The deadline for local hunters to file their 2007 moose permit applications with the Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife is fast approaching.

The department will not accept applications received after 4:59 p.m. on Monday, April 2. All applications must be made on the department’s standard application form. The public chance drawing, also known as the Moose Permit Lottery, will be conducted in June by the department.

All applicants 16 years of age and older must comply with Maine’s hunter safety law before a big game license can be issued. Additionally, anyone receiving a Maine moose hunting permit must wait two years before being eligible to hold another one. Hunters who received permits in 2005 or 2006 may not apply this year. This requirement affects permit holders only. It does not affect hunters who were subpermittees, nor does it prohibit a hunter from being a subpermittee during the two-year waiting period.

Maine will have two different moose hunts this year: Sept. 24-29 in Wildlife Management Districts 1-6, 11 and 19 and Oct. 8-13 in Districts 1-14, 18, 19, 27 and 28.

Applicants will not have a choice of a hunting week and applicants must mark zones on the application in order of choice. If the hunter wants a chance to hunt moose in a specific month, the application must list the Wildlife Management Districts that allow hunting during that month.

Applications are available at the nearest IFW license agent. Applicants can also apply online by visiting www.informe.org/ifw/moosepermit.html.

Anyone having difficulty filing an application can call the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife can be contacted at 287-8000.