Vermont’s moose permit lottery was held Thursday morning at the Statehouse in Montpelier. According to the Fish and Wildlife Department, 11,600 hunters from 49 states vied for the 335 archery and rifle permits.
They were awarded through a random selection of names drawn by computer. The lottery included a “special priority drawing” for five permits, awarded to veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The fanfare surrounding the annual lottery included a live radio broadcast, with Gov. Peter Shumlin choosing the first group of names.
Those whose names were not selected can bid in an auction for five moose hunting permits. The deadline for submitting sealed bids is August 14.
Thirty permits were awarded in the first moose hunting lottery in 1993.
