To hunt a Minnesota moose is for some lucky hunters a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

For many of us, it is a never-in-a-lifetime hunt.

That’s because thousands of hopeful applicants apply each year for the several hundred moose licenses available.

And while unsuccessful applicants receive preference points each time they apply, some hunter’s numbers in the game of life come up before they ever get drawn.

Since 1991, getting drawn for a moose permit has been a residents-only, once-in-a-lifetime affair.

But as far as hunting Minnesota moose are concerned, for 12-year-old Kelly Holmin of Nicollet, it’s already “been there, done that.”

A change in hunting laws that previously restricted moose hunting to those age 16 and older and now allows youngsters as young as age 10 to apply for the permits inspired her father, Jeff Holmin, to send in his daughter’s application the day before the application deadline.

Since moose hunting in Minnesota is a party affair — at least two hunters need to apply — Phil Holmin, Kelly’s uncle, also applied to be her hunting partner.

“I had to apply for 23 years before I was ever drawn for a moose permit,” he said. “I thought I would get her jump-started in gaining preference points.”

Several months later, a large envelope from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources arrived in the mail.

“We figured it was her Firearms Safety Certificate,” Holmin said. “But then I peeked in the envelope window and could see a Zone number.”

Incredibly, the seventh grader had beaten the odds and got drawn the very first time she applied for one of the coveted moose tags.

So earlier this month, Kelly, Uncle Phil, and dad loaded up the camper and drove to northeastern Minnesota where they would be hunting on the Gunflint Trail during the Oct. 3 to Oct. 18 season.

The weather was less than cooperative.

“For the first three days, it was a downpour,” Kelly said. “It never even quit.” That combined with the strong winds conspired to thwart her efforts to entice a moose into gun range.