Vermont Concludes Annual Moose Hunting Season

The state wraps up its limited hunting season as officials aim to manage population density and mitigate winter tick impacts.

Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Hunting

Screen-print poster illustration of a moose silhouette in a dense autumn forest, representing wildlife management in Vermont. — Vermont officials have concluded the state's annual moose hunting season, a limited program designed to curb population density and minimize winter tick outbreaks. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Vermont has officially concluded its annual moose hunting season after issuing 85 permits this year. The state utilizes this limited hunt as a management tool to stabilize the moose population and reduce the prevalence of winter ticks.

Why it matters

Reducing moose density is a critical measure to control winter tick populations, as a single moose can host over 40,000 of these parasites. Controlling the number of hosts helps mitigate the spread of ticks across the state wildlife population.

Vermont approved 85 moose hunting permits for 2026, a reduction from the 180 permits issued annually between 2023 and 2025. A single moose can carry more than 40,000 winter ticks, creating a significant focus for population management.

The players

Vermont Fish and Wildlife

This state department is responsible for the protection and management of Vermont's fish, wildlife, and plant habitats.

The details

Since 1993, the state has relied on a limited hunting program to manage moose densities and limit host availability for ticks. Hunters are required to adhere to strict regulations, which include a ban on motorized vehicles in wildlife management areas and the use of horses to transport harvested animals.

Vermont has utilized a limited moose hunt to manage population density since 1993.
The state issued 180 annual moose hunting permits from 2023 through 2025.
The 2026 moose hunting season officially ended in October 2026.

Culture Shift

This hunting season follows the long-standing framework of the Vermont Fish and Wildlife moose management plan. The state continues to balance hunting traditions with modern ecological goals, such as the effort to limit tick-borne health issues in the state wildlife population.

For residents and applicants, the permit lottery process determines access to the limited number of moose hunting opportunities available each year. Hunters must also prepare for specific logistical requirements, such as utilizing equine transport in restricted wildlife management areas.

The takeaway

Vermont continues to use controlled hunting as a targeted strategy to address the significant threat that winter ticks pose to its local moose population. Residents interested in future seasons should monitor state lottery announcements and regulatory updates closely.