AUGUSTA – The Annual Moose Lottery will be held Thursday, June 16, at Mountain Valley High School in Rumford.

“At 6 p.m., we will commence the drawing and announce the name of the first hunter fortunate enough to be selected,” said Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Commissioner Roland “Dan” Martin.

Since 1999, the department has rotated the lottery throughout the state. Previously, it was held only in Augusta. This is the first time it will take place in Western Maine. Previous lotteries were held in Millinocket, Wiscasset, Old Town, Bucksport, Scarborough and Presque Isle.

“We’ve tried to move the drawing to all parts of the state so that people can have the opportunity to be part of it first hand,” said Martin. “Nothing pleases us more than to have members in the audience react to being selected.”

This year, 2,895 names will be drawn in the random chance lottery. The season dates are Sept. 26 through Oct. 1 in the far northern and eastern areas of the state (Wildlife Management Districts 1-6, 11 & 19), and Oct. 10-15 in the northern two thirds of the state (Wildlife Management Districts 1-14, 18, 19, 28 & 29). A total of 1,120 permits will be issued for the September season, and 1,775 permits for October.

Hunters are issued a bulls only or antlerless only permit. This year, there are 2,155 bull permits available and 740 antlerless only permits available. The decision on the number and type of permit issued in each of the districts is based upon game-management objectives that the department has for each of the districts. In 2004, 73,713 hunters applied for the 2,895 permits, and 2,317 hunters killed a moose for an 80-percent success rate.

Martin said that staff from IF&W, including local biologists and game wardens, will be on hand.

“This is an opportunity for sports enthusiasts and the general public to interact with IF&W personnel,” said Martin.