§ 37. Deer Management Rule [Effective January 1, 2026]
1.0 Authority1.1 This rule is adopted pursuant to 10 V.S.A. § 4081(b). In adopting this rule, the Fish and Wildlife Board is following the policy established
by the General Assembly that the protection, propagation, control, management, and
conservation of fish, wildlife and furbearing animals in this State is in the interest
of the public welfare and that the safeguarding of this valuable resource for the
people of the State requires a constant and continual vigilance.
1.2 In accordance with 10 V.S.A. § 4082, this rule is designed to maintain the best health, population and utilization levels
of the deer herd.
1.3 In accordance with 10 V.S.A. § 4084, this rule establishes open seasons; establishes daily, season and possession limits;
prescribes the manner and means of taking white-tailed deer and establishes restrictions
on taking based on sex and antler characteristics.
2.0 Purpose.
The purpose of this rule is to manage the white-tailed deer herd, implementing will
of the General Assembly to design rules to maintain the best health, population and
utilization levels of the deer herd.
3.0 Definitions3.1 “Antlerless Deer” are defined as those deer without antlers or with antlers less than
three (3″) inches in length.
3.2 “Antler Point”: A “point” is an antler projection of at least 1″ measured from the
base of the point at the main beam to the tip of the point. A broken main beam shall
count as a point regardless of length.
3.3 “Bait”: For the purposes of this regulation, ‘bait’ is defined as any animal, vegetable,
fruit or mineral matter placed with the intention of attracting wildlife. Natural
and artificial scents and lures that are not prohibited under Section 14 of this regulation
and are not designed to be consumed by eating or licking shall not be bait for the
purposes of this rule.
3.4 “Baiting” is the use of any animal, vegetable or mineral matter, including scents
and lures prohibited under section 14 of this regulation that has the effect of enticing
wildlife to a certain location.
3.5 “Board”: The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board.
3.6 “Bona fide agricultural practices”: Practices that have been employed to plant, grow
and harvest an agricultural product conducted in the usual manner.
3.7 “Crossbows”: A crossbow means a device consisting of a bow mounted to a rigid stock
for discharging bolts or arrows and having a mechanical means to hold and release
the drawn string, which must be fired from the shoulder. A bolt means a short projectile,
designed for a crossbow, that resembles an arrow. No person shall hunt wild animals
or game with a crossbow if the bolt has an arrowhead less than seven-eighths of an
inch at its widest point and has less than two sharp cutting edges. A crossbow shall
have a minimum pull of 125 pounds, a working mechanical safety and a stock no less
than 23 inches in length.
3.8 “Legal Buck”: In Wildlife Management Units C, D2, E1, E2, G, I, L, M, P, and Q a legal
buck shall be any white-tail deer with at least one antler three (3”) inches or more
in length; and in Wildlife Management Units A, B, D1, F1, F2, H, J1, J2, K, N, and
O a legal buck shall be any white-tailed deer with at least one antler with two or
more antler points one inch in length or longer.
3.9 “Novice”: A person who purchased their first hunting license within the past 12 months
and is 16 years of age or older.
3.10 “Youth”: A person who is 15 years of age or younger.
4.0 Antlerless Deer Permits4.1 An Antlerless Deer Permit is a permit issued pursuant to 10 V.S.A. § 4081(g) and provisions of this section that allows a person to take one antlerless deer in
the wildlife management unit listed on the permit during the regular season, October
muzzleloader season, or December muzzleloader season.
4.2 Annually, the Board shall determine how many antlerless permits to issue in each wildlife
management unit. For a nonrefundable fee, a person may apply for an Antlerless Deer
Permit. The Department shall allocate the permits in the following manner:
(a) A Vermont landowner, as defined in 10 V.S.A. § 4253, who owns 25 or more contiguous acres and who applies shall receive an antlerless
deer permit in the wildlife management unit on which the land is located before any
are given to people eligible under subdivision (b) of this section. If the land is
owned by more than one individual, corporation, or other entity, only one permit shall
be issued. Landowners applying for antlerless deer permits under this subdivision
shall not, at the time of application or thereafter during the deer hunting seasons,
post their lands except under the provisions of 10 V.S.A. § 4710. As used in this section, “post” means any signage that would lead a reasonable person
to believe that hunting is restricted on the land. If the number of landowners who
apply exceeds the number of permits for that wildlife management unit, the Department
shall award all permits in that wildlife management unit to landowners by lottery.
