AUGUSTA – State game officials have refined their proposals to change the state’s moose-hunting permit rules as of next season. Moose hunters may also see the number of permits drop.

The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife said Wednesday it wants to issue special permits to allow the shooting of antler-less moose, or bulls only. Currently, permits are issued for antler-less or any moose.

Also, the department wants to cut back the number of permits from 3,000, the number issued this fall, to 2,555 next fall.

During the past season, about 80 percent of the hunters were successful in shooting a moose. A total of 2,375 hunters were successful.

The proposed changes are designed to help encourage moose population growth in some areas, stabilize populations in others and protect larger bulls.

Fewer permits would be issued in western Aroostook County, Piscataquis, northern Penobscot, northern Franklin and northern Somerset counties, while the number would remain the same in eastern and southern Aroostook, Oxford, southern Franklin, southern Penobscot and Washington counties.

Public comments on the proposal will be accepted until Dec. 5 and a public hearing is scheduled for Nov. 25 at IFW headquarters in Augusta.