Q: WHEN DO I SUBMIT MY APPLICATION FOR A MOOSE TAG IN MAINE IF I WOULD LIKE TO DONATE TO HOUSE IN THE WOODS?
A: Application timeframe varies from year to year. In 2024 the timeframe is April 1, 2024 - May 15, 2024. 

Q: DO I NEED TO LIVE IN MAINE TO APPLY FOR A MOOSE TAG?
A: NO, YOU CAN LIVE ANYWHERE AND APPLY.
PLEASE NOTE: If you live outside of one of states in which Maine has hunting reciprocity, you would need to attend the retreat WITH our selected veteran. 

Reciprocal states currently listed are: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Missouri, Texas, Delaware.

Q: WHEN WILL I FIND OUT IF I HAVE BEEN AWARDED A MOOSE TAG THAT I CAN DONATE TO HOUSE IN THE WOODS?
A: Per Maine IF&W the drawings will be held on Saturday, June 15 in Fort Kent. The results of the 2024 lottery drawing will be available online by 6pm on Saturday, June 15, 2024 as described by Maine IF&W. 

Q: WHAT ZONES SHOULD I REQUEST IF I WOULD LIKE TO DONATE MY BULL TAG TO HOUSE IN THE WOODS. 
A: Per Executive Director Paul House the preferred zones would be (listed by preference) 18, 19, 11, 5, 3, 4, 7, 2, 1. If you have questions about what zones to select please call Paul House at 207-570-4806. 

Q: WILL House in the Woods ACCEPT COW MOOSE TAGS in 2024?
A: House in the Woods will accept Bull Moose tags only in the 2024 season. This is why we are sharing the preferred bull tag zones above.  Although we would like to accept all tags donated, we do not have adequate volunteer guides or the necessary donor funds to support all zones across the state. Because of this we must focus on the key zones that are either near in proximaty to our lodge in Lee, Maine, or in zones where lodging is available at reduced or no cost to keep the cost of this and all retreats as low as possible, while maintaining a high quality retreat. We host many retreats throughout the year and must budget accordingly to maintain all. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Q: WHO IS INVITED TO APPLY FOR THE HOUSE IN THE WOODS VETERAN MOOSE RETREAT: 
A: see 3 criteria below

 

1) Any Veteran who has been wounded as a result of enemy action     while serving in the U.S. military, most often referred to as a Purple Heart medal recipient. A Purple Heart is a solemn distinction and means a service member has greatly sacrificed themselves, while in the line of duty.  While we would like to provide the moose retreat opportunity to all veterans, it is a very special and rare opportunity to receive donated tags so we must select our attendees carefully as well.  The moose retreat is the only retreat which is reserved for Purple Heart receipients. All other retreats are open to military servicemen and women of ALL ERAS, ALL BRANCHES, ACTIVE-DUTY, RETIRED, VETERANS AND GOLD STAR FAMILY MEMBERS. 

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2) Interested veterans must have either had proof of a hunters safety course from any state, or proof of a previous hunting license of any kind from any state. 

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3) Must be able to hunt LEGALLY with a rifle. 

Q: WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE RETREAT FOR THE ATTENDEES SELECTED?
A: All food, lodging, transport during the retreat, from and to the Bangor Airport, to the tagging stations, and taxidermist or meat processor. The attendee will be responsible for their transit to and from Maine, and the purchase of their Big Game Hunting license, as well as any taxidermy which is not covered. NOTE: For those attendees living in one of the reciprocating states, the Big Game License is complimentary if the attendee is 50% or more service-related disabled.Reciprocal states currently listed are: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Missouri, Texas, Delaware.

 
Q: WHERE WILL THE MOOSE RETREATS TAKE PLACE?
A: In the state of Maine, however the exact location or zone, is unknown until we receive notice that a tag has been donated to our organization. 

Q: WHEN WILL ATTENDEES BE SELECTED
A: As soon as we are notified by a permit holder, we will then go to our interest list and begin contacting interested attendees based on the earliest request, continuing to contact interested attendees until it's been confirmed that the schedule of the retreat works with the interested attendee.  

Q: WHEN ARE THE MOOSE RETREAT SEASONS?
A: See below for a snapshot of the Maine 2024 moose seasons as of 1/24/24. Click the image to be taken directly to the Maine IF&W site.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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To hunt for moose in Maine, you will need a permit; and due to high demand, these permits are administered in four ways only:

1. Through three chance lottery drawings: resident, non-resident, and the adaptive management zone

2. Through a competitive auction

3. Through a controlled moose hunt for disabled veterans

4. Through a hunting lodge moose lottery

Ninety percent of all permits in Maine's 20 eligible Wildlife Management Districts (WMDs) are allocated to residents, no more than 8% to non-residents, and no more than 2% to hunting lodges.

Do you have further questions about the House in the Woods Veteran Moose Retreats? Please send us an email here and we'll respond back to your inquiries as soon as possible.