MONTPELIER — Vermont moose hunting permit applications are on the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department’s website (www.vtfishandwildlife.com), and now printed applications are also available at license agents statewide.
A total of 135 regular moose season permits and 25 archery moose season permits will be issued for Vermont’s 2016 October moose hunt. The regular season will be Oct. 15-20, and the archery season is Oct. 1-7.
The number of permits are reduced from last year in 10 Wildlife Management Units, and permits will be for bulls-only in all WMUs except B, C and E1.
The 160 permits being issued represent a 40 percent decrease from the number of permits issued last year. Hunters are expected to harvest close to 70 moose.
“We recommended a reduction in permit numbers and a continuation of bulls-only permits in most of the units this year based on biological data, and our population estimates indicating moose densities remain below management goals in many areas,” said wildlife biologist Cedric Alexander, Vermont’s moose project leader. “The intent of the proposal is to allow population growth in most of Vermont.”
Alexander estimates Vermont has over 2,000 moose statewide with the greatest concentration in the Northeast Kingdom.
Lottery applications are $10 for residents and $25 for nonresidents. The deadline to apply is July 12. Winners of the permit lottery will purchase resident hunting permits for $100 and nonresident hunting permits for $350. Hunters also will have the option to bid on five moose hunting permits in an auction to be announced later. Hunters who had a permit in 2013, 2014 or 2015 are not eligible to apply for a permit or buy a bonus point in 2016.