Fish and Wildlife recommends special moose hunting season in Northeast Vt.

BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) - Vermont Fish and Wildlife wants to issue dozens of moose hunting permits in the Northeast Kingdom in an effort to improve the health of the herd in the area.

Wildlife officials proposed issuing 180 moose hunting permits in a special district in the Northeastern corner of the state, where winter ticks are negatively impacting moose health and survival. They say reducing the number of moose would cut the abundance and impact of the ticks.

A study found chronic high winter tick loads led to very low birth rates in moose in the area and less than half of the calves survived their first winter.

The proposal was given initial approval by the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board and now the public can weigh in. For details on the proposal, visit the Vermont Fish and Wildlife website.

Fish and Wildlife didn’t recommend permits for the rest of the state.

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