Vermont’s deer population is managed to control the herd size over the harsh winter. To do this, each year, the Vermont Fish and Wildlife department regulates the number of antlerless deer that can be harvested through either-sex archery seasons, the youth deer hunting weekend, and a controlled permit system during the muzzleloader season.
When is Deer Season Open in Vermont?
In Vermont, deer season is open in the fall, from October 1st until early December. The state is divided into 21 different Wildlife Management Units (WMU). The entire state follows the same dates for the four different season types; Archery, Muzzleloader Antlerless, Regular, and Muzzleloader. There is also a weekend for Youth and Novice hunters. Where the WMUs vary is the definition of a “Legal Buck.” Vermont has a four-deer annual limit, with only one of those being a legal buck. Below we will discuss the various season and the regulations regarding the bag limits and which deer are legal to harvest. Before planning a hunt in Vermont, review the current Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department hunting guide for WMU maps, licenses, permits, and all the rules for deer hunting in the state.
Hunting License Requirements in Vermont
If you plan to deer hunt in Vermont, you must possess a valid Vermont hunting license. Hunting licenses can be purchased online, at one of the district offices, or from an authorized license agent. These are typically sporting goods retailers and town clerks. Non-residence hunters can hunt in Vermont. However, you must have the correct hunting license from the state. A hunting license from your home state is not valid. Licenses are available that are valid for one year or five years. Lifetime licenses are also available. The price is lower for children less than one year of age or seniors older than 64 years old. Youth hunting licenses are discounted for hunters ages 17 and younger. “Combination” licenses are available for outdoor enthusiasts who want to hunt and fish in Vermont. In Vermont, you must have a valid deer tag for every deer you harvest. The tags are part of the licenses that you purchase. Hunting and combination licenses come with one tag valid for one legal buck during the regular season. Don’t forget, “legal” depends on what WMU you are hunting in.
Types of Permits
If you would like to hunt in one of the other seasons, you must purchase the appropriate permit. For the Archery season, you must purchase an Archery permit. This permit comes with one tag that is valid for one legal buck. This tag can only be used for legal bucks during archery season. If the state determines that antlerless deer may be harvested in certain WMUs, you may purchase additional archery permits to harvest up to four antlerless deer. Similarly, if you would like to hunt during the muzzleloader season, you must purchase a muzzleloader permit. The muzzleloader permits work slightly differently than the archery permits. Regular muzzleloader permits allow you to harvest one legal buck during the regular muzzleloader season. Antlerless muzzleloader permits allow you to harvest antlerless deer during the Antlerless muzzleloader season. The antlerless muzzleloader permits are limited in number and change every year. In June, the state determines how many will be issued for the season. Regardless of the number of permits you have, only one buck may be harvested each year, regardless of the season. The only exception is for Youth and Novice hunters, who may take one buck during the Youth/Novice season and another buck during one of the other seasons. The total limit of deer that may be taken in a year for each hunter is four.
Hunter Education Requirements
If you have never purchased a hunting license in Vermont before, you must show proof of successfully completing a hunter education course. If you are purchasing an archery permit, you will also need to show proof of completing an archery safety course. Alternatively, you can present a certificate or letter showing that you have completed an approved hunter safety or archery course from Vermont or any other state. Hunter safety courses are available in Vermont in a classroom setting or online. If you want to try hunting for the first time and have not completed a hunter education course, a mentored license is available. This is only available to novice hunters who have never held a hunting license in Vermont or another state. To hunt with a mentored license, you must be accompanied by an adult 21 years or older with a valid Vermont hunting license. “Accompanied” means that the mentor is under the direct supervision and control of the hunter and is less than 15 feet away.
Types of Deer Seasons in Vermont
In Vermont, the deer hunting seasons are divided into three basic types: Archery, Muzzleloader, and Regular, with a possible fourth Antlerless Muzzleloader season. Archery season is open from the first Saturday in October until the second Friday in November. It opens again the Monday after Thanksgiving and closes around December 15th. Muzzleloader season may be split into two seasons, Antlerless Muzzleloader and Muzzleloader. Antlerless Muzzleloader season may not occur every year, depending on the decision by the state in June. If it is open, a limited number of permits will be offered, and the season will occur for four consecutive days starting the Thursday 16 days before the opening of the regular deer season. Muzzleloader season is open after the regular season on the first Saturday until the second Sunday of December. Regular deer season is open from the second Saturday of November until the Sunday after Thanksgiving. One weekend in the fall is set aside for only Youth and Novice hunters. This occurs on Saturday and Sunday, three weeks before the opening of the regular deer season in November.
Season Type Regulations
During the various season types, hunters can only use approved hunting devices and methods for the season that is open. You must have the proper permit and tags for the season, as mentioned above in the license section. Below are details of each season type:
Archery Season
During the Archery season, hunters may hunt with a bow and arrow, such as longbows, compound bows, recurve bows, or crossbows. All arrows, including those for crossbows, must have a broadhead with a minimum diameter of 7/8 of an inch and have at least two cutting edges. It is illegal to carry a rifle, shotgun, or muzzleloader while hunting deer during the archery season. Hunters may carry a pistol during the archery season but must not use it to take or assist in taking a deer.
