The shocking amount 10 people paid to hunt moose in Maine

A Maine auction of moose hunting permits shows how much bidders are willing to pay for limited access: the highest offer for the 2026 season reached $35,055, after 24 bids were submitted. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) auctions 10 moose hunting permits each year as an alternative to the state’s public lottery. The sealed-bid process runs without applicants knowing other bids, and successful bidders must pay their full bid amount and choose an available wildlife management district, hunting week, and permit type. Funds support youth conservation education; in 2025, the auction raised $270,030 and helped about 450 campers through scholarship funding.