Vermont moose hunting permit applications are available on the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department's website (www.vtfishandwildlife. com) and at license agents statewide.

On Fish & Wildlife's website, look under "Hunting and Trapping," and then click on Lottery Applications.

Lottery applications are $10 for residents and $25 for nonresidents. The deadline to apply is June 2.

Winners of the permit lottery will purchase resident hunting permits for $100 and nonresident hunting permits for $350. Hunters also will have the option to bid on five moose hunting permits in an auction to be announced later.

A total of 1,230 hunting permits would be issued, and about 600 moose are expected to be taken.

"We are managing Vermont's moose population to keep it in balance with available habitat," said Cedric Alexander, Vermont's lead biologist on moose. "Carefully constructed hunting regulations enable us once again to enjoy having moose in Vermont on a sustained basis, while their numbers are maintained at levels that fit habitat capacity and the needs of people."