2007 Maine Moose Lottery Drawing

By Thomas K. Remington

Last night Milt Inman (my good friend and photographer) and I traveled down to the tiny Maine town of Phippsburg to attend the annual Maine Moose Lottery at the Phippsburg Elementary School. The event was hosted by the Phippsburg Sportsman’s Club.

We arrived a bit late but there seemed to be a good and enthusiastic crowd on hand to join in the festivities but as usual most where there in hopes of hearing their name read from the list the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife computer randomly spit out.

Milt Inman Photo

We had arrived too late to see the announcement of the first winner who was in attendance. As it turns out, he was a member of the local Phippsburg Sportsman’s Club. In an interview being done by one of the local television stations, he said he expected some ribbing because of his organization hosting the event. I apologize that I did not get his name.

The second in attendance to be selected was John Chadbourne from Leeds, Maine. John is a registered Maine Guide. If I heard correctly his guiding business is called Adventure North. This was John’s second selection in the history of the draw. His first came in 2001.

Tom Remington Photo - This is John Chadbourne after receiving his t-shirt for being selected and being in attendance.

As luck would have it, also from Leeds and friend of Chadbourne’s, Randall Burgess heard his name called not long after. I believe I overheard him reluctantly telling a member of the local press that this was his fourth time begin selected for a moose hunt.

Tom Remington Photo - Randall Burgess walks away from the front of the room after receiving his coveted t-shirt. Well, actually it wasn’t the t-shirt that was most coveted. It was being selected for a moose hunt.

In attendance last night was a few reporters from the television stations - Channel 8 and 13 and members of the press.

Milt Inman Photo - In this shot, Randall Burgess had just received his prize of being selected and members of the press moved in to get the scoop. In the yellow shirt and back to us is Burgess. On the left if Kalle Oakes, writer for the Lewiston Sun Journal and an unidentified member of the Channel 8 News team. There was also reporters from Channel 13 and the Kennebec Journal.

There were many members and representatives of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Many of them worked the crowd, chatting up old times and answering questions as well as participating in the reading of names.

Milt Inman Photo - Michael J. Witte of New Harbor and member of the Advisory Council to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

I got a chance to meet new friends and talk in person to several people whom I had only communicated with either online or by telephone.

Milt Inman Photo - I am on the far left in this picture. To my left is Wanda Chadbourne. Wanda’s husband John had already been selected tonight and Wanda filled me in on past moose hunts, bear hunts and a host of other activities she and her husband participate in. Next to Wanda is Jack Duggins. I had communicated many times with Jack. He is a registered Maine Guide and operates a business, Mainely Smallmouths, out of Litchfield, Maine. Jack also writes some for Maine Hunting Today and Maine Fishing Today. He is also a staff member. In the far right of the photo and partially cut off is George Smith, Executive Director of the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine.

After working the crowd and bending a few ears, the reading of names continued. Milt and I decided it was time to begin working our way out the door, which meant working our way back through the crowd.

Just before hitting the exit, I heard them call the name of Bruce Simmons of Andover as a winner of a moose permit. Bruce is my cousin and this would be his first time ever on a moose hunt. I’m sure he was pretty pumped once he heard the news.

On the way out the door, I just couldn’t leave without talking with a couple more people.

Milt Inman Photo - Here I am shaking hands with Paul Jacques, Deputy Commissioner of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Between us is George Smith, Executive Director for the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine.

Congratulations to all those who were selected for a 2007 Maine moose permit.

Tom Remington