AUGUSTA — The Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services (MBVS) recently announced the winners of the 2021 Disabled Veterans’ Controlled Moose Hunt lottery.

Seven Mainers were selected for the opportunity to participate in the hunt, and five alternates were selected in the event a primary hunter cannot attend. The names of the alternates can be found on the home page of Bureau’s website (maine.gov/veterans).

The primary winners are Ken Blagburn of Lake View Plantation, John Krott of Brunswick, Berthol Daigle of Eagle Lake, John Roy of Rome, Ryan Jenningsof Bowdoinham, Adrian Vielhauer of Bethel and Richard Parent of Sommerville.

Since the program’s inception in 2010, the organization has partnered with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife and Smoldering Lake Outfitters to issue hunting permits and essential equipment to participating veterans. The hunt, which is entirely free for selected veterans, includes guiding services, essential adaptive equipment, meat processing, travel, and lodging.

MBVS Director David Richmond offered the following regarding the hunt, “This program provides a wonderful opportunity for veterans to engage with the outdoors and each other. It’s not only about the moose, but about the bonds that form between the veterans in the group that unite in a common goal. Congratulations to this year’s winners, best of luck on the hunt, and thank you to all of the sponsors who make the hunts possible,” according to a news release from the Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services.

Unlike the regular IF&W moose lottery, the Disabled Veterans’ Controlled Moose Lottery is limited to only those veterans with a disability rating of at least 50%. Each hunter is required to team up with a registered Maine Guide who has specific training for the hunt, and if a veteran has ever tagged a moose through the program, that veteran is ineligible to hunt again. The selected hunters will join the folks at Smoldering Lake Outfitters in Bridgewater, Maine for a late summer hunt in Aroostook County.

For more information on the Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services and the Disabled Veterans’ Controlled Moose Hunt, visit maine.gov/veterans/benefits/recreational-licenses/veterans-moose-lottery.html or call 207-430-6035. Applications for the 2022 Maine Disabled Veterans’ Controlled Moose Hunt will be available on the Maine Bureau of Veterans’ website on March 1, 2022.