Sen. Jackson encourages qualifying residents to apply for controlled moose hunt permit

    AUGUSTA — Sen. Troy Jackson (D-Aroostook County) of Allagash is encouraging area residents who quality to apply for a permit for a controlled moose hunt occurring between Aug. 17 and Sept. 19, 2009.     The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife will be conducting a controlled moose hunt in Aroostook County in response to farmers’ concerns about crop depredation and to address the increasing incidence of moose/vehicle collisions along Routes 1 and 161. 
    “The controlled hunt is one step towards addressing the moose issue in northern Maine,” said Sen. Jackson. “It is certainly a step in the right direction in curbing the population.”
    The controlled hunt is not open to all hunters. Persons eligible to participate include: landowners with 80 or more contiguous acres, who own property in Limestone, Caribou, Woodland, Presque Isle, Fort Fairfield, Washburn, Westfield, Easton and Connor Township. The eligible property is agricultural, forested or undeveloped land that is open to hunting, including hunting by permission. A dependent living in a landowner’s household also is eligible.
    Any shareholder in a corporation that qualifies under the Internal Revenue Service Code as a Chapter S corporation is eligible for the landowner permit drawing if the property meets the landowner permit requirements. Dependents of shareholders are not eligible.
    All registered Maine Guides that currently have all Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife license privileges in good standing and are not convicted felons. Guides will not be eligible to hunt and only three permittees picked at the discretion of the Guide will be eligible to hunt.
    A total of 100 permits will be available. Eligible persons wishing to participate must file an online application form that’s available on IF&W’s web site, www.mefishwildlife.com. A person may not file more than one application, and each application is for “one chance.”  Applications must be completed by June 14.
    “We have a quick turnaround on applying for these permits,” said Sen. Jackson.  “If you are eligible, or you know someone who is, be certain to apply.  Time is of the essence.”