The Vermont Statutes Online

Title 10: Conservation and Development

Chapter 115: Hunting Dogs

• § 5001. Hunting dogs; field training

  (a) While accompanying the dog, a person may train a hunting dog to hunt and pursue:

  (1) bear during the period from June 1 to September 15 and then only from sunrise to sunset;

  (2) rabbits and game birds during the period from June 1 to the last Saturday in September and then only from sunrise to sunset;

  (3) raccoon during the period from June 1 through any time of day or night on the day before the opening day of raccoon hunting season; and

  (4) bobcat and fox during the period June 1 to March 15, except during regular deer season as prescribed in section 4741 of this title.

  (b) The Commissioner may permit a person to train and condition a hunting dog between the second Monday in March and June 1. The Board may adopt rules as it considers necessary to control the training and conditioning of hunting dogs.

  (c) A person training a hunting dog under this section may possess a handgun while training the hunting dog, provided that the person shall not take game by any method while training the hunting dog. As used in this section, “handgun” means a pistol or revolver that will expel a projectile by the action of an explosive. (Added 1961, No. 119, § 1, eff. May 9, 1961; amended 1965, No. 48, eff. May 7, 1965; 1973, No. 178 (Adj. Sess.), § 6; 1977, No. 137 (Adj. Sess.); 1983, No. 158 (Adj. Sess.), eff. April 13, 1984; 1991, No. 230 (Adj. Sess.), § 28; 2013, No. 78, § 19; 2013, No. 116 (Adj. Sess.), § 15, eff. May 5, 2014.)

• § 5002. Hunting dogs; field trials; fee

  The Commissioner may issue permits to organized groups to hold field trials for hunting dogs. Persons seeking a permit shall submit an application to the Commissioner as prescribed by the Commissioner and shall pay a fee of $50.00. (Added 1961, No. 119, § 1, eff. May 9, 1961; amended 1983, No. 157 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. April 13, 1984; 1997, No. 155 (Adj. Sess.), § 48, eff. Jan. 1, 1999.)

• § 5003. Retrieving dogs; field trials

  The Commissioner may issue a license to any responsible person or field trial group to hold a field trial for retrieving dogs, or bird dogs, with game birds that have been propagated or legally acquired and released on the day of the trial on premises owned or controlled by the individual or group conducting the same, and shot for such purposes during daylight hours. Such trials shall be held under the supervision of the Department of Fish and Wildlife. (Added 1961, No. 119, § 1, eff. May 9, 1961; amended 1983, No. 158 (Adj. Sess.), eff. April 13, 1984.)

• § 5004. Retriever field trials; fee

  The Commissioner may issue permits which shall authorize a holder or authorized designee to take all of the birds released by the holder of the permit or designee on the day the trial is in progress. Persons seeking a permit shall submit an application to the Commissioner as prescribed by the Commissioner, and shall pay a fee of $50.00. (Added 1961, No. 119, § 1, eff. May 9, 1961; amended 1983, No. 157 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. April 13, 1984; 1997, No. 155 (Adj. Sess.), § 49, eff. Jan. 1, 1999.)

• § 5005. Repealed. 1983, No. 157 (Adj. Sess.), § 5.

• § 5006. Exemption; hunting license

  Any person who participates in a trial under the provisions of sections 5002-5004 of this title shall not be required to have a hunting license. (Added 1961, No. 119, § 1, eff. May 9, 1961; amended 1983, No. 157 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. April 13, 1984.)

• § 5007. Hunting black bear with dogs

  (a) No person shall pursue black bear with the aid of dogs, either for training or taking purposes, without a permit issued by the Commissioner. The number of permits issued to nonresidents in any given year shall not exceed 10 percent of the number of permits issued to residents in the preceding year. The Commissioner shall establish a process for determining which nonresidents are to receive a permit if there are more nonresident applicants than nonresident permits. A nonresident may train dogs to hunt bear only while training season is in effect in the nonresident’s home state and subject to the laws and regulations of this State.

  (b) Permits will be issued to residents for a fee of $50.00.

  (c) Application fees for nonresidents shall be $10.00 with a permit fee of $200.00 for successful applicants. (Added 1989, No. 184 (Adj. Sess.); amended 1997, No. 155 (Adj. Sess.), § 50, eff. Jan. 1, 1999.)

• § 5008. Hunting coyote with aid of dogs; permit

  (a) No person shall pursue coyote with the aid of dogs, either for training or taking purposes, without a permit issued by the Commissioner.

  (1) The Commissioner may deny any permit at the Commissioner’s discretion. The Commissioner shall not issue more than 100 permits annually.

  (2) The number of permits that the Commissioner issues to nonresidents in any given year shall not exceed 10 percent of the number of permits issued to residents in the preceding year. The Commissioner shall establish a process and standards for determining which nonresidents are to receive a permit, including who will receive a permit if there are more nonresident applicants than nonresident permits.

  (3) A nonresident may train dogs to pursue coyote only while the training season is in effect in the nonresident’s home state and subject to the requirements of this part and rules adopted under this part.

  (b)(1) The Commissioner shall issue permits under this section to a resident for a fee of $50.00.

  (2) The application fee for a nonresident permit issued under this section shall be $10.00, and the fee for a nonresident permit issued under this section shall be $200.00 for a successful applicant. (Added 2021, No. 165 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. January 1, 2024.)

• § 5009. Pursuing coyote with aid of dogs; landowner permission

  (a) A person shall not release a dog onto land posted in accordance with section 5201 of this title for the purpose of pursuing coyote with the aid of dogs unless the dog owner or handler of the hunting dog has obtained a courtesy permission card from the landowner or landowner’s agent allowing the pursuit of coyote with the aid of dogs on the land.

  (b) A person shall not release onto land a dog for the purpose of pursuing coyote with the aid of dogs if in the previous 365 days a dog had been previously found on the land, and the dog owner, a handler of the dog, or a person participating in the hunt has been personally informed by law enforcement that hunting dogs are not permitted on the property.

  (c)(1) For a first offense, a person who violates this section shall have committed a minor fish and wildlife violation and shall be assessed a five-point violation under subdivision 4502(b)(1) of this title.

  (2) For a second or subsequent violation of this section, a person shall be assessed a 10-point violation under subdivision 4502(b)(2) of this title and shall be fined under section 4515 of this title. (Added 2021, No. 165 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. January 1, 2024.)