In 2008 there was no online website to assist with swapping a moose permit.
Let me explain the road to 2026. I had a moose permit in zone 23, as we all know, that was a bad choice selection and there are no longer even permits in that zone. I had a terrible moose hunting experience and there was no place to even attempt to swap a moose permit, the IFW and SAM was doing a list of sorts prior to 2008, but that year both had ceased providing any help to moose hunters. I contacted both the IFW & SAM and both gave me the thumbs up to create a website for swapping moose permits for the Maine Moose Hunters. So as a website developer of that time period, I set out to create what is currently the site you are reading this on!
Three years after I started this website, the Maine Professional Guides Association decided to create a copy cat website which caused the moose hunter to pay at two different websites, a really bad idea by this group. This caused people to move towards "free sources" such as Craig's List and Facebook to attempt to swap their permits for free. This new website caused the spread of swappers names even further all because the MPGA wanted to make money off the Maine moose hunters for their club funds. In doing this it added costs to the moose permit swappers having to pay at two websites and what they actually accomplished was making it no longer possible to find a swapping partner all in one place, which is why I had initially created this website. Moving ahead to this year, 2026, another new website has just been released by a third private individual creating yet another paid website for swapping moose permits causing yet one more location with a fee of $34.95 that moose hunters must pay and add to the navigation confusion in search of a swapping partner. Unfortunately for today's moose hunter it's getting expensive paying at (3) three different websites. There's no law against competition so navigating it will be an added expense along with more frustration for those needing to swap a permit unfortunately.
With this third paid addition to the internet, in my attempt to once again provide our faithful users of this website that has existed for 18 years, I have lowered the price so that this website remains priced lower than any other websites online. I encourage ALL users to use my website, lowering five dollars doesn't seem like a lot, but after 18 years at $34.95 and the reduced use caused by competitors over the years, in today's world of higher prices, I am going down to $29.95 in 2026 to do my part at attempting to provide to you the moose hunter what I started 18 years ago, ONE place to locate all the available swaps. You can either pay (x3) $39.95, $34.95 and $29.95 for three websites to attempt to swap a permit or you can ALL support my efforts and accept my lower pricing and stay with the #1 Moose Permit Swapping website online for years to come! Sometimes higher prices or fancy bells and whistles especially on a "FREE To Start" website will really end up costing you more in the long run, we've all seen the APP traps of free to try but then there's the FEES to actually use the APP! Be wise... Our website was First, We have the "Only List" and we're here to stay!
Many things have changed along the way. Initially the IFW required passwords to my website to monitor it each year to make sure no one was selling or offering money for swapping, but somewhere along the way of changes in laws or policy the IFW decided to allow this practice and now the offers of money between permit holders to enhance a trade are allowable. Here are the rules taken directly from the IFW Website:
{Law allows a moose permit holder to transfer a hunting zone, area or season and compensation between the two parties who are transferring moose permits is allowed, but law prohibits anyone from facilitating between those two parties for financial consideration “facilitate for consideration” means: directly receive compensation or something of value solely as part of an exchange of moose permits.}
I thank you for your support of all my years of effort to the Maine Moose Hunting community.
Steve Beckwith