Thousands of people will hear their name read at the annual moose lottery on Saturday. It is an exciting time, and for many people it is something that they have been waiting years and years for. Getting drawn may be one of the easiest parts of the entire hunt. There are key things that you need and don’t need when you’re heading out to find the elusive moose.

Guides

If you were going with a guide, hopefully you have done thorough vetting and know you will have a good experience and best opportunities to punch your tag. If you are still looking for a guide, call around and ask for references. Ask to talk to someone who did not have a successful hunt with that guide. That will be a great indicator for how they are as a guide and a person. It can mean spending thousands on a horrible experience or a great hunt.

Clothing

I was drawn for the first time in 2021 and probably packed more than I actually needed. I made sure I had clothing for every possible weather condition and boots for each forecast and terrain. When it comes to clothing, wool is best. In hunter safety classes we teach that, “cotton kills.” Cotton holds on to moisture and never dry. Even in the warmest temperatures, your body can get chilled wearing cotton, and there is often a big fluctuations in temperature on those early fall days and nights

Maps

A Maine Gazetteer is expected. That should be in your vehicle at all times, anyway.  A great mapping software is OnX. I used it in 2021 and again last year to follow where we were going on the roads, look for clear cuts, and mark every location where we saw signs of moose. Depending on which zone you are hunting, you can download the maps in advance or use a satellite connection and keep the map feature on while you are in your vehicle. I have hunted Zone 2 (let me know if you need tips on where to look!) and was able to keep OnX active all day. It helped our hunting party when there were questions about where the road would end up or if there was a shortcut or a new chopping that we should hunt. The more scouting you can do in advance, the better. 

Equipment

Even though I hired a guide and could leave my things in the lodge, here are the things that I had in my day pack and what we had in the truck.  First, my bag:

• Two knives
• Protein bar
• Water
• Bullets and rifle
• Binoculars
• License and moose permit
• change of clothes including socks
• Phone charger
• First-aid kit
• Tylenol 
• Tampons and pads — these are actually great for any first-aid kit since they can act like gauze and keep an injury clean.
• Cash

In the truck, the guides had packed:

• Rope (bring more than you think you will ever need)
• Racket straps
• Large meat or plastic bags in case you have to pack the moose out
• Come-along
• Pulley
• Handsaw to help with making a trail, a shooting lane or to help cut the hide and bone after a successful hunt
• Chainsaw (you never know when you have to break trail!)
• Calls — electronic and the good ones made from birch, a scapula or a paddle.

There is more you could pack, but these are the big ones that we packed and used. It is a very exciting hunt to be a part of and making sure you have everything on your list will make things that much more enjoyable. 

As you’re heading to your zone, also make sure to stop by the local stores to get drinks and snacks — and ask if they have seen any moose. I have found that the people working in the stores are just as excited as the hunters. 

Enjoy the hunt and appreciate every day you are in the woods. Maine is a stunning state and being able to hunt such an iconic animal in the fall is something not everyone gets to experience. Take in every crisp morning, the changing of the leaves and the excitement of seeing those amazing animals in the wild.  Good luck and may your aim be true.

Erin Merrill, an award-winning writer based in central Maine, writes “Hunt & Harvest” monthly. She welcomes emails at: [email protected].