Muzzleloader Season
Muzzleloaders are firearms that are single-shot, single-barrel rifles, or smoothbore with a minimum barrel length of 20 inches and designed to be fired from the shoulder. Single-shot pistols are also included that have a minimum barrel length of 10 inches. They must be incapable of being loaded from the breech without using tools and must be at least .43 caliber or larger. The ignition system must be a traditional or modern flintlock, caplock, matchlock, in-line, or wheel lock. They must use black powder or other suitable non-smokeless powder and fire a single ball or bullet. While hunting deer during the muzzleloader season with a muzzleloader deer permit, hunters may not possess firearms other than one single-barreled muzzleloading firearm. Also, hunters cannot possess any archery equipment or a crossbow.
Regular Season
During the regular season, hunters may use a centerfire rifle or handgun, shotgun, muzzleloader, bow and arrow, or crossbow. Autoloading firearms cannot have a magazine capacity greater than six cartridges. Vermont encourages hunters to use non-lead ammunition when possible. Many ammunition manufacturers offer solid copper and copper alloy bullets designed to expand and not fragment consistently. These bullets do not shed lead as they penetrate and offer excellent weight retention, resulting in deeper penetration. This results in fewer deer that are wounded and poisoned by lead.
Youth/Novice Weekend
The Youth/Novice weekend is open only to youth and novice hunters. Youth hunters must be 15 years old and younger on the weekend of the hunt. The hunter must have a youth hunting license and a free youth hunt deer tag. Novice hunters include hunters over 16 who purchased their first hunting license within the past 12 months. Novice hunters must also obtain a free novice deer tag. Both youth and novice hunters must be accompanied by an adult who has a hunting license. The adult accompanying the youth or novice hunter must be unarmed and able to directly control their pupil. They are required to supervise the hunter, including being able to see and communicate with the hunter without needing radios or binoculars. The adult can only accompany up to two hunters. The same weapon requirements as the regular deer season apply to this weekend
Overall Regulations and Safety
Below are a few key rules to remember while deer hunting in Vermont. This is not a full, extensive list, so before you go on your first hunting trip in Vermont, be sure to review and understand all of the rules in the Vermont hunting guide as they may apply to you.
No one may travel on foot within the right-of-way or through interstate highways. Rest areas and pull-off areas are not to be used for parking areas to access areas for deer hunting.Hunting on private land posted “No Hunting” is illegal without written permission from the landowner.Wearing hunter orange is not required by law in Vermont, but it is highly recommended. Wearing at least a hunter-orange hat while you are moving in the woods will help others identify you easily.Fully automatic firearms or firearms with a suppressor are not allowed to be used for hunting deer.It is illegal to use a spotlight or any artificial light to spot, locate, take, or attempt to spot or locate deer.It is illegal to take a deer by shooting from any vehicle, including cars, trucks, snowmobiles, ATVs, motorboats, airplanes, or any type of trailer towed by these. A permanently disabled hunter with a proper permit may hunt from vehicles under certain conditions.Hunters shall not take or attempt to take a deer by shooting from the traveled portion of a public roadway. It is also illegal to shoot across any public road. Violators are subject to a fine of up to $1000.Using aircraft or radio-controlled drones to locate, surveil, or assist in hunting deer is not allowed.Dogs may not be used to hunt deer. Dog owners are responsible for keeping their dogs from chasing or harassing deer. Dogs may be shot by game wardens or other law officers when the dogs are caught harassing deer, and the owners could be fined and have their licenses revoked. If you suspect a deer is being chased by a dog, do not attempt to take the deer – even if the dog does not belong to you.On state land, cutting live limbs of a tree or using nails, bolts, screws, wire, or chain that penetrate through the bark of a tree to erect a tree stand or blind is not allowed.Deer hunting hours are from ½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset.It is illegal to hunt or take a deer by using bait such as any vegetable, fruit, or mineral to attract deer.It is illegal to take a deer while swimming in any river, lake, or pond.The definition of a “Legal buck” varies depending on the WMU. In the eastern and western WMUs, a legal buck must have one antler with two or more points. A point is an antler projection of at least one inch measured from its base to the tip. In the central and northeastern WMUs, a legal buck has at least one antler at least three inches long.
