KOKADJO -- A pair of bulls tipping the scales at more than 900 pounds highlighted the start of Maine's split moose hunting seasons on Monday.

The state's lead moose biologist, Lee Kantar of the Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, registered five moose -- all bulls -- by mid-afternoon at the Kokadjo Trading Post on Lily Bay Road north of Greenville and expected to see more as nightfall neared. The moose hunt begins this week with six days of hunting in northern reaches of Maine, with a second week of hunting for permit holders in mid-October.

Over the last two seasons, the Kokadjo registration site registered an average of 34 moose and it was on pace to meet or exceed that number this week. The site serves Wildlife Management Districts in northern and eastern Aroostook county as well as in some reaches of Washington county.

"The information we're getting from biologists in the field is that the bulls are getting into prime rut right now," Kantar said. "It looks like we're going to have a clear week of weather with cool morning temperatures -- so from that standpoint, it's a nice week for hunting."

The moose registered by midday on Monday had been killed in the early morning. Of the five, two were over 900 pounds with the others slightly smaller. Each time a truck or trailer pulled up to the site to be registered, it attracted a small group of onlookers.

The average size of bulls registered in 2007 was just over 700 pounds, an indication of good health among the bulls harvested in the early hours on Monday and inspected at Kokadjo.

Sex, age, and antler size and type were recorded by Kantar and a small group of students from Unity College. University of Maine student Katie Andrle was also participating in preparation for a study of tick impact on moose.

More than 3,000 moose permits were issued by DIF&W this season. Hunters typically enjoy a success rate of more than 70 percent.

An unidentified hunter was the only person found to be dissatisfied with Monday's happenings. After registering the bull shot by a companion of his just after sunrise, he said, "The bad part is I bought a week's worth of groceries for this and I'm already done."

Travis Barrett -- 621-5648

tbarrett@centralmaine.com