CONCORD — One-fourth of New Hampshire’s moose hunters were successful during the first two days of the nine-day season, Fish and Game officials said Monday.

On Saturday and Sunday, a total of 69 moose were taken by hunters statewide — 44 bulls and 25 cows. This year’s results were much like last year’s 27 percent success rate for opening weekend.

“Saturday was far too warm, with temperatures hitting 75 degrees in places. Moose are already equipped with heavy winter coats, so they tend to bed down in the shade and are much less visible,” said Kristine Rines, the moose biologist for the N.H. Fish and Game Department. “Luckily, Sunday was cooler, so that helped.”

The largest moose checked in during the opening weekend of the New Hampshire moose hunt was a bull with a dressed weight of 790 pounds and an antler spread of 57.75 inches, taken by Terri Dexter of Monroe in the town of Success.

Two brothers from Massachusetts, Michael and Frank Gleason, took a young bull moose this weekend after watching it fight another young bull up and down a clearcut for a half-hour.

“That’s something most people don’t get to see,” said Rines. The Gleasons may not be done hunting yet, as both men held permits by being high bidders in the Wildlife Heritage Foundation of New Hampshire’s annual moose hunt permit auction.

Fish and Game manages New Hampshire’s moose population in accordance with density goals defined in its 2006-2015 moose management plan. This plan seeks to meet regional moose population goals by balancing and incorporating social, economic, public safety and ecological factors, using the best available science.

New Hampshire’s nine-day moose hunt continues through Sunday. This year, more than 13,400 people entered the moose hunt lottery for a chance to win one of the 275 permits drawn for the New Hampshire moose hunt.

ptracy@unionleader.com