§ 4255. License fees
(a) Vermont residents may apply for licenses on forms provided by the Commissioner. Fees
for each license shall be:
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(1) Fishing license |
$28.00 |
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(2) Hunting license |
$28.00 |
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(3) Combination hunting and fishing license |
$47.00 |
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(4) Big game licenses (all require a hunting license) |
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(A) archery license |
$23.00 |
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(B) muzzle loader license |
$23.00 |
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(C) turkey license |
$23.00 |
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(D) [Repealed.] |
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(E) [Repealed.] |
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(F) moose license |
$100.00 |
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(G) bear tag |
$5.00 |
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(H) additional deer archery tag |
$23.00 |
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(5) Trapping license |
$23.00 |
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(6) Hunting license for persons 17 years of age or under |
$8.00 |
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(7) Trapping license for persons 17 years of age or under |
$10.00 |
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(8) Fishing license for persons 15 through 17 years of age |
$8.00 |
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(9) Super sport license |
$150.00 |
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(10) Three-day fishing license |
$11.00 |
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(11) Combination hunting and fishing license for persons 17 years of age or under |
$12.00 |
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(12) Mentored hunting license |
$10.00 |
(b) Nonresidents may apply for licenses on forms provided by the Commissioner. Fees for
each license shall be:
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(1) Fishing license |
$54.00 |
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(2) One-day fishing license |
$21.00 |
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(3) [Repealed.] |
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(4) Hunting license |
$102.00 |
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(5) Combination hunting and fishing license |
$143.00 |
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(6) Big game licenses (all require a hunting license) |
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(A) archery license |
$38.00 |
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(B) muzzle loader license |
$40.00 |
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(C) turkey license |
$38.00 |
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(D) [Repealed.] |
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(E) [Repealed.] |
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(F) moose license |
$350.00 |
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(G) bear tag |
$15.00 |
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(H) additional deer archery tag |
$38.00 |
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(7) Small game licenses |
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(A) all season |
$50.00 |
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(B) [Repealed.] |
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(8) Trapping license |
$305.00 |
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(9) Hunting licenses for persons 17 years of age or under |
$25.00 |
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(10) Three-day fishing license |
$23.00 |
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(11) Seven-day fishing license |
$31.00 |
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(12) Archery-only license (does not require hunting license) |
$75.00 |
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(13) Fishing license for persons 15 through 17 years of age |
$15.00 |
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(14) Super sport license |
$250.00 |
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(15) Combination hunting and fishing license for
persons 17 years of age or under
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$30.00 |
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(16) Mentored hunting license |
$10.00 |
(c) A permanent or free license may be secured on application to the Department by a person
qualifying as follows:
(1) A Vermont resident 66 years of age or older may receive one or all of the following
licenses for $60.00:
(A) a permanent fishing license;
(B) if the person qualifies for a hunting license, a permanent combination fishing and
hunting license, which shall include all big game licenses except for a moose license;
(C) if the person qualifies for a trapping license, a permanent trapping license; and
(D) if the person qualifies for an archery license, a permanent archery license.
(2) A person who is legally blind who is a Vermont resident may receive a free permanent
fishing license upon submittal of proper proof of blindness as the Commissioner shall
require. A person who is legally blind who is a resident in a state that provides
a reciprocal privilege for Vermont residents may receive a free one-year fishing license.
(3) A Vermont resident with paraplegia as defined in subdivision 4001(30) of this title or a permanent, severe, physical mobility disability certified by a physician may
receive a free permanent fishing license or, if the person qualifies for a hunting
license, a free combination hunting and fishing license. A person with paraplegia
or a person certified by a physician to have permanent, severe, physical mobility
disability who is a resident of a state that provides a reciprocal privilege for Vermont
residents may receive a free one-year fishing license or, if the person qualifies
for a hunting license, a free one-year combination fishing and hunting license.
(4) A Vermont resident who is a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces and who is, or ever has
been, 60 percent disabled as a result of a service-connected disability may receive
a free fishing, hunting, or combination hunting and fishing license that shall include
all big game licenses, except for a moose license, upon presentation of a certificate
issued by the veterans’ administration so certifying. A resident of a state that provides
a reciprocal privilege for Vermont veterans and who would qualify for a free license
under this subdivision if the person were a Vermont resident may receive a free one-year
fishing, hunting, or combination hunting and fishing license.
(5) A person participating in a fishing tournament for Special Olympics may receive a
free fishing license valid for that event.
(6) In each year a permanent license holder intends to hunt, trap, or fish, the permanent
license holder shall notify the Department that he or she will exercise his or her
hunting, trapping, or fishing privileges. Failure to notify the Department as required
by this subdivision (c)(6) shall not result in the assessment of points under section 4502 of this title.
(7) A certified citizen of a Native American Indian tribe that has been recognized by
the State pursuant to 1 V.S.A. chapter 23 may receive free of charge one or all of the permanent fishing, hunting, or trapping
licenses set forth in subdivisions (1)(A)–(D) of this subsection if qualified for
the license and upon submission of a current and valid tribal identification card.
[Subdivision (c)(8) effective January 1, 2026.]
(8) A person with developmental disabilities who is a Vermont resident may receive a free
permanent fishing license upon submission to the Commissioner of a statement signed
by the person’s treating health care provider, as that term is defined in 18 V.S.A. § 9402, certifying that the person meets the definition of a person with development disabilities.