(b) Permits remaining after allocation pursuant to subdivision (a) of this subsection
shall be issued by lottery. Not more than ten percent of permits may be issued to
nonresident applicants.
(c) Any permits remaining after permits have been allocated pursuant to subdivisions (a)
and (b) of this subsection shall be issued by the Department on a first-come, first-served
basis. Ten percent of the remaining permits may be issued to nonresident applicants.
4.3 No person may purchase or possess more than two antlerless deer permits at one time,
only one of which may be acquired pursuant to subsection 4.2(a) or (b) of this section.
No person may purchase or possess more than one antlerless deer permit for an individual
wildlife management unit at one time. A person may purchase additional antlerless
deer permits after the person has harvested an antlerless deer.
5.0 Annual Deer Limit5.1 A person shall not take more than four white-tailed deer in a calendar year, only
one of which may be a legal buck, with the following exceptions.
(a) Youth and novice hunters shall be allowed to take two legal bucks, provided that one
is taken during the youth or novice season, not to exceed the annual limit of four
white-tailed deer.
(b) A person shall be allowed to take one additional buck, not to exceed the annual limit
of four white-tailed deer, provided they have:
(1) Purchased a second buck tag,
(2) Previously taken and reported an antlerless deer in the current year, and
(3) Previously taken and reported an antlered buck in the current year that had at least
one antler with 3 or more antler points.
5.2 No person shall take deer in a WMU unless they are licensed, permitted or explicitly
authorized to do so by the Board rules, or procedures adopted in accordance with 10 V.S.A § 4082(c).
6.0 Regular Season6.1 Season Dates: Pursuant to 10 V.S.A. § 4084 for 16 consecutive days commencing 12 days prior to Thanksgiving Day.
6.2 Limit:
(a) One legal buck, not to exceed the annual limit as prescribed in Section 5.1 of this
rule, and
(b) One antlerless deer per antlerless deer permit, not to exceed the annual limit as
prescribed in section 5.1 of this rule.
7.0 October Muzzleloader Season.
7.1 Season Dates: For four consecutive days, commencing on the Thursday 16 days prior to the opening
day of the regular season.
7.2 Limit: A person may take one antlerless deer per antlerless deer permit, not to exceed the
annual limit as prescribed in section 5.1 of this rule.
7.3 A person hunting under this section shall obtain a muzzleloader license as provided
in 10 V.S.A. § 4252 and must possess an antlerless deer permit.
7.4 A person shall not carry any firearms other than one single-barreled muzzleloading
firearm as defined in 10 V.S.A.§ 4001(33) while hunting deer during this season.
7.5 No person taking deer by means of muzzleloader may possess archery equipment or crossbow
while hunting.
8.0 December Muzzleloader Season.
8.1 Season Dates: For the fourteen consecutive calendar days commencing on the first Monday after the
completion of the regular season.
8.2 Limit:
(a) One legal buck, not to exceed the annual limit as prescribed in Section 5.1 of this
rule, and
(b) One antlerless deer per antlerless deer permit, not to exceed the annual limit as
prescribed in section 5.1 of this rule.
8.3 A person hunting under this section shall obtain a muzzleloader license as provided
in 10 V.S.A. § 4252.
8.4 A person shall not carry any firearms other than one single-barreled muzzleloading
firearm as defined in 10 V.S.A. § 4001(33) while hunting deer during this season.
8.5 No person taking deer by means of muzzleloader may possess archery equipment or crossbow
while hunting.
9.0 Archery Season9.1 Season Dates: October 1 through December 15.
9.2 Limit:
(a) One legal buck, not to exceed the annual limit as prescribed in Section 5.1 of this
rule, and
(b) In Wildlife Management Units declared open by the Board to the taking of antlerless
deer, a person may take one antlerless deer per archery antlerless deer tag, not to
exceed the annual limit as prescribed in Section 5.1 of this rule.
9.3 A person hunting under this section shall obtain an archery license as provided in
10 V.S.A. § 4252. An archery license will be valid for one deer; additional archery licenses are required
for the taking of additional deer.
