I wouldn't call it a hot spot, but the population has been increasing the last 20 years or so - Game and Fish issues about 200ish licenses which are for ND residents only - once-in-a-lifetime tag (same with elk and bighorn sheep). I think there are now more moose in ND than in MN as we don't have the snail brain worm disease at this point in most of the state. Where ND used to have moose 30 years ago, there are not may left due to disease.