MONTPELIER, Vt. -- Vermont's lottery application deadline for a moose hunting permit has been extended from June 10 to June 17, and the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department is urging hunters who plan on entering to do so now online.

"Giving folks an additional week to apply makes sense because many may be unaware the deadline is a month earlier this year," said Fish & Wildlife Commissioner Louis Porter. "The application process also was advanced so those who do receive permits have time to do their pre-hunt planning and scouting, as well as to ensure that long-time applicants are able to preserve their bonus points from previous years."

Fish & Wildlife normally receives more than 12,000 moose hunting applications through online and mail-in applications.

The application is quick and easy to fill out on the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department's website (www.vtfishandwildlife.com). Click on Hunting and Trapping, then Lottery Applications and Winners, and then Online Moose Permit Application.

Printed moose applications are available at license agents, but Fish & Wildlife is urging people to use the online application because it is more efficient.

Lottery applications are $10 for residents and $25 for nonresidents. Winners of the permit lottery must purchase resident hunting permits for $100 and nonresident hunting permits for $350.

The Fish & Wildlife Department is issuing 335 moose hunting permits by lottery this year. Of those, 285 will be issued for the regular October 18-23 moose season and 50 permits will be issued for an archery moose season October 1-7.

The 2013 Vermont Moose Harvest Report with details on last year's hunt, including the towns where moose were taken, is on Fish & Wildlife's website. Look under "Hunting and Trapping" and then "Big Game."