over and allow them to pass
when meeting them or when they approach from behind.
- Stay clear! NEVER leave vehicles in the middle of the road when chasing
partridge or moose. Do not park in front of gates or roads or interfere with timber
operations.
- Keep to the right, especially when approaching a corner or hill.
• Know if ATVs are allowed: Most landowners prohibit ATVs and other “off-road”
vehicles on their lands and roads. It is crucial to plan on how you will move your
moose from the woods to the road.
• Park off the road: When you park your vehicle to hunt, pull well off the road and do
not block side roads.
• Always ask for permission before placing game cameras. Label cameras with your
name + contact information. It’s the law.
• Think twice before having a campfire. Some private lands do not allow fires at
all, while others only allow it in designated fire areas. If the land allows campfires,
get a fire permit, and check the Wildfire Danger Report from the Department of
Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry. Use only local firewood and kindling, and
never leave fire unattended.
• Respect other outdoor users: To ensure a quality hunting experience, keep some
distance between you and other moose hunters and especially, between you and the
non-hunting public. Don’t hunt along well- traveled roads or near camps, recreation
areas, or popular moose-watching sites.

31
 Safety
Let someone know where you will be staying
Make sure someone knows exactly where you will be staying on your moose hunt. Give
them the number of the nearest Fish and Wildlife Department office. This precaution will
simplify locating you, should that become necessary.

North Maine Woods

North Maine Woods is a private, non-profit organization that manages public use and
access to 3.5 million acres of forestland located north and west of Baxter State Park.
The region under NMW management is primarily privately owned by families,
corporations, a conservation organization and about 5% is owned by the State of Maine.
Wildlife Management Districts 1, 2, 4, 5, 8 and 9 are either totally or partially within the
NMW management area. Over half of moose hunting permits are issued for districts in
the NMW.

There are five major considerations when hunting in the NMW

1. Entering and registration: Every party visiting the NMW must stop and register each
time they enter. Although NMW opens registration stations earlier and hires extra
staff to register parties during moose hunting weeks, please expect delays just before
dawn, especially during the first days of each moose hunting week. NMW charges
Land Use and Camping Fees which are listed on the NMW website at northmaine-
woods.org. Help NMW staff and streamline your registration process at checkpoints by
printing online registration forms (TWO COPIES) which can be handed to checkpoint staff
upon arrival. Payment is due on entry, NMW accepts cash and checks only.
2. Road safety: Please understand that the roads in the NMW region are privately built
to accommodate oversized logging trucks and forest workers. Treat logging trucks
with the same respect you’d give to an ambulance or fire truck- pull over and allow
them to pass when meeting them or when they approach from behind.
3. Camping: NMW maintains over 350 campsites throughout the NMW region. During
the October week of moose hunting some districts have more hunting parties than
there are campsites. So it is best if you have time to scout out options before you
arrive for your hunt. There are a number of sporting camps located throughout the
region if you prefer not to camp out.
4. Don’t park in the middle of road: Most importantly, do not leave vehicles parked in
the middle of the road should you happen to see a moose cross the road or in an area
near the roadway!
5. All-Terrain Vehicles: No bicycles, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles or horses are
allowed at any time of year in the North Maine Woods area. This is necessary for
logging road safety and to reduce the possibility for forest fires in hard to reach
locations.
For more information visit northmainewoods.org or call 207-435-6213.

32
Other Information
Maine Moose Hunters Club
Membership in the Maine Moose Hunter’s Club is open to all hunters who legally take a
moose in Maine. The club is sponsored by The Maine Sportsman. To learn more & apply,
please visit mainesportsman.com or call 207-622-4242.

Record Moose Antlers

Are your moose antlers a new Maine moose record? Does it qualify as a trophy antlered
bull moose according to the Maine Antler and Skull Trophy Club (MASTC)? A trophy
moose will have antlers over four feet wide, with sixteen or more points on large palms.
Find an official MASTC scorer at mastc.info/official-scorers.

Phone Numbers You May Need

To reach a Game Warden 24-hours
a day, please contact the dispatch
center nearest you:
Augusta: 1-800-452-4664
Bangor: 1-800-432-7381
Houlton: 1-800-924-2261
REPORT VIOLATIONS
Regional MDIFW Offices “If you see something, say
Ashland: (207) 435-3231 something.” It is crucial that
Enfield: (207) 794-1003 you report any suspected
Gray: (207) 287-2345 violation of law to ensure a safe,
fair, and ethical moose hunting
Greenville: (207) 695-3756
season. Time and locations, GPS
Jonesboro: (207) 255-2080
coordinates, and plate numbers
Sidney: (207) 287-5300 from vehicles involved in
Strong: (207) 778-3322 suspicious events are helpful to
Bangor: (207) 941-4440 Maine Game Wardens. Hunters
may report violations to Warden
North Maine Woods: (207) 435-6213 Service headquarters or anony-
Operation Game Thief: 1-800-253-7887 mously to Operation Game Thief
Penobscot Nation: (207) 817-7349 at 1-800-253-7887.

Passamaquoddy Tribe: (207) 796-2301

Maine Tribal-State Commission: (207) 271-7762
Maine Forest Service: 1-800-750-9777

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mefishwildlife.com