By Barbara Scott
Staff Writer
“We would really like to see the state go back to just two weeks of moose hunting in zones three and six,” (U.S. Route 11 to the eastern border including Fort Kent, Madawaska and Portage to the Access Highway; and Access Highway to south of Houlton),” said Sarah Anderson.
Aroostook Republican photo/Barb Scott
Sarah Anderson, who with her husband, Dave, are owners of NorthStar Variety in New Sweden, extracts a tooth from a bull moose which will be sent to a state laboratory and used in determining the age and health of the creature. A game inspection site, NorthStar Variety will not be tagging/weighing any moose in the month of November.
Dave and Sarah Anderson, owners of NorthStar Variety in New Sweden They provide hunters with registration, weighing, and tagging for bear, moose and deer (game inspection), but due to the concern of having extra hunters in the woods during the second week of deer season, they have notified the state authorities that they will not be tagging any moose during the third week of moose hunting (Nov. 7-12), which runs concurrently with the deer season. This year it runs at the same time as mating season (deer rut).
“The traditional moose hunting season has been the last week in September and the second week in October,” said Anderson. “Last year was the first year hunters had a November moose hunt, which meant an increase in hunters in the woods at the onset of deer season. Plus for every moose permit, a hunter usually brings four, five or more people along to help,” she added.
“Not only has this become a safety issue for hunters, these zones are already the heaviest hunted for deer and this third week of moose hunting puts extra pressure on the deer herd up here,” said Anderson. “We are not asking for a reduction in the number of moose permits but that those designated to the now third week in zones three and six, be absorbed during the first two weeks in these hunting zones only. We are asking for no moose hunting to take place in November in these areas,” she added.
The addition of a November moose hunt also creates stress on deer population as anyone with a moose permit can legally take down a deer during that week. “We saw this happen last year with the deer and we also think this November moose hunt is also detrimental to the moose population in the long run, because already bred cows are being removed from the moose population. ” Anderson added.
“We notified the state last year that we would not tag any moose in November this year. We started a petition collecting signatures of those who are in agreement to discontinue the November moose hunt in zones 3 & 6 and as of now we have around 100 signatures. The petition will be available to sign through the November deer season, then presented to the state for consideration,” said Anderson.
“Not tagging/weighing moose for that week will definitely hurt our business some,” stated the Andersons “but we feel it is worth it in the long run. As far as we’re concerned, to continue to have a healthy moose herd and help our struggling deer herd is more important than money,” she added.
The next closest tagging stations to New Sweden include those in Presque Isle, Ashland, Van Buren and Fort Kent.
