A petition has begun circulating that could be the first step in bringing moose hunting to Lincoln County in 2011. If it happens, the 30-day hunt would coincide with deer season, and involve a lottery for permits, as with the northern Maine hunt. The midcoast-area moose hunt would cover more than 1,000 square miles, including all of Lincoln County and parts of Sagadahoc, Kennebec and Knox counties.

That was the word this week from the petitioner, Michael J. Witte of Bristol. Witte is chairman of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife’s advisory council. The 10-member council, appointed by the governor, sets the dates and bag limits for hunting seasons.

In a telephone interview Tuesday evening, Witte explained that, in the last year or so, increased moose-vehicle collisions and other problems involving moose have shown that there are more of the animals around here now.

One weekend in September, moose-vehicle collisions occurred in Bristol two nights in a row, Witte noted. On both nights, several other moose were spotted near the accidents, which occurred during the "rut" or mating season.

"Some of the accidents we’ve had have been close calls" for the motorists, he said. "We’ve had several problems. We’re just flirting with trouble here, and someone is going to get killed."

Witte started circulating the petition a couple of weeks ago, taking it around himself to gather signatures, and leaving petitions in two locations. Those are the Alna Town Office and the Louis Doe store in Newcastle.

A total of 150 signatures is needed to present the petition to the Commissioner of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, who would then give it to the advisory council for its consideration, Witte said.

"The response is pretty positive," he said of the signature-gathering. He does not expect to have a problem getting enough signatures.

The petition cites an "increase in moose population in the mid-coast area of the state resulting in personal and property damage, accidents and nuisance situations."

"We the undersigned request the consideration of the above modification to department rules in an effort to decrease problems in the mid-coast area caused by an increase in the moose population," the petition states.

Witte is not aware of any organized opposition to the hunt’s expansion to this region of the state. He has heard from a few individuals questioning it, however.

"The thing about this is, if you don’t do something, and someone gets killed, the comment is, why didn’t you do something." But until then, some people will ask the opposite question – why expand the hunt, he said.

After the council receives the proposal from the commissioner, at least two public hearings will be held, according to Witte.

"This is a proposal, nothing’s carved in stone," Witte emphasized. People are already asking how many permits would be issued, he said. "That is to be determined. There is no number at this point. That will be with input from the pubic, the [state] biologist, and whoever else."

If the council ultimately approves the expansion into the midcoast, the first lottery would be held in June 2011, and the first moose hunting here would be in November of that year, Witte said.

Anyone wanting to speak with Witte about the petition may call him at 677-2587.

The height and dark coat of moose make them a particularly difficult animal to spot on the road at night, Witte noted.

Asked for some safety tips for motorists, Witte recommended using high beams, and being particularly vigilant on roads where the tree lines are "right up to the road." An animal coming directly onto the road from the trees doesn’t give a motorist time to react, he explained.

Witte also advises motorists to keep in mind that their speed makes a difference in what happens if they do hit a moose. "It’s better to hit one at 50 than 60. And it’s better to hit one at 40 than 50," he said.