9.4 A person shall use only a bow and arrow or a crossbow to take deer during this season.
9.5 The holder of an archery license or a super sport license, hunting with a bow and
arrow or a crossbow, may possess a handgun while archery hunting, in accordance with
10 V.S.A. § 4252(b), provided that the license holder shall not take game by firearm while hunting.
9.6 Expanded Archery Zones
(a) Within these zones, the archery season shall begin September 15. From September 15
to September 30, only antlerless deer may be taken.
(b) Zone Boundaries
Wildlife Management Unit A
All of Wildlife Management Unit A as described in 10 App. V.S.A. § 2b.
Newport
All lands within the city of Newport.
Burlington Area
Beginning on the shore of Lake Champlain at the end of Beach Road (Shelburne T.H.
#22) in Shelburne proceed south along Beach Road to Bostwick Road (Shelburn T.H. #3);
then northeast along Bostwick Road to Marsett Road (Shelburne T.H. #11); then east
along Marsett Road to Falls Road (Shelburne T.H. #2); then east along Falls Road to
Irish Hill Road (Shelburne T.H. #2); then east along Irish Hill Road to Spear Street
(Shelburne T.H. #6); then north along Spear Street to Barstow Road (Shelburne T.H.
#8); then east along Barstow Road to Cheesefactory Road (Shelburne T.H. #8); then
east along Cheesefactory Road to State Route 116; then south along Route 116 to South
Brownell Road (Williston T.H. #5); then north along South Brownell Road to Walker
Hill Road (Williston T.H. #18); then east along Walker Hill Road to State Route 2A
(Saint George Road); then north along Route 2A to Interstate Highway 89; then east
along Interstate Highway 89 to Oak Hill Road (Williston T.H. #1); then north along
Oak Hill Road to North Williston Road (Williston T.H. #1); then north along North
Williston Road to State Route 117 (River Road); then west along Route 117 to State
Route 289; then north and west along Route 289 to Susie Wilson Bypass (Essex T.H.
#3); then southwest along Susie Wilson Bypass to Kellogg Road (Essex T.H. #5); then
west along Kellogg Road which becomes Severance Road (Colchester T.H. #7); then west
along Severance Road to Blakely Road (Colchester T.H. #9); then west along Blakely
Road to East Lakeshore Drive; then in a straight line north to the shore of Lake Champlain;
then west and south along the shore of Lake Champlain to the point of beginning.
Montpelier
All lands within the city of Montpelier.
Saint Johnsbury Area
Beginning at the junction of Hospital Drive (St. Johnsbury State Highway) and Interstate
Highway 91 proceed east along Hospital Drive to Depot Hill Road (St. Johnsbury T.H.
#85); then east along Depot Hill Road to U.S. Route 5 (Memorial Drive); then north
along US Route 5 to Breezy Hill Road (St. Johnsbury T.H. #6); then east along Breezy
Hill Road to Lackey Hill Road (St. Johnsbury T.H. #20); then east along Lackey Hill
Road approximately 300 feet to the power line; then south along the power line to
the electric substation off Higgins Hill Road (St. Johnsbury T.H. #80); then south
along the power line to Interstate Highway 93; then west along Interstate Highway
93 to Interstate Highway 91; then north along Interstate Highway 91 to the point of
beginning.
Rutland Area
Beginning at the junction of State Route 4A and U.S. Route 4 in West Rutland proceed
east along U.S. Route 4 to U.S. Route 7; then south along U.S. Route 7 to North Shrewsbury
Road (Clarendon T.H. #4); then east along North Shrewsbury Road to East Clarendon
Road (Clarendon T.H. #8); then north along East Clarendon Road to Cold River Road
(Clarendon T.H. #8); then north along Cold River Road to the Rutland Town/Clarendon
town line; then east along the Rutland Town/Clarendon town line to the Mendon town
line; then north along the Rutland Town/Mendon town line to U.S. Route 4; then west
along U.S. Route 4 to Post Road (Rutland Town T.H. #30); then north and west along
Post Road to U.S. Route 7; then south along U.S. Route 7 approximately 0.1 miles to
the triple power line; then west and southwest along the triple power line to the
junction west of Grove Street (Rutland City T.H. #6); then south along the double
power line to the junction near the end of Evergreen Avenue (Rutland City T.H. #174);
then west along the power line to the junction west of West Proctor Road (Rutland
Town T.H. #6); then north along the power line to the junction north of Durgy Hill
Road (West Rutland Town T.H. #12); then west along the power line to Marble Street
(West Rutland Town T.H. #3); then south along Marble Street to Water Street (West
Rutland Town T.H. #19); then west along Water Street to Whipple Hollow Road (West
Rutland Town T.H. #4); then south along Whipple Hollow Road to Route 4A; the west
along Route 4A to the point of beginning.
