MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Wildlife officials say hunters turned out in strong numbers for the opening day of Vermont’s moose-hunting season.

The season opened Saturday and runs through Thursday. The state has issued 406 permits for the season.

Moose hunters bagged 488 moose last year, when 765 permits were issued.

Fifty permits were issued for the new archery-only moose season, which ran from Oct. 1 to 7.