Staff Writer
FORT FAIRFIELD — Patience is a virtue. That’s the lesson Robert and Arlene Wright learned firsthand Sept. 1, when they came across a large bull moose on their property.
“We were one of the farmers to obtain a special permit for hunting moose this year,” explained Arlene Wright. “We hunted on the 123 acres of land we own in Fort Fairfield and came across this guy around 6:30 a.m.”
The Wrights received one of about 100 permits the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife provided to farmers, to help reduce the moose population in agricultural areas. Moose are reportedly quite fond of broccoli and other crops, so officials decided it was time to reduce their numbers to help protect future crops.
Wright said the bull wasn’t the first moose she and her husband saw.
“We’d seen one a day or so before, a cow. But Bob said we should leave her alone and that we still had several days to hunt and we might get a bull,” she said. “He wanted to do the right thing — save a mother.”
Sure enough, patience paid off, with the Wrights locating a bull about a day later.
“We had help from our son, Bobby Wright, and his friend, Stevie Graves, to get it cleaned and loaded. We brought it to Ben’s Trading Post (in Presque Isle) to get weighed,” said Wright.
The bull weighed in at 978 lbs, with an antler spread of 49 and one-half inches. It was recorded as the 28th moose taken of the 100 permits allotted and was one of the largest taken during the first moose season.
Wright said she planned to go home and clean out the freezer and was already planning for all the wonderful meals she’ll make with moose meat.
“My husband would like to get the head or antlers mounted too,” said Wright. “I know what we might be having for Thanksgiving. There’ll be plenty to go around.”
Staff photo/Kathy McCarty
THE ‘WRIGHT’ STUFF — Luck was on Robert Wright’s side during the special moose season for landowners, from mid-August through September. Wright and his wife, Arlene took this 978 lb bull on their property Sept. 1. Pictured, from left: Bobby Wright, son; Stevie Graves, family friend; and Robert Wright.
