Moose Lottery Frequently Asked Questions
Q. When is the deadline to submit moose lottery applications?
A. Applications must be postmarked by April 1, 2008 or you can apply online up until 11:59 pm on April 1, 2008.
Q. When do you mail the lottery applications?
A. Preprinted applications are mailed directly from the printer around the middle of January to anyone who applied for the lottery last year. When we receive the blank applications in our office around the third week of January we mail an application to anyone who requested one via mail, phone or email.
Q. I applied last year. Why didn't you send me an application this year?
A. If you applied last year we will automatically mail you an application this year around mid-January to the same address. The applications are mailed first class mail so if your address has changed recently the post office should forward it unless your forwarding time has expired. We automatically mail applications but can't guarantee the mail, so please give us a call at (207) 287-8000 if you have not received your preprinted application by early February, or you can also apply online.
Q. I did not receive my preprinted moose permit application with my ID# in the mail. How do I apply without losing my bonus points?
A. You can obtain a blank moose application through any license agent or by contacting the Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, 284 State Street, 41 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333, (207) 287-8000. If you don't remember your ID number, it can be obtained by calling (207) 287-8000.
Q. How do I get my IF&W ID#?
A. If you are a first time applicant or did not apply the previous year, leave the IF&W ID # blank. Our computer will assign you a number and it will be on your preprinted application that we automatically mail you next year. If you applied last year and have had no address change, you should receive a preprinted moose permit application by the end of January which will have your IF&W ID# and points printed on the application. If you forgot to apply last year then you are considered a new applicant, will not have an ID number, and have lost any previous points you had accumulated.
Q. My preprinted application says I only have 9 points but I should have a lot more points by now as I have been applying for many years and purchase many chances each year.
A. The point system started in 1998. If you have been applying every year since 1998 then the most bonus points you could have at this time is nine. You receive one point for each year you are not drawn regardless of how many chances you purchase.
Q. I am a nonresident. Do I need to provide my hunting license when I apply?
A. No, nonresidents do not need to purchase their hunting license until they are drawn.
Q. I'm not sure which wildlife management district I'm in. How would I find that information?
A. Check wildlife management districts for individual district maps and a town listing.
Q. I don't remember if I have mailed in my lottery application for this year. Can you tell me if you have received one from me?
A. If you have already applied, you would have mailed us a check or paid with a credit card for the chances you purchased. Please check your checkbook or credit card statement for any indication that you have already applied. We do get a list of applicants periodically throughout the application period but it takes 2-3 weeks for your name to appear on that list from the time we process your application here in the office. We suggest you apply early, when you receive the application in the mail, so that we can look up your name before the application period ends.
Q. I was one of the five highest bidders for the moose auction last year. Can I apply for the auction and lottery again this year?
A. You can apply every year for the auction even if you receive an auction permit the year before. You can also apply for the lottery drawing as long as you have not received a lottery permit in the last two years.
Q. I don't understand what the Subpermittee and Alternate Subpermittee are all about.
A. The subpermittee is a person who can hunt with the permittee and either the permittee or the subpermittee can kill the moose. Only one moose can be killed per permit so the permittee and subpermittee must be physically in the presence of each other without the aid of radios or similar devices so that you don't both kill a moose. If the subpermittee cannot go on the hunt, you can make your alternate subpermittee your subpermittee and must notify us in writing a certain number of days before the season begins. The date will be on your notification letter stating that you are drawn for the permit. The permittee must always be present - the subpermittee or alternate cannot hunt alone.
Q. I was a subpermittee on a permit last year. Can I apply this year myself?
A. Yes, you can apply this year. The only people who cannot apply this year are the ones who were permittees in 2006 or 2007, they must wait until two hunting seasons have passed. (The exception would be auction winners who can apply every year.)
Q. Can I be a subpermittee on more than one application?
A. Yes, you can be listed as a subpermittee on as many applications as you wish.
Q. I am a resident of Maine. Can I list a nonresident to be my subpermittee or alternate? (or vice versa)
A. Yes, you can list a person from another state to be your subpermittee or alternate. It doesn't matter whether the subpermittee or alternate is a resident or a nonresident. The permittee will be the one purchasing the permit.
