The winners of Vermont's 2026 moose hunting permits were determined on July 15, at a lottery drawing at the Fish and Wildlife office in Montpelier.
The drawing is done by a random sort of applications that were submitted by the June 17 deadline.
As part of the regular lottery drawing, a "special priority drawing" was held for five permits to go to applicants who are Vermont resident veterans. The unsuccessful applicants from the veteran drawing were included in the larger regular drawing that followed. All applicants for both drawings who did not receive a permit were awarded a bonus point to improve their chances in future moose permit lotteries.
The department will issue 65 either-sex moose hunting permits and 20 antlerless moose hunting permits for a hunt limited to Vermont's Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) E in the northeastern corner of the state. The science-based hunt is expected to result in a harvest of about 40 to 50 moose, or about 6 percent of the current moose population in WMU- E.
Winners in this year's moose hunting lottery are posted in a searchable database on the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department's website.
If your name was not drawn, you can still bid in Vermont's auction for three moose hunting permits, which is open until August 5. Sealed bids must be received by Vermont Fish and Wildlife by 4:30 p.m. that day. Contact the department to receive a moose permit bid kit. Telephone 802-828-1190 or email cheri.waters@vermont.gov.
All proceeds from the auction support the Fish and Wildlife Department's conservation education programs, including the Green Mountain Conservation Camps.
An important goal of the 2026 moose hunt is to improve the health of moose in WMU-E by maintaining a lower number of moose and thereby reducing the abundance and impact of winter ticks. The 2026 Moose Season Recommendation and related information about moose research and management are available on Vermont Fish and Wildlife's website.