Safety Guidelines
While deer hunting safety should always be a priority. It is your responsibility to follow the four basic rules of safe hunting: Treat every gun as if it were loaded, always keep the muzzle of your gun pointed in a safe direction, keep your finger off of the trigger until you are ready to shoot, and be sure of your target and what is beyond it. Make sure you can fully see your target deer, and make sure you are taking an antlered or antlerless deer. Just as important, make sure there is not another deer behind your target deer, or even worse, buildings, roads, or areas where people may be. Larger caliber rifles may go through your target deer and hit whatever is beyond. You are responsible for every projectile that comes from your firearm or bow. Hunters are more likely to use a tree stand today than in previous years. Advancements in the design of portable tree stands make this possible. While they can be helpful and convenient, they can also be dangerous. Most believe that injuries from hunters mistaking other hunters for deer are the most common, while the reality is that more hunting accidents are from fall injuries. If you use a tree stand, choose a live, straight tree. Only use a tree stand certified by the Treestand Manufacturer’s Association (TMA). Familiarize and inspect your tree stand before each hunt and tighten or replace loose or missing parts. Always use a full-body safety harness, even when climbing, and attach it to a safety line before your feet leave the ground. Most falls occur while the hunter climbs up or down the tree stand. Never carry your firearm up or down the tree; use a haul line to raise and lower it and ensure it is unloaded. If you leave your tree stand in the woods, be aware of long-term exposure. The elements can weaken straps, ropes, and attachment cords.
Chronic Wasting Disease Concerns in Vermont
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a fatal disease that spreads quickly within deer herds, especially among young bucks. It affects animals in the cervid family, such as deer, elk, moose, and caribou. CWD is caused by a mutant protein called a “prion” that affects the brain and nervous system of deer. It causes deer that become infected to lose body weight over time and eventually die. CWD has been detected in many states and two Canadian provinces, but as of 2022 has not been detected in Vermont. Infected deer will contract the disease and spread it for years before any symptoms appear. The prions are shed in the saliva, urine, and feces of the deer. Once the prions are in the ground, they can survive for a long time and infect other deer by contact. Since the prions can survive in the soil, once CWD is in an area, it is impossible to eliminate it. The only thing that can be done is to slow the spread by reducing the deer herd and other hunting restrictions.
CWD Prevention
To prevent CWD from infecting the Vermont deer population, the state has established two important laws. First, it is illegal to bring into the state a deer or elk carcass or parts of a deer or elk that were harvested from states or Canada where CWD has been detected. However, if you do harvest an animal in an infected state, you can bring into Vermont the meat as long as it has been boned out, packaged, and labeled for consumption. Hides can be brought in but can have no part of the head attached. Clean skull caps with antlers, antlers with no other tissue attached, finished taxidermy heads, and teeth with no tissue attached can also be imported. In all cases, the parts should be tagged with the name of the person that took the animal, the tag number, the date, and the location where the animal was taken. Second, it is illegal to have in your possession and use urine-based deer lures. Lures can be made from the urine of an infected deer that was not yet showing symptoms of the disease, and the deer cannot be tested until after they die. Since the prions are shed in the urine, you could inadvertently spread the disease if the lure you use is infected. Synthetic lures and food-scented lures pose no threat and are permitted. While CWD does not pose a known threat to humans, health officials advise not to consume meat from an animal that is positive for CWD. Always take precautions when field dressing and butchering the meat of your harvested deer, or have a qualified facility do it for you. Always wear gloves and thoroughly wash your hand and tools. Properly dispose of the carcass parts in a landfill and particularly pay attention to the head and spinal cord, handling these parts as little as possible.
What to do After a Deer is Harvested?
When you harvest a deer, you must immediately tag it with one of the tags that you purchased with your license. Either a paper tag or a durable tag that is available may be used. Fill out the information on the tag, and be sure to include your name or your conservation ID number. The tag should be attached to the deer so it can be easily seen. Once the deer is tagged, you may field dress it and then transport it to either your home or a taxidermist or processor. The tag should remain on the carcass until it is cut up and processed for consumption. Within 48 hours of harvesting a deer, it must be reported, and the carcass must be presented to the Vermont Fish & Wildlife department. This can be done by taking your harvested deer to the nearest big game reporting station found here. Online reporting may also be available. Check the Vermont Fish & Wildlife website before the season to see if an online reporting option is available.
Fines for Not Following Regulations
Hunting a deer illegally in Vermont can result in fines, jail time, forfeiture of equipment, and loss of hunting privileges. Fines can be up to $1000 for the first conviction. For the second and subsequent convictions, you can face a fine between $2000 and $4000. Prison time for subsequent violations can be up to 60 days. In addition to the fine, restitution payments could be required, up to $2000 per deer. Court costs and lawyer fees could also add up if you go to court, even if you are acquitted. Hunting licenses are revoked based on a point system. When you are convicted of violating a hunting law, you receive points against your hunting license. Currently, if you have between 10 and 14 points accumulated in 5 years, you lose your license for one year; if 15 to 19 points accumulate in 5 years, you lose it for two years; and over 20 points accumulate in 5 years, you lose it for three years. Before going on your first hunt in Vermont, make sure you read and understand all of the hunting rules, regulations, and license requirements. Even if you are an active hunter in another state, take the time to understand the differences in deer hunting in Vermont. Not knowing is not an excuse and could be costly.
