The Vermont Statutes Online

Title 10 : Conservation and Development

Chapter 113 : Game

Subchapter 001 : GENERAL PROVISIONS

• § 4705. Shooting from motor vehicles or aircraft; shooting from or across highway; permit

  (a) A person shall not take or attempt to take a wild animal by shooting from a motor vehicle, motorboat, airplane, snowmobile, or other motor-propelled craft or any vehicle drawn by a motor-propelled vehicle except as permitted under subsection (e) of this section.

  (b) A person shall not carry or possess while in or on a vehicle propelled by mechanical power or drawn by a vehicle propelled by mechanical power within the right-of-way of a public highway a rifle or shotgun containing a loaded cartridge or shell in the chamber, mechanism, or in a magazine, or clip within a rifle or shotgun, or a muzzle-loading rifle or muzzle-loading shotgun that has been charged with powder and projectile and the ignition system of which has been enabled by having an affixed or attached percussion cap, primer, battery, or priming powder, except as permitted under subsections (d) and (e) of this section. A person who possesses a rifle, crossbow, or shotgun, including a muzzle-loading rifle or muzzle-loading shotgun, in or on a vehicle propelled by mechanical power, or drawn by a vehicle propelled by mechanical power within a right-of-way of a public highway shall upon demand of an enforcement officer exhibit the firearm for examination to determine compliance with this section.

  (c) A person while on or within 25 feet of the traveled portion of a public highway, except a public highway designated Class 4 on a town highway map, shall not take or attempt to take any wild animal by shooting a firearm, a muzzle loader, a bow and arrow, or a crossbow. A person while on or within the traveled portion of a public highway designated Class 4 on a town highway map shall not take or attempt to take any wild animal by shooting a firearm, a muzzle loader, a bow and arrow, or a crossbow. A person shall not shoot a firearm, a muzzle loader, a bow and arrow, or a crossbow over or across the traveled portion of a public highway, except for a person shooting over or across the traveled portion of a public highway from a sport shooting range, as that term is defined in section 5227 of this title, provided that:

  (1) the sport shooting range was established before January 1, 2014; and

  (2) the operators of the sport shooting range post signage warning users of the public highway of the potential danger from the sport shooting range.

  (d) This section shall not restrict the possession or use of a loaded firearm by an enforcement officer in performance of his or her duty.

  (e) Subsections (a) and (c) of this section shall not apply to a licensed hunter with paraplegia or who is certified by a physician to be unable to pursue game because of permanent severe physical disability, if he or she obtains a permit as provided in this subsection. The Commissioner on receipt of satisfactory proof of the disability of an applicant may issue a permit under this subsection. This permit shall be attached to the license and shall remain in effect until the death of the holder, unless the Commissioner has reason to believe the permit is misused. The holder of the permit shall carry it at all times while hunting and shall produce it on demand for inspection by any game warden or other law enforcement officer authorized to make arrests. The holder of the permit may take game from a vehicle or boat but only if it is stationary and is not within 10 feet of the traveled portion of a public highway. In no event shall the holder of a permit shoot across the traveled portion of a public highway.

  (f) The phrase “public highway,” as used in this section, means roads, including Class 4 roads, shown on the highway maps of the respective towns, made by the Agency of Transportation, but does not include foot trails or private roads. (Added 1961, No. 119, § 1, eff. May 9, 1961; amended 1967, No. 279 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. March 12, 1968; 1969, No. 35; 1973, No. 178 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; 1977, No. 103, § 2, eff. May 6, 1977; 1977, No. 143 (Adj. Sess.); 1991, No. 13, § 4; 1997, No. 99 (Adj. Sess.), § 7; 2003, No. 163 (Adj. Sess.), § 15a; 2007, No. 97 (Adj. Sess.), § 3; 2013, No. 78, § 12a; 2013, No. 96 (Adj. Sess.), § 38; 2013, No. 116 (Adj. Sess.), § 8, eff. May 5, 2014; 2017, No. 170 (Adj. Sess.), § 8.)