Bennington Area
Beginning at the junction of U.S. Route 7 and State Route 313 in Arlington proceed
west along Route 313 to State Route 7A; then south along Route 7A to West Mountain
Road (Shaftsbury T.H. #54); then west along West Mountain Road to Laclair Road (Shaftsbury
T.H. #64); then west along Laclair Road to Murphy Hill Road (Shaftsbury T.H. #9);
then west along Murphy Hill Road to Sally Gannon Road (Shaftsbury T.H. #13), then
west along Sally Gannon Road to the New York state border; then south along the New
York state border to State Route 346; then east along Route 346 to North Pownal Road
(Pownal T.H. #2); then east along North Pownal Road to U.S. Route 7; then south along
U.S. Route 7 to Barber Pond Road (Pownal T.H. #3); then east along Barber Pond Road
to South Stream Road (Pownal T.H. #3); then east and north along South Stream Road
to Gore Road (Bennington T.H. #54); then east along Gore Road to Burgess Road (Bennington
T.H. #53); then north along Burgess Road to Barney Road (Bennington T.H. #52); then
north along Barney Road to State Route 9, then west along Route 9 to State Route 279;
then north along Route 279 to Chapel Road (Bennington T.H. #16); then north along
Chapel Road to East Road (Shaftsbury T.H. #5); then north along East Road to U.S.
Route 7; then north along U.S. Route 7 to the point of beginning.
Brattleboro Area
Beginning at the Interstate Highway 91 bridge over the West River in Brattleboro proceed
southeast along the north shore of the West River to the New Hampshire state border;
then south along the New Hampshire state border to Broad Brook; then west along Broad
Brook to State Route 142; then north along Route 142 to Broad Brook Road (Vernon T.H.
#6); then west along Broad Brook Road to U.S. Route 5; then north along U.S. Route
5 to Guilford Center Road (Guilford T.H. #1); then southwest along Guilford Center
Road to Tater Lane (Guilford T.H. #23); then north along Tater Lane which becomes
South Street (Brattleboro T.H. #72); then north along South Street to State Route
9; then northwest along Route 9 to Meadowbrook Road (Brattleboro T.H. #26); then north
along Meadowbrook Road to upper Dummerston Road (Brattleboro T.H. #5); then southeast
along Upper Dummerston Road to Interstate Highway 91; then north along Interstate
Highway 91 to the point of beginning.
10.0 Youth Deer Hunting Weekend10.1 Season Dates: Pursuant to 10 V.S.A. § 4742a, the Saturday and Sunday one week prior to the opening day of the regular season
shall be youth deer hunting weekend.
10.2 Limit: One white-tailed deer. One legal buck may be taken during the youth deer hunting weekend,
or any deer if the Board has authorized the taking of antlerless deer during youth
hunting weekend.
10.3 To participate in the youth deer hunt, a qualified youth must be 15 years of age or
younger and have a valid Vermont hunting license and a youth deer hunting weekend
license.
10.4 The youth must be accompanied by an unarmed adult who holds a valid Vermont hunting
license and who is 18 years of age or older. An adult accompanying a youth under this
section shall accompany no more than two young people at one time. As used in this
section, “accompany,” “accompanied,” or “accompanying” means direct control and supervision,
including the ability to see and communicate with the youth hunter without the aid
of artificial devices such as radios or binoculars, except for medically necessary
devices such as hearing aids or eyeglasses.
10.5 No youth shall hunt under this section on privately owned land without first obtaining
the permission of the owner or occupant.
11.0 Novice Season11.1 Season Dates: This season shall be concurrent with the Youth Deer Hunting Weekend as prescribed
in 10 V.S.A. § 4742a and section 10.1 of this rule.
