For the past year you’ve been eagerly awaiting the mid-June day when you’d find out if this is finally your year to earn one of those elusive moose permits. Maybe you’ve been waiting 10 years. Or 20. Or more.

I’m sorry to be the one to douse your early morning cheer, but the math doesn’t lie: Chances are, this isn’t your year, either.

But that’s OK.

There’s always next year … and the year after that. And thanks to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, now I can tell you exactly where those (potentially) lucky drawings will be held.

OK. Let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves.

There is, after all, still a chance that you’ll get lucky on June 12, and won’t worry a bit about the next two years.

Of course, that’s what you said 10 years ago … and 20.

No matter. If this is your year, then you’ll want to head to the Kittery Trading Post for this year’s event, which begins at 6 p.m. That way, you’ll be on hand to accept thunderous applause, the well-wishes of the crowd, and to receive a special gift from DIF&W staffers.

If you wake up on June 13 (Friday the 13th, by the way … not that I’m trying to further douse your morning cheer) … and still find yourself moose-less, well, you’ve got options.

The DIF&W, which has customarily announced the site of moose lotteries less than a year before they’re held, has broken with tradition and booked two sites further in advance.

In 2009, the lottery will be held in Fort Kent. And in 2010, it’ll be back in southern Maine, at the L.L. Bean Hunting & Fishing Store in Freeport.

Not that you’ll be eligible for those drawings after you cashing in during this year’s drawing, of course … lucky winners are required to sit out for two years.

But if you do find yourself on the short end of the electronic hopper – again – I suppose it’s nice to be able to begin making travel plans well in advance.

The DIF&W has rotated the lottery to various locations throughout the state since 1999. Over the past nine years, the lottery has been held in Millinocket, Boothbay Harbor, Old Town, Bucksport, Scarborough (twice), Presque Isle, Rumford and Phippsburg.

The state’s modern moose hunt began in 1980 on an experimental basis. Since 1982, it has been held each year.

This fall, a total of 3,015 permit-holders will be allowed to hunt during the split moose season.

Club makes Pushaw donation

Tournament bass fishing has become increasingly popular in Maine over the past 20 years, and you don’t have to look very far to find a local bass club that’s staging events throughout the spring and summer.

A shared passion for bass fishing unites these club members … and gives them the opportunity to make a collective difference in their communities.

According to Ken Hoehlein, that’s exactly what the Bangor Bass Club has done over the past several months.

Hoehlein called the other day to let me know about a project that Bangor Bass Club members are wrapping up.

And while the effort will certainly aid bass anglers in the future, it will also pay dividends for recreational boaters on one of the region’s largest lakes.

Hoehlein explained that the club identified Pushaw Lake, which covers 5,056 acres in Orono, Old Town, Glenburn and Hudson, as a piece of water that could benefit from a club project.

“The lake is poorly marked,” Hoehlein said. “There’s a lot of accidents on the lake.”

Hoehlein said several years ago, buoys were used to mark hazardous rock outcroppings in the shallow lake. When those buoys weren’t removed during the winter, the ice took its toll.

The Bangor Bass Club, which has held tournaments on the lake in the past, including one last year that was used to draw attention to an illegal introduction of northern pike, decided to get involved.

Hoehlein said club member Bruce Buckley spearheaded the fund-raising drive, and $2,300 was donated to the Pushaw Lake Association. Hoehlein singled out Check Out convenience store in Glenburn as the largest individual donor during the drive.

The money will be spent on 46 marker buoys which will help make the lake safer for all boaters. Club members have also volunteered to help install the buoys.

Congratulations to the Bangor Bass Club for its ongoing efforts, which continue to give area bass anglers something of which to be proud.

jholyoke@bangordailynews.net

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