1. Give yourself time. Lately I've gotten a rash of hunters who upon arrival tell me that they really cannot spend the full 6 days of the season in quest of a trophy. That is, maybe they'll settle for second best, or that's how I interpret it. Reasons usually stem from work,and/or family related issues, or another scheduled hunt. 

2. Come prepared physically and mentally for a tough hunt. 

3. Bring appropriate clothing, and good fitting boots. You don't need any single piece of outerwear that is designed for winter. It may be 20 or 25 degrees in the morning, but it doesn't stay that temperature for very long. If you dress for winter, you'll be huffing and puffing, hot, sweaty, and carrying around extra unnecessary baggage. Don't fall for the $400.00 outfits that claim to be ultra quiet as well as breathable and water proof. That stuff is ALWAYS too noisy for hunting the Maine woods. Wool is quiet; so is Scent Lok's Savannah EXT material, and the material used for LL Bean's TECHNICAL Big Game outer wear. I personally "noise check" the outer wear in every well known hunting store I go into. Most of it fails.  We are hunting at times where I can hear these animals breathing. "Do the math": their hearing is alot better than mine. 

4. Know your weapon, and practise with it. This, fortunately, is rarely a problem for us.

5. Take a little time before your hunt to familiarize yourself with the characteristics of a 50 inch or greater set of trophy moose antlers. Trophy judgement is a big part of my job, but some knowledge of this can be very helpful and satisfying to you as well.

6. Book with an outfit that doesn't book 4, 6, 8, or 10 hunters per week. Those guys have killed all the good bulls in their areas years ago, and now are making a pretty good dent into the half grown bulls, which could be future trophies if let to live. 

7. Know your sub-permittee, if you come with one. I can't count the ways that I have experienced a sub-permittee undermining a hunt. I don't think it's ever intentional, but eight in ten sub-permittees (or companions) will have a negative effect on a trophy hunt. Having a sub-p is an option, not a requirement.