Hunting in Vermont
Reprinted courtesy of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce
HUNTING IN VERMONT
The hunter who plans early and makes a pre-season survey of the area to hunt usually has greater success and fewer problems. Local information can be obtained, licenses procured, the lay of the land ascertained – and acquaintance made with the landowner.
Vermont offers excellent upland game hunting:
Ruffed Grouse – The “Partridge” is a native Vermonter and our most abundant upland game bird.
Woodcock – “Timberdoodles” are found throughout Vermont. Native birds contribute to the population, but the greatest concentrations occur when ‘flight birds’ are spurred southward by autumn frosts in Canada.
Waterfowl – Mallards, black ducks, wood ducks and blue-winged teal are Vermont’s most abundant “puddle ducks” (ducks frequenting small, shallow bodies of water).
Goldeneyes (whistlers), scaup (bluebills), mergansers and ring-necked ducks comprise most of Vermont’s “diving duck” population.
Goose hunters are finding greater opportunities now than ever before.
Black Bear – Vermont’s black bear population is well-managed and healthy with greatest numbers of bears found in the mountainous country and the northeast quarter of the state. The bear population has been growing in recent years.
White-tailed Deer – Vermont’s deer hunting can’t be beat here in the northeastern corner of the country, especially when you consider that you may take a deer by bow and arrow in October plus a buck in the November firearm season. And, you can hunt on Sunday too.
The November buck season, which allows a licensed hunter one deer with three-inch or longer antlers, is Vermont’s basic deer season. For most whitetail enthusiasts this is the time of ultimate challenge — a time to pit your hunting skills against some of the wiliest bucks on the continent.
Wild Turkey – Wild turkeys are considered “Big Game” under Vermont law, and after hunting them you will easily understand why. Flocks of up to 50 have been counted in late winter, but when hunting season comes in October and May, their prowess in avoiding the hunter puts them way ahead of any small game species and certainly on a par with deer and bear.
For information on hunting and licensing, contact:
Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department
103 South Main Street, 10 South,
Waterbury, VT 05671-0501
Tel: 241-3700
Fax: 241-3295
VT Fish & Wildlife