Have you ever been to a Moose Lottery?

We are excited to be a part of the 2015 Moose Lottery in Bethel,  Maine! We will be joining lots of other vendors on Saturday June 13th from 9-5 at the Bethel Inn Conference Center.

We love Moose here at Harvest Gold Gallery. We haven't had any over to visit yet this year, but we have seen the tracks down by the lake and we did spot one on the bridge by the Marina a few months ago.  Here is a look at a few of our favorite Moose items from the gallery!

    Death Fight by Tom Merriam

    Moose Cutout Earrings in 14K White Gold

       Limited Edition Pewter Moose Sculture By Stepper 

    Handmade Moose Cutout Earrings & Charm Bracelet in Sterling Silver

I personally have never been to a moose lottery, so I was a bit curious about the history of this event. Moose hunting was banned in Maine from 1935 until 1980 in an effort to restore the population.  There were 1,000 permits issued for the first lottery in 1980, and that number has now increased to 2,815. In 2011 it was determined that anyone who received a permit would have to wait three years before being eligible for another one. Residents pay $15, and have only one chance to receive a permit. Nonresidents are able to purchase 10 chances, but only 10% of the total permits are available to nonresidents. In 2014 the moose population was estimated at between 70,000 and 80,000. Hunters last year averaged a 65% success rate. This moose business is serious stuff, and I'm very excited to be a part of it with the gallery next weekend. Come say hi, and see what all the fuss is about!