11.2 Limit: One white-tailed deer. One legal buck may be taken during this season, or any deer
if the Board has authorized the taking of antlerless deer during youth hunting weekend.
11.3 To participate in the novice season, a qualified person must have a valid Vermont
hunting license, and follow the requirements of youth hunting weekend.
11.4 The novice hunter must be accompanied by an unarmed adult who holds a valid Vermont
hunting license and who is 18 years of age or older. An adult accompanying a novice
under this section shall accompany no more than two novice hunters at one time. As
used in this section, “accompany,” “accompanied,” or “accompanying” means direct control
and supervision, including the ability to see and communicate with the novice hunter
without the aid of artificial devices such as radios or binoculars, except for medically
necessary devices such as hearing aids or eyeglasses.
11.5 No Novice hunter shall hunt under this section on privately owned land without first
obtaining the permission of the owner or occupant.
12.0 Reporting.
12.1 A deer carcass shall be field dressed prior to reporting in accordance with 10 V.S.A. App. § 2.
12.2 Upon request, the person harvesting a deer shall show and return to the kill site
with a Game Warden.
12.3 A deer carcass may be quartered or deboned in the field prior to reporting provided all requirements of 10 V.S.A. App. § 2 and 10 V.S.A. §§ 4921 through 4925 are met. The viscera, hide, upper and lower leg bones, backbone, pelvis, and ribs
may be left in the field. Evidence of sex (genitalia, antlers of deer,) must be retained
for reporting. All other required biological samples must also be retained for reporting,
including both central incisors of deer, during the November firearm season and novice
weekend.
13.0 Feeding of Deer.
13.1 No person shall feed white-tailed deer at any time in Vermont except:
(a) Under a license or permit issued pursuant to 10 V.S.A. § 4152 by the Department for bona fide scientific research, mitigation of wildlife damage
or nuisance problems, or wildlife population reduction programs only; or
(b) By planting, cultivating or harvesting of crops directly associated with bona fide
agricultural practices, including planted wildlife food plots; or
(c) By distribution of food material for livestock directly associated with bona fide
agricultural practices; or
(d) By cutting of trees or brush; or
(e) By incidental feeding by an elevated bird/squirrel feeders (feeders must be at least
five feet above the ground) providing seed, grain, fruit, worms, or suet for birds
or squirrels, located within 100 feet of an occupied dwelling.
14.0 Baiting14.1 No person shall take deer by using bait. Exempted from this prohibition are:
(a) Incidental feeding of wildlife within active livestock operations;
(b) Standing crops planted and left standing as food plots for wildlife;
(c) Grain or other feed scattered or distributed solely as a result of normal agricultural,
gardening, or soil stabilization, and logging practices;
(d) Vegetation or food/seed naturally deposited.
14.2 No person shall take any game or wild animal by using bait during deer seasons established
under Part 4 of Title 10 or by rules of the Board, except that persons taking furbearers as authorized under
10 V.S.A. § 4252(3) may use bait in conjunction with traps being set to take furbearers.
15.0 The Ban of urine and other natural lures.
15.1 Authority. The Fish & Wildlife Board finds that, in order to protect the health of white-tailed
deer in Vermont, it is necessary to prohibit the use of cervid urine, blood, glands,
gland oil, feces, or other bodily fluids for the purpose of taking or attempting to
take deer.
15.2 Restricted and Permitted Uses of cervid urine, blood, glands, gland oil, feces, or
other bodily fluids.
(a) No person shall possess while hunting or use, for the purposes of taking or attempting
to take, attracting, surveillance or scouting deer; any product that contains or purports
to contain any cervid urine, blood, gland oil, feces, or other bodily fluids.
(b) A person may utilize the body parts of a wild Vermont white-tailed deer legally taken
or acquired by that person for coyote hunting. (Added 2005, Fish and Wildlife Board Reg. No. 1502, eff. July 2, 2005; amended 2008
Fish and Wildlife Board Reg. No. 1502, eff. Sept. 6, 2008; 2011 Fish and Wildlife
Board Reg. No. 1502, eff. Mar. 3, 2011; 2015 Fish and Wildlife Board Reg., eff. January
1, 2016; 2019, Fish and Wildlife Board Reg., eff. Jan. 1, 2020; 2025, Fish and Wildlife
Board Reg., eff. Jan. 1, 2026.)