Waycotts Complete Maine Hunting Grand Slam
Lauren and Melvin Waycott IV each harvested a turkey, bear, moose and deer in the same year, completing the state's Grand Slam.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Hunting
Lauren Waycott and Melvin Waycott IV completed Maine's hunting Grand Slam in the same year, each harvesting a turkey, bear, moose and deer. All three deer harvested by the family were donated to the Hunters for the Hungry program.
Why it matters
The couple pursued the Grand Slam after Melvin Waycott IV and Lauren's father were both drawn for moose permits. Their completion shows how permit draws and guided hunts can combine to fill out a full set of Maine game species.
Lauren Waycott's 265-pound bear, Melvin Waycott IV's 276-pound bear and their moose weighing 652 and 352 pounds were all tagged during the 2026 season. Their hunting app recorded 991 miles of dirt-road travel while pursuing the animals.
The players
Good Ole Boys Guide Service
A Maine guide service that Lauren Waycott hired for her guided bear hunt.
Tobey Brooke Guide Service
A Maine guide service that Melvin Waycott IV hired for his guided moose hunt.
Hunters for the Hungry
A Maine program that distributes donated deer meat to food-insecure residents.
The details
Lauren was listed as a subpermittee on her father's moose permit, allowing her to tag a moose on his permit, and she hunted her bear with Good Ole Boys Guide Service. Melvin hunted his moose with Tobey Brooke Guide Service, and the couple's three deer, including Melvin's 220.6-pound eight-point buck, were donated to Hunters for the Hungry.
Timeline
Lauren harvested her turkey during spring 2026 season.
Lauren harvested her 265-pound bear on Sept. 15.
Melvin harvested his 652-pound bull moose on Oct. 13.
Lauren harvested her 352-pound cow moose on Oct. 27.
Melvin harvested his eight-point buck on Nov. 7, completing the family's deer harvests.
Roadmap
Maine's moose permit lottery determines which hunters can pursue the state's largest game animal, and the Waycotts' completion of the Grand Slam depended on both Melvin and Lauren's father being drawn. Their result shows how permit luck, subpermit rules and guided hunts can together fill out a full season of Maine game.
Maine hunters who hope to complete a Grand Slam need to be drawn for moose permits, and subpermit rules can let family members tag animals on another hunter's permit. Hunters interested in guided bear or moose hunts can look into the guide services the Waycotts used.
The takeaway
Planning around permit draws and guided hunts can make a full Maine Grand Slam achievable within a single season. Donating harvested deer to programs like Hunters for the Hungry puts game meat to use in local communities.
Further reading
For more on Maine's game seasons and permits, explore the Hunting section.
