Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department Heading into next week’s public hearings on deer, moose, turkey and importation rules, here are the top three things to know about the proposed changes to deer hunting:
- The proposed new regulations would let hunters use antlerless permits during the regular November season – the goal is to make it easier to fill antlerless tags in specific areas where we know there are too many deer, not to impact the population in places where it’s already in balance with the habitat. The number and distribution of antlerless permits will still be adjusted each year to ensure too many antlerless deer aren’t taken.
- The proposed new regulations would allow hunters to take a “conditional” second buck – if they have also taken an antlerless deer and their first buck had at least three points on one antler. The goal is to encourage hunters to hunt more while incentivizing antlerless harvest and maintaining the selectivity created by the current one buck limit.
- The proposed new regulations would simplify the archery season and provide additional archery hunting opportunity in select areas – the goal is to encourage additional archery hunting, particularly in developed areas where deer cannot be effectively managed with firearms. The rule would keep archery open during the regular November season and establish eight expanded archery zones in developed areas where the season would open on Sept 15.
Public hearings will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the following dates and locations:
March 17, 6:30pm (Includes 2025 Moose Harvest Recommendation)
Mt. Anthony Union High School
301 Park St.
Bennington, VT
March 18, 6:30pm (Includes 2025 Moose Harvest Recommendation)
Lakes Region High School
317 Lakes Region Rd.
Orleans, VT
March 20, 6:30pm (Includes 2025 Moose Harvest Recommendation)
Union 32 Middle & High School
930 Gallison Hill Rd.
Montpelier, VT
May 6, 6:30pm
Winooski Middle & High School
60 Normand St.
Winooski, VT
May 8, 6:30pm
Springfield High School
303 South St.
Springfield, VT
The full proposed changes for all three hunting seasons and the game meat transport regulation can be read in their entirety on the Vermont Fish & Wildlife website under “Active Rulemaking”.
The department will accept public comment on all four proposed regulation changes through May 25, 2025, via email to [email protected]
Summary of Recommended Changes 
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Vermont Fish & Wildlife
802.828.1000
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