State of Vermont

07/17/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/17/2024 11:30

Vermont Moose Hunting Permit Winners Are Drawn

The winnersof Vermont's 2024 moose hunting permits were determined Wednesday, July 17, at a lottery drawing at the Fish and Wildlife office in Montpelier.

The drawing is done by a random sort of applications that were submitted by the June 19 deadline.

As part of the regular lottery drawing, a "special priority drawing" was held for five permits to go to applicants who are Vermont resident veterans. The unsuccessful applicants from the veteran drawing were included in the larger regular drawing that followed. All applicants for both drawings who did not receive a permit were awarded a bonus point to improve their chances in future moose permit lotteries.

The department will issue 80 either-sex moose hunting permits and 100 antlerless moose hunting permits for a hunt limited to Vermont's Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) E in the northeastern corner of the state. The science-based hunt will result in an estimated harvest of about 94 moose, or 10 percent of the moose currently estimated to live in WMU E.

Winners in this year's moose hunting lottery are posted in a searchable database on the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department's website (www.vtfishandwildlife.com).

If your name wasn't drawn, you can still bid in Vermont's auction for three moose hunting permits, which is open until August 7. Sealed bids must be received by Vermont Fish and Wildlife by 4:30 p.m. that day. Contact the department to receive a moose permit bid kit. Telephone 802-828-1190 or email ([email protected]).

All proceeds from the auction support the Fish and Wildlife Department's conservation education programs, including the Green Mountain Conservation Camps.

An important goal of the department's 2024 moose harvest recommendation is to improve the health of moose in WMU-E by reducing the number of moose and thereby reducing the abundance and impact of winter ticks.

"Moose are abundant in WMU E with significantly higher population density than in any other part of the state," said Nick Fortin, Vermont Fish and Wildlife's moose project leader. "Moose are the primary host for winter ticks, and higher moose densities support high numbers of winter ticks which negatively impact moose health and survival."

The 2024 Moose Season Recommendationand related information about moose research and management are available on Vermont Fish and Wildlife's website at www.vtfishandwildlife.com.