MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — The Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife is asking the state's successful bear hunters to submit a tooth to biologists so they can collect information about the bear population.

Vermont's early bear hunting season starts on Monday.

Teeth are used to determine the age of the bear.

Biologists use age and sex data to get an estimate of the number of bears in the state and to determine the status and health of the bear population.

Instructions for removing the tooth can be found on the back of an envelope that will be provided by big-game check stations.

State bear project leader Forrest Hammond says conditions should be good this year for bear hunting.