The 2005 moose lottery results are in and we've got the names of all of the winners. Check the results to see if you or someone you know snagged a permit.
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There were 2,895 hunters drawn from 68,800 applicants in the moose lottery Thursday in Rumford, and the event once again resulted in a significant cash flow for the state, although less than last year.
Finally, one of the state's last big-game lotteries has gone as far as it can go as a moneymaker, state officials with the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife say.
The department, which has a $31 million two-year budget, has taken in more than $1 million from the lottery each of the past eight years.
"There is no new idea of how to generate some extra revenue from that," said department budget director Rick Record. "For whatever reason, people did not have the same level of interest as they did last year. What's interesting to me is it's down about 4,000 fewer residents and 1,000 nonresidents. There is really a lot larger drop in residents."
This year, the moose lottery drew $1,480,000 from the 68,800 applicants who entered, down from $1,577,000 last year when 73,700 applicants applied.
Before 1998, when the multiple-chance system was instituted, no hunter could purchase more than one chance and the lottery drew less than $1 million.
That's changed dramatically over time.
Last year, for the first time, nonresidents could purchase an infinite number of moose lottery chances after the Legislature changed the application system to create new revenue for the department. In 2004, 49 nonresidents paid $530 apiece for 100 entries.
This year, 33 nonresidents paid that much for 100 shots at winning a permit, and seven paid $1,060 for 200 chances.
Out-of-staters pay $13 for one chance, $23 for three chances, $33 for six chances and $53 for every 10 chances.
Residents pay $8 for one chance, $13 for three chances and $23 for six chances, which is the most they are allowed to buy.
The department will not offer unlimited chances to Maine residents, because the belief is that it would make the lottery unfair for those who cannot afford to pay hundreds of dollars for the chance of winning a permit.
Yet, since the lottery went to multiple chances, Record said there has been "one new twist to spark interest or offer more chances" every year.
"IFW fees and licenses raise $22 million in revenue. The moose lottery is roughly 5 percent of that. It's a pretty good chunk," Record said.
And, Record said, the lottery should continue to be a popular moneymaker.
"We still have close to 75,000 applying for this," Record said. "And half are applying now online. There is still a lot of excitement about it."
Record added that even without a new system for drawing in revenue, the lottery could still create new revenue if interest climbs.
"It may be a one-year blip. I think before we make any changes, we'll see what the trend is beyond one year," he said.
I sure didn't get one , the Dept. never sent me my application this year. I completely forgot about it until it was too late! I had been applying for 8 years , so now I loose all my bonus chances i've accumulated. I have got to wonder if this happened with other people?
Maine Moose....Who got em.....
