AUGUSTA – The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife will conduct its annual Moose Lottery Drawing on Wednesday, June 16 at the Northeastland Hotel in Presque Isle. The drawing is set to start at 6 p.m.

This year, 2,895 names will be drawn in the random chance lottery. The second dates are September 27 through October 2 in the far northern and eastern areas of the state (Wildlife Management Districts 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 11, 19), and October 11-16 in the northern two-thirds of the state (WMDs 1-14, 18, 19, 28, 29).

A total of 929 permits will be issued for the September season and 1,966 for the October hunt.

Hunters are issued a Bulls-Only or Antlerless-Only permit. Last year, 2,593 hunters were given permits, and 2,075 were successful for an 80 percent rate. The department received 78,003 applications to hunt moose in 2003.