MONTPELIER, Vt. – The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department is holding three public hearings about Vermont’s moose and deer in March, with two focused on deer later in May.
The March 19, 21, and 22 hearings will include results of Vermont’s 2017 deer and moose seasons as well as prospects for the fall. Included will be a review of the proposed 2018 moose hunting season with the opportunity for public comment. The March meetings will occur before the board's second vote on the proposed 2018 moose season on April 25, 2018. Those who cannot attend can email comments to ANR.FWPublicComment@vermont.gov
On February 21, the Fish & Wildlife Board preliminarily approved issuing moose permits for the 2018 season. The Fish & Wildlife Department’s big game team recommended that only 14 permits for bull moose be issued for the October hunting seasons. The permits would be for WMUs E1 and E2 in the Northeast Kingdom, where moose numbers are close to biologists’ density goals. The number of moose hunting permits was reduced from 80 in 2017 and 141 in 2016 to allow growth of the moose population.
“We propose to limit the harvest of moose to that region of the state where we want to maintain moose densities at current levels in order to reduce the effects of winter ticks,” said moose biologist Cedric Alexander. “Throughout the rest of the state, we recommend suspending the harvest of moose until populations increase closer to their goals.”
The hearings are scheduled for 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. as follows:
Moose and Deer:
Monday, March 19 – Montpelier High School, 5 High School Dr., Montpelier, VT 05602
Wednesday, March 21 – Windsor Welcome Center, 3 Railroad Ave., Windsor, VT 05089
Thursday, March 22 – Lake Region Union High School, 317 Lake Region Rd., Orleans, VT 05860
Deer Only:
Tuesday, May 8 – Rutland High School, 22 Stratton Rd., Rutland, VT 05701
Thursday, May 10 – South Burlington High School, 550 Dorset St., South Burlington, VT 05403