In Greenville, proposed change to moose hunting causes divide
Maine Weighs Adding a Second Moose‑Hunting Week Near Moosehead Lake Amid Tourism Debate
In a move that could reshape the fall experience for residents and visitors alike, Maine officials are considering opening a second week of bull moose hunting in the four wildlife‑management districts that surround Moosehead Lake. The proposal, still under discussion, would allow hunters to target moose in September as well as the traditional October season, a change that has sparked a spirited debate between conservationists, tourism operators, and local businesses.
The Current Landscape
The state’s Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (DFIW) traditionally offers two possible weeks for bull moose hunting: September and October. However, for 2026 the department limited the four districts nearest Moosehead Lake to only the October week, after the town of Greenville—an area known for its vibrant autumn colors and wildlife viewing—opposed a dual‑week schedule. Greenville’s tourism board and many local entrepreneurs argue that the region’s economy depends heavily on visitors who come to see moose in their natural setting during the peak foliage period.
“Where is the bread buttered right now in Maine? Like it or not, tourism in Maine is our biggest industry,” said Steve Levesque, a board member of the Moosehead Lake Economic Development Corporation and former state economic‑development commissioner.
Why a Second Week Matters to Hunters
DFIW director Nate Webb said that moose hunting plays a crucial role in herd management, but the timing of the season is a “social issue” that reflects what Maine residents want. “Moose hunting is really important for the management of the herd, but the timing of the season, that’s really a social issue,” Webb told a recent advisory‑council meeting. “It’s about what the people of Maine want.”
In 2023 and 2024, data indicated that hunters were more successful in September, when bull moose are in their rutting period and more responsive to calling. Although 2025’s success rates between the two weeks were closer, September remains a prime hunting window for many.
Tourism Operators and Lodging Stakeholders
On the tourism side, the debate has highlighted a clash of priorities. Jeremy Hargreaves, owner of Northeast Whitewater in Shirley Mills, said, “When you come to Maine, one of the bucket‑list things for people to do is to see a moose in the wild.” Hargreaves has shifted his focus from rafting to moose‑watching tours in the fall, expecting about 1,000 visitors in September alone. “I don’t want to compete against a hunter,” he added. “We’re looking for the same thing for two very different reasons.”
Similarly, Chris Young, a tour guide in Greenville, expressed concerns that an earlier hunt would hurt the live‑moose experience that drives his business. “All the businesses rely on the live moose for people to see,” he said.
Jennifer Whitlow, who owns the Blair Hill Inn, said the shift could force her to close the inn a month earlier. “We don’t want to put any kind of deterrent in front of people who are considering coming to the Moosehead Lake area,” she said.
The impact is not limited to tourism. Joe Kruse of Lake Parlin Lodge in Jackman, which is located in Wildlife Management District 8, currently runs his lodge in another district during September because hunting is not permitted in his own area. “It’s a big effort,” he explained. “It obviously costs more to do all that.” Likewise, Justin Burritt, owner of Northern Pride Lodge in Kokadjo (WMD 9), guides hunters to other zones in September while his wife hosts wildlife photographers. “We get a lot of weekend people,” Burritt said. “If someone was coming for a moose hunt, they would be here seven to ten days.”
Potential Compromises
The DFIW conven