“A person with developmental disabilities” has the same meaning as in 18 V.S.A. § 9302.
(d) A nonresident student who is otherwise qualified and who is enrolled in a program
of secondary education or in a college or university within the State at which he
or she has successfully completed two successive semesters shall be entitled to a
resident fishing, hunting, or combination hunting and fishing license upon presentation
of a document from a school that affirms his or her status and payment of the fees
set forth in this section, provided the student applies for the license to an authorized
license agent.
(e) The Commissioner shall issue honorary hunting and fishing licenses to the President
and Vice President of the United States. The Commissioner may, at his or her discretion,
issue free licenses that are valid for one year or less.
(f)-(h) [Repealed.]
(i)(1) The fee for a permit to trap hare and rabbits shall be $20.00.
(2) The fee for a permit to transport minnows or bait fish shall be $50.00.
(j) If the Board determines that a moose season will be held in accordance with the rules
adopted under sections 4082 and 4084 of this title, the Commissioner annually may issue three no-cost moose licenses to a person who
has a life-threatening disease or illness and who is sponsored by a qualified charitable
organization, provided that at least one of the no-cost annual moose licenses awarded
each year shall be awarded to a child or young adult 21 years of age or under who
has a life-threatening illness. The child or adult shall comply with all other requirements
of this chapter and the rules of the Board. Under this subsection, a person may receive
only one no-cost moose license in his or her lifetime.
(k) The Commissioner may issue multi-year hunting, fishing, trapping, or combination hunting
and fishing licenses of up to five years’ duration. The cost of these licenses shall
be the sum of the license fee established by this section for the first year, plus
the cost of each additional year minus the filing fee established by subdivision 4254(e)(9) of this title for each year.
(l) If the Board determines that it is in the interest of bear management, it may authorize
the Department to issue bear tags in addition to those allowed by a hunting license
issued under this chapter.
(m) The fee for a therapeutic group fishing license issued under section 4254b of this title shall be $50.00 per year, provided that the Commissioner may waive the fee under
this section if the applicant for a therapeutic group fishing license completes instructor
certification under the Department’s Let’s Go Fishing Program. The Commissioner may,
at his or her discretion, issue a free therapeutic fishing license to an applicant.
[Subsection (n) effective January 1, 2026.]
(n) The Commissioner shall maintain an accounting of lost revenue due to the issuance
of free licenses. The Commissioner annually on or before January 15 shall submit
to the Senate Committees on Appropriations and on Finance and the House Committees
on Appropriations and on Ways and Means an accounting of lost revenue from the previous
calendar year due to the issuance of free licenses. (Added 1961, No. 59, § 1, eff. April 4, 1961; amended 1963, No. 27, § 1; 1967, No. 34, § 1, eff. March 16, 1967; 1967, No. 373 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. March 27, 1968; 1971, No. 224 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1973; 1973, No. 27, eff. Jan. 1, 1974; 1973, No. 173 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; 1977, No. 103, § 3, eff. May 6, 1977; 1979, No. 189 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 1983, No. 68, § 1; 1985, No. 215 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. June 2, 1986; 1987, No. 118, § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1988; 1987, No. 170 (Adj. Sess.); 1989, No. 36, § 5; 1989, No. 190 (Adj. Sess.), § 4; 1991, No. 11, §§ 1-3; 1991, No. 30; 1991, No. 34, § 2, eff. Jan. 1, 1992; 1991, No. 34, § 3, eff. June 1, 1991; 1991, No. 199 (Adj. Sess.), §§ 2, 3, eff. May 27, 1992; 1991, No. 205 (Adj. Sess.), §§ 2, 3, eff. July 1, 1993; 1991, No. 230 (Adj. Sess.), § 19; 1991, No. 254 (Adj. Sess.); 1993, No. 191 (Adj. Sess.), § 3; 1997, No. 59, § 43, eff. Jan. 1, 1998; 1997, No. 59, § 43a, eff. June 30, 1997; 1997, No. 155 (Adj. Sess.), § 43, eff. Jan. 1, 1999; 2001, No. 65, § 20, eff. Jan. 1, 2002; 2003, No. 61, § 4; 2003, No. 163 (Adj. Sess.), § 14, eff. Jan. 1, 2005; 2005, No. 72, § 11b; 2007, No. 76, § 27, eff. Jan. 1, 2008; 2009, No. 33, § 83(e)(6); 2009, No. 120 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. Jan. 1, 2011; 2009, No. 134 (Adj. Sess.), § 29, eff. Jan. 1, 2011; 2011, No. 33, § 11a; 2011, No. 128 (Adj. Sess.), § 35a; 2011, No. 128 (Adj. Sess.), § 30, eff. Jan. 1, 2014; 2013, No. 78, § 9; 2013, No. 96 (Adj. Sess.), § 37; 2013, No. 116 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. May 5, 2014; 2015, No. 57, § 24, eff. Jan. 1, 2016; 2015, No. 61, § 3, eff. Jan. 1, 2016; 2015, No. 61, § 5, eff. June 17, 2015; 2015, No. 149 (Adj. Sess.), § 44; 2017, No. 33, § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 2018; 2019, No. 50, § 7, eff. Jan. 1, 2020; 2019, No. 70, § 5, eff. Jan. 1, 2020; 2019, No. 143 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 2021; 2021, No. 179 (Adj. Sess.), § 15, eff. January 1, 2023; 2025, No. 47, § 7, eff. January 1, 2026.)