The Vermont Statutes Online
The Statutes below include the actions of the 2025 session of the General Assembly.
NOTE: The Vermont Statutes Online is an unofficial copy of the Vermont Statutes Annotated that is provided as a convenience.
Subchapter
002
:
DEER
(Cite as: 10 V.S.A. § 4748)
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§ 4748. Dogs pursuing deer or moose
(a) A dog that has been found to hunt or pursue deer or moose and whose owner or keeper
has had notice to that effect shall not run at large unaccompanied by the owner or
keeper.
(b) A State game warden, deputy warden, sheriff, deputy sheriff, constable, police officer,
or State Police may kill by shooting with firearms dogs, whether licensed or unlicensed,
when in such close pursuit as to endanger the life of a deer or moose or found in
the act of wounding, maiming, or killing deer or moose. Provisions of this section
shall be subject to limitations set forth in section 4710 of this title. A warden or other person authorized under this subsection who does not kill a dog
under the provisions of this subsection shall, if possible, locate the owner or keeper
of the dog and shall issue a warning that the dog was in violation of this section
and each future violation shall result in the owner or keeper being fined not more
than $200.00 nor less than $50.00.
(c) When a licensed dog is killed pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, the game
warden, deputy game warden, sheriff, deputy sheriff, constable, police officer, or
State Police shall forthwith report the same to the owner of said licensed dog.
(d) No person shall have a cause of action against any of the designated wardens, sheriff,
deputy sheriff, constable, police officer, or State Police exercising the authority
herein granted. (Added 1961, No. 119, § 1, eff. May 9, 1961; amended 1969, No. 163 (Adj. Sess.), eff. Feb. 4, 1970; 1977, No. 132 (Adj. Sess.); 1979, No. 163 (Adj. Sess.); 1981, No. 63; 1995, No. 1, § 1.)