The Vermont Fish & Wildlife (VTF&W)board voted on April 7 to have 60 either-sex moose hunting permits and 40 antlerless moose hunting permits available this year 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 51 to 66 moose, or 5% of the more than 1,000 moose currently estimated to live in WMU E.
Permit applications are now available on the VTF&W’s website
vtfishandwildlife.com.
“Moose density in WMU E remains well above one moose per square mile, significantly higher than any other part of the state,” said Nick Fortin, VTF&W’s biologist in charge of the moose project. “Moose densities greater than one per square mile support high numbers of winter ticks which negatively impact moose health and survival.”
Lottery applications for hunting permits are $10 for residents and $25 for nonresidents. The deadline to apply is June 30. Winners of the permit lottery will purchase resident hunting permits for $100 and nonresident hunting permits for $350.
Nonresident applicants are encouraged to consider Covid-19 travel restrictions before applying as permits issued in 2021 will not be held to the following 2022 hunting season.
Hunters who held a permit within the past five years are not eligible to apply for a permit or to buy a bonus point. Applicants must continue to annually submit a moose permit application if they wish to retain their past bonus permits and accumulate subsequent bonus points.
By law, five permits will be available to Vermont military veterans and up to three permits will be available for “Special Opportunity” recipients with life-threatening illnesses, and three permits will be auctioned in accordance with regulations.
The 2021 moose season recommendation and related information about moose research and management are available at vtfishandwildlife.com.
