Let's talk about the moose in the room: Man pleads guilty to shooting the animal in 2017

Burlington Free Press

A cow moose pauses on the bank of the Connecticut River in Maidstone. Wildlife officials in Vermont and New Hampshire are proposing to reduce the number of moose hunting permits this year in response to declining populations in both states.

You might notice the occasional moose around Vermont. But you can't touch it until October — and even then, your likelihood of hunting the hooved-animal is really up to chance.

One Vermont man learned the hard way. Gerin Fortin of Orleans, who pleaded guilty to shooting a moose in Sept. 2017, will not be allowed to hunt, fish and trap in the Green Mountain State for 3 years.

What went wrong?

Gerin Fortin of Orleans pleaded "to taking a moose in closed season and taking a moose by illegal means..." according to the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department. He acknowledged shooting a moose, dragging it for 8 miles with his truck and "abandoning the moose to rot."

In addition to losing hunting privileges, Fortin's sentence includes:

Going to alcohol counseling.
Paying $2,000 in restitution.
Spending 60 days on state work crew.
Handing over the firearm wielded during the incident.

Here's what went wrong.

Which rules are protecting the moose of Vermont?

There's a permit lottery system in place for Vermonters who want to take part in moose harvesting. "Successful applicants" can bring along a guide and another shooter.

You need to have an up-to-date hunting license in order to apply.

For archery purposes, the season takes place during the first week of October:

Vermonters pay $10 to apply, out-of-staters pay $25 (fees cannot be refunded).
Of the permits provided, up to 10 percent can go to people from out-of-state.

The regular season is six days long, starting on the third Saturday in October. If you get a chance to participate in the season, expect to get a Moose Hunter's Guidebook and Permit Form!

Climate change appears to be having an impact on moose, with shorter winters affecting the animals in a couple different ways:

They are less adapted to surviving in warmer temperatures, risking overheating.
They are susceptible to winter ticks, a parasite that favors "shorter winters with less snow."

What the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department asks of you

Vermont Fish & Wildlife offers a couple different options to report any activity that seems suspicious:

You can make use of a form on the department's website at www.vtfishandwildlife.com.
You can call 1-800-75 ALERT (1-800-752-5378), the Operation Game Thief number.

Contact Maleeha Syed at mzsyed@freepressmedia.com or 802-495-6595. Follow her on Twitter @MaleehaSyed89.