First Lady LePage draws names for Veterans Controlled Moose Hunt

    AUGUSTA — First Lady Ann LePage in partnership with the Bureau of Veterans Services, Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IF&W) and Maine Veterans’ Homes, drew 14 names and five alternate hunters for this year’s Disabled Veterans’ Controlled Moose Hunt on the morning of July 10. The drawing was held at the Maine Veteran’s Home.

    Among the  Disabled Veterans’ Controlled Moose Hunt primary hunters winners is Alfred H. Thibeault of Harmony. Bruce R. Smith of Abbot is the fourth alternate hunter.
    This is the third consecutive year LePage has drawn the names for the Disabled Veterans’ Controlled Moose Hunt. “I’m so proud to be asked each year to draw the names for the lottery,” the First Lady said. “This is a unique opportunity for disabled veterans to participate in a Moose hunt and Maine is the only state that offers this type of experience.”
    This is fifth year the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife has conducted a controlled Moose hunt in Aroostook County in an effort to regulate the moose population. The overpopulation of moose in Northern Maine destroys valuable crops and is responsible for numerous accidents due of the proximity of the crops to the roads.
    Permits are provided by IF&W to the Bureau of Veterans Services to conduct a lottery of veterans who have the free disabled veterans hunting license issued by IF&W. Veterans are able to apply for the lottery, which is drawn at random. This year, 125 veterans applied for the permits from all across Maine. A percentage of permits are identified for out-of-state wounded warriors to participate alongside Maine’s disabled veteran hunters.