AUGUSTA – Over $50,000 was raised for youth conservation education scholarships in Maine through the 2003 Maine Moose Permit Auction.

Five hunters bid a total of $51,542 in an auction for the privilege to hunt moose in Maine during the 2003 season. Four of the winning bids were unveiled recently, and the fifth was auctioned by the North American Moose Foundation earlier in March.

The auction was created by the Legislature and began in 1995. It allows the MDIFW to publicly auction five moose permits.

All of the money raised goes to partial scholarships that will help send 300 Maine youngsters to the Maine Summer Conservation School at Bryant Pond and the Greenland Point Center in Princeton. At these 5-day camps, youngsters ages 10-12 take part in an array of outdoor and classroom activities. Students work with experienced instructors and counselors, as well as staff from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, and other state and private conservation agencies.

Conservation camp programs are designed to teach boys and girls the importance of conservation, a respect for the environment and a working knowledge of outdoor skills. Subjects taught at the camp include wildlife identification, introduction to fishing, boating safety, archery, firearms handling, hunter safety, forest conservation and map and compass work.

Both conservation camps are still accepting applications for this summer’s schools. Anyone interested can call Maine Conservation School at 665-2068 and an application for either the Greenland Point Center at Princeton or Bryant Pond will be sent.

The five hunters who will join the 2003 moose permit holders in the annual moose hunt are as follows: Weldon Doran, Stuart, Florida; Robert Roach, Bellefonatine, Ohio; Arthur Schischer, Northhampton, Pa.; Emily Crooker, Brunswick; and Mark Spillane, Florida.