AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Deadlines to apply for the Maine Moose Lottery are closing in.

Paper applications for hunters looking to bag a moose must be mailed or delivered to the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife by Tuesday. Those applying online have until mid-May.

This year the department says it will issue 4,085 permits for moose. Last year, 55,000 Mainers applied.

State biologist Lee Kantar says populations are robust based on aerial surveys. During the hunting season, the state monitors moose for ticks, reproductive rates and even examines their teeth.

This year's lottery winners are announced on June 14.