ST. JOHNSBURY — The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department says a preliminary count reveals hunters took 73 moose in this year’s regulated hunting seasons.
“A preliminary count on Oct. 24 showed that hunters had reported nine moose being taken by 27 hunters in the Oct. 1-7 archery season and 64 moose taken by 141 hunters in the Oct. 15-20 regular season,” said Cedric Alexander, Vermont’s moose project leader.  He said a few additional reports may still be sent in from other reporting agents.
Permits were issued for bulls-only in most of the 16 Wildlife Management Units open to moose hunting with a goal of increasing population growth.  Only in northern Vermont were hunters able to take moose of either sex.
The overall regular season hunter success rate reported to date is 45 percent, down slightly from 47 percent last year.  Either-sex permit holders enjoyed a 60 percent success rate while hunters restricted to harvesting only bulls averaged a much lower success rate of 37 percent.
A final report on Vermont’s moose hunting season will be available in January when all of the 2016 data have been received and reviewed.