The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department issued 85 moose hunting permits and hunters took 51 moose during the October 1-7 archery season and the October 17-25 regular season. Hunting was confined to Wildlife Management Unit E in northeastern Vermont.

Department moose biologist Nick Fortin explained that moose occur at higher numbers there than elsewhere in Vermont, which increases winter ticks that harm moose health and survival, and the hunt lowers density to improve the population. Management goals came from years of monitoring plus research on moose and winter ticks in the northeastern United States and Canada.

Seventy-nine permits were awarded by lottery after nearly 6,000 hunters applied, with the first five lottery permits held for Vermont military veterans, three non-lottery permits given to people with life-threatening illnesses, and three auctioned to support conservation.