Moose permits to top 1,000




By Matt Crawford
Free Press Staff Writer

The biggest moose hunting season in Vermont history will likely take place tin the fall after biologists from the state's Fish and Wildlife Department recommended a record number of permits be issued and that the season be extended to 12 days in parts of the state.

Moose biologist Cedric Alexander said the department wants to issue 1,045 permits for the upcoming moose hunt, a 26 percent increase from last year's record total of 833. Most of the new permits would be issued in Wildlife Management Unit D2 -- a Northeast Kingdom unit where moose population levels remain extremely high.

The department upped the number of permits last year after habitat surveys in Northeast Kingdom forests showed significant signs of overbrowsing and ecological damage from too many moose on the landscape.

Hunters killed 539 last year and the department is anticipating this year's kill will be about 679 animals. The statewide population is estimated in excess of 4,000 moose, said Alexander.

"Last year we really started raising the permit totals in order to be responsible stewards of the land," said Alexander. "What we've found, particularly in D2, is that we're still over where we want to be with our target number."

Since so many permits are being issued in the northeast corner of the state, the department is recommending that two six-day hunting seasons be held there. The statewide moose season would be held Oct. 15-20, with an antlerless only season in Wildlife Management Units D2 and E to be held Oct. 22-27.

"It's not going to be a statewide split season," said Alexander. "This should allow us to keep a high-quality hunting experience in those two zones, where hunters won't have to worry about competing with other hunters for six concentrated days."

No new areas will be open to hunting.

Competition for moose, said Alexander, will probably be running high in October. This year, for the first time in Vermont history, the department will charge winners of the permit lottery a fee for the moose tag. Residents will pay $100 and nonresidents will pay $300.

"We've heard from unsuccessful hunters who said in years past that they have not hunted the entire six days," Alexander said. "I think a higher percentage of hunters, now that they'll have to pay for the permit, are going to keep going at it and try to fill their tag."

Hunters who are not drawn for a permit will have the opportunity to bid on one of five permits being auctioned off to the highest bidders. The Legislature mandated that five permits be auctioned to raise fund for the cash-strapped Fish and Wildlife Department.
Contact Matt Crawford at 651-4852 or mcrawfor@bfp.burlingtonfreepress.com
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Vermont moose hunting permit applications are available from the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department's Web site (www.vtfishandwildlife.com) or where hunting licenses are sold. A person may apply once. The nonrefundable application fee is $10 for residents and $25 for nonresidents. Only persons who have not held a moose permit in the last three years are eligible. Completed applications must be received at the department's Waterbury office by mail postmarked no later than May 1. Ten percent of the permits will go to nonresidents; the rest to residents. A hunting license is not required to apply but is required in order to secure the permit. Moose permit fees are $100 for residents and $300 for nonresidents.

 i  guide hunters in  wmu's   e1.e2.d1.d2.and c--     - get lots of  emails and calls  about moose  hunting.  u need  to draw a permit - its by  lottery--   guides need  to be  listed on  permits--  so as soon as u  get  your  permit-  contact your guide---  be  aware  there are  anterless  only  permits--  u  cant  shoot a  bull  with an anterless  permit--    pete