Q. How will I know when the drawing is held and if I have been drawn?
A. The drawing will be held in mid-June. We will post the date and time when it becomes available. We post the winners names on our web site by the day after the drawing and we mail a notification to all winners approximately 2 weeks after the drawing.
Q. If I'm not drawn, what happens then?
A. You automatically accumulate one point for each year you are not drawn. You only get one point per year no matter how many chances you purchase. The points accumulate until you are drawn in the lottery as long as you don't skip a year in applying. You will automatically be mailed a preprinted application the following year if you applied the previous year.
Q. What happens if I skip a year in applying?
A. If you skip a year you automatically lose all bonus points and your name goes off the list. You will have to call or email us for an application the following year.
Q. Is there any certain number of points that will guarantee me a permit?
A. No. Your points accumulate until you are drawn (as long as you apply yearly) and each point puts your name into the drawing an extra time (in addition to your chances purchased) so your odds increase as your points accumulate.
Q. Can I transfer my permit to someone else if I can't use it?
A. No, you cannot transfer a moose permit to anyone.
Q. Do I have to fill in my social security number?
A. No, you do not. It's just one more way we can track your records so that you receive your points, especially if your address changes or you don't receive your preprinted application in the mail and apply on a blank form without your IFW ID#. The social security number or the IFW ID# will help us match your application with your accumulated points.
Q. I am a resident of Maine. Can I purchase 10 chances?
A. No, you cannot. Only nonresidents can purchase 10 chances. The fact that nonresidents can purchase 10 chances does not hurt your chances to be drawn for a permit. We set aside 10% of all permits for nonresidents and the remainder of the permits go to residents. The resident and nonresident drawings are held separately.
Q. If I list 10 choices for districts, will I get my first choice if it's available?
A. When your name is drawn, we will give you your first choice if it is available, if not, we will give you your second choice, or third, etc.
Q. Do I have to put down 10 choices for Wildlife Management Districts?
A. No, but you do have to put down at least one WMD choice.
Q. If I check the box that says I do not want to be considered for an antlerless only permit, does that affect my chances of being drawn? Do I lose my points if I am drawn for an antlerless-only permit?
A. When the drawing is held, if you checked that you do not want an antlerless-only permit, the computer will pass over your name when the antlerless only permits are being drawn and not select you for that permit. You will not lost your points and it will not affect your chances of being drawn for a bull-only permit.
Q. I prefer a "bull only" permit but would take an "antlerless only" permit if that was all that was available when my name is drawn. What should I check on my application?
A. Check the "yes" box in the section that states "I will accept an antlerless only permit if that is the only permit available at the time you are drawn." We draw the "bull only" permits first. If you are drawn for the "antlerless only" permit then you know that there were not any "bull only" permits left by the time your name was drawn.
Q. What is the age limit for applying for a permit?
A. The applicant must be 10 years old by the opening day of the moose hunting season you
apply for.
Q. Who do I make the check out to for the moose lottery application?
A. Make the check payable to: Treasurer, State of Maine, and mail it to the Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, 284 State Street, 41SHS, Augusta, ME 04333. You can put "Moose Lottery" on the envelope. You can also pay with Visa, Mastercard, and Discover.
Q. I mailed in my application weeks ago but have not received my receipt card back in the mail. How do I know that you received my application?
A. We suggest you mail your application to us as soon as possible. It takes weeks to process your application and because we receive approximately 70,000 applications each year, we cannot find your application very easily. Our data entry division periodically provides us a list of applicants but it can take 2-3 weeks for your name to appear on that list depending on how many applications we are receiving at that time. If you applied 3-4 weeks ago, give us a call at (207) 287-8000 and we will try to look up your name on our mailing list. Applying early will allow us to be able to look your name up before the deadline.
Q. I applied online and received my authorization number. Does that mean you have received my application?
A. Yes, we have received your application if you received the authorization number. If you applied online but did not receive the authorization number, please give us a call at (207) 287-8000.
Q. When will I receive my permit?
A. Your moose permit will be mailed to you approximately 2 weeks before the season begins.
Q. I was drawn for a moose permit but will be unable to hunt this year. Can my subpermittee hunt by him or herself? Will I lose my points? Will I be able to hunt again next year?
A. The permittee must be present at all times. The subpermittee cannot hunt by him or herself. You can refuse your permit but will lose all bonus points that you have accumulated and you can then apply the following year.
