AUGUSTA — A public hearing is being held in Augusta on a bill that would increase the number of moose hunting permits in Maine based on the latest moose population estimate.

The Legislature’s Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee is holding public hearings Tuesday on seven different wildlife bills.

One of those bills would make a number of changes to Maine’s moose-lottery system.

Besides increasing the number of permits based on the moose population, the bill also proposes changing the way moose permits are issued from the current chance lottery system to a drawing in which persons who apply over a number of consecutive years may be guaranteed to receive permits.