RANGELEY – Many strange noises may be heard coming from the Rangeley region during the weekend of June 22-24, 2012. The Rangeley Region Guides’ and Sportsmen’s Association (RRGSA) has been selected to host the annual Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Moose Lottery drawing. In celebration of this honor, the Rangeley Lakes Region invites sportsmen from across the state and their families to a three-day festival featuring the World Invitational Moose Calling Championship.
Judy Morton, executive director of the Rangeley Lakes Chamber of Commerce, stated that all the businesses in the region are preparing to roll out the red carpet for this special event. “Our region is enthused about hosting the Moose Lottery and the Moose Calling Contest and our shops, restaurants and bars will be joining in the festivities with moose-themed specials like chocolate mousse, ‘moose’ whoopie pies, moose jewelry and moose shots.”
The Moose Calling Semi-Finals will be held on Friday, June 22 at Moose Alley in Rangeley and the Finals will be held the following day, in front of the Rangeley Outdoor Sporting Heritage Museum. Participants will have previously qualified at one of several preliminary competitions held across the state or will have received an invitation to compete based on exemplary moose calling ability and experience. The final qualifying competition will take place at Bald Mountain Camps in Rangeley on June 2, 2012 at 6:00pm. Winners from the Maine State Moose Calling Championship have also been invited to compete.
The competitors will be judged in four categories: Cow Call, Bull Call, Other Attraction Techniques (props allowed) and Presentation/Sportsmanship. The first place winner will receive $1000. Top-finalists will receive merchandise packages from Cabela’s and Extreme Dimension.
“We are thrilled to have been selected to host the 2012 drawing and we will definitely make the most of it,” said RRGSA Moose Lottery Committee Co-Chair Sheri Oldham. “Typically the Moose Lottery is a one-day event, but we’ve decided to expand it into a three-day celebration where people can bring their families and celebrate Maine’s unique outdoor sporting heritage. Several of the events are family-oriented; offering men’s, women’s and youth divisions like the Turkey Shoot and the 3D Archery Contest.” All children, under the age of 16, who participate in any of the events taking place during the festival will be entered into a raffle to win a lifetime hunting and fishing license.
