Thinking of a trip here plus some other parts of Maine in July or Aug of 2007.

Any input as to weather, likely hood of seeing moose, bugs, crowds, etc.? one month better than another. could be sept possibly also. or late June ( but think it is buggy then.)>

We spent a night at Moosehead Lake a few years ago during a week-long drive through Maine. We really liked it, we had a hotel that was pretty plain and simple, but right on the water and they had canoes and paddleboats you could just borrow and go off in, which was why we liked it. I am sorry, but I don't remember the name of the motel. It was nothing fancy, but it was handy, and was in whatever town that is at the south end.

Disappointingly, we did not see moose. We actually got up early to try to spot some, and were unsuccessful. We didn't see a single moose anywhere in Maine! We did see loons on the lake.

You are not likely to see moose on Moosehead Lake. It's gotten too busy (it's all relative - it's still way more quiet than most lakes!). Still, be careful driving around at night.

For moose visit Baxter State Park. We always see moose there.

Bugs - really bad May, June, some tapering off in July.

Crowds - not so you'll notice, but more boat traffic than there used ot be years ago of course.

We were at Moosehead Lake a couple of years ago. We saw one moose during a sunset moose-viewing pontoon cruise, and another on a logging road heading toward that area.

As an fyi, we ate at a little restaurant called The Black Frog. I can't say I remember that much about the food, but they had a very entertaining menu. It alone might make it worth having a meal there.

Before heading to the Moosehead Lake region, we also had considerable moose-viewing success at Baxter.

A number of years ago, we went primitive camping with our three kids into the paper company lands, outside Baxter State Park. (You "check in" with a "gatekeeper", tell him how many days you will be in there, and go in. It is NOT a park, and there are no rangers, so you are on your own!)

I don't think this is what you want, of course, but while in there we saw MANY moose -- 7 in one evening, in fact -- including two bull moose standing in the road, head to head (!), as we rounded a corner on the dirt road! We kept our distance, and they soon broke off and each went his way. However, it was a magnificient sight!

Sadly, we heard they had a moose hunt the following year (after having none for years), and we wondered just how hard it would be to "bag" one! (We had driven right up near a few of them, had taken flash pictures, made noise and everything, and they just stood there looking at us!

We figured it would be quite a "sport" to aim a gun at one and kill it....

Just my opinion.

Goos luck, anyway!

Could you lend me your time machine?

Last time I went to Moosehead, I saw a moose in a pasture by the road on the way up there.

On a previous trip I had seen 3 at some ponds near the lake.

No black flies in August - Late May/early June is the worst time for them.

August is a good time to pick berries if you can find them.

One nice motel is Indian Hill Motel - on Indian Hill as you first see Moosehead in Greenville

I did see moose at Moosehead Lake. We were staying at a friend's lakeside home and we spotted the stunning creature on a back, dusty road.

If you spend any time at Greenville Junction, stop by the Road Kill Cafe. It's at the southern most point of the lake.

Clever menu. Despite the funny name - it's not that bad. I had a delicious burger.

http://www.frivolity.com/teatime/Mis..._cafe_menu.txt

We were there a few years ago in the spring and saw a few moose. There is a construction company on the right on the way into, Greenville?, that has a sign that reads; "Do not watch moose here." It seemed to be a place where moose crossed the road. I think you have a better chance of seeing them in the spring when they are down from the mountains to eat early greens and salt from the roadside. I think they might head into thicker and higher woods in the summer and fall.

I am not a hunter and don't like the sport at all, but the people who get a moose license from the moose lottery don't often get moose. I heard a story a few years back where someone shot a mother moose and the baby was running all around very upset. I guess they shot the baby too. I found this revolting and nothing to be proud of. There is the mentality up here that it's "their moose." You can hear people ask each other if they got, "THIER," moose or deer yet. I’d like it better if the moose and deer can had guns and could fight back.

They haven't been hunting moose for all that long. Years ago, when it was illegal, my cousin killed one with his (big) truck. Several people (jokingly, I hope) accused him of running it down on purpose.

I believe the hunting season is in the fall, so July/Aug are good months to see them

My brother lives up there and has a camp on Moosehead Lake. His boss was killed when he hit a moose, and so was a neighbor of his. And we complain about the deer!

I forgot to add that the other real road hazard up there are the logging trucks.

My brother is a big burly woodsman type, and let me tell you, he is terrified of those trucks. They cause awful accidents - logs fall off of them, they have poor brakes, they are overloaded, etc.

Oh right. Some people up here have bumper stickers on their cars that say, "break from moose, it could save your life." Also the kids in drivers ed are taught if they can't avoid a moose or another large animal, the safest way to hit it so that the front of the car is at it's highest point on impact. Rather grim, I know, but if you do hit it,acidently of course, it will land in your lap.

When we spent a night near at the Indian Hill Motel, they provided a sheet on spotting moose. The first thing it noted is what I have found to be true in my 25 years of trying to get moose photos -- they are VERY shy and VERY unpredictable. You can drive down the same road, same date, same time of day, same conditions -- and one time you'll see twenty moose, the other time you'll see none. There's as much luck as planning.

The main advice I can give is to get off the main roads, and to do so (while driving VERY carefully!) at dusk. Will you see moose? No guarantees -- but you'll increase your odds.

Oh, and, for the record, we got a glimpse of three moose while there. Spent over two weeks in New England and got exactly one opportunity to photograph moose!