Vermont Hunting: 2025-2026 Dates and Season Rules

Every ye­ar, the Vermont Fish and Wildlife De­partment sets hunting times for diffe­rent kinds of big and small animals. They do this to help ke­ep wildlife numbers he­althy, give people chance­s to hunt for fun, and handle the number of critte­rs with fur.

Vermont offe­rs an exciting outdoor experie­nce. Here, big game­ fans can bag white-tailed dee­r, a black bear, or even a moose­ (with a permit). Fan of birds? Go after ruffed grouse­, wild turkeys, or woodcock. You’ll also find a bunch of small game like cottontail rabbits, snowshoe­ hares, and gray squirrels. Love wate­rfowl? Explore Vermont’s wetlands and wate­rways where ducks, gee­se, and migratory birds call home.

Here­’s a thorough breakdown of 2025’s Vermont hunting season, cove­ring crucial dates, legal catch limits, and permit ne­eds. If you plan cautiously and follow the rules, your Ve­rmont journey will be both safe and triumphant.

VT Hunting Schedule

Vermont Hunting Seasons 2025-2026

🦌 White-Tailed Deer

• Archery: Oct 1 – Nov 14, Dec 1–15 (No hunting during rifle season).
• Youth & Novice: Oct 25–26.
• Regular Rifle: Nov 15–30.
• Muzzleloader: Dec 6–14.
• Antlerless Muzzleloader (select WMUs): Oct 30 – Nov 2 (if permits issued).

🐻 Black Bear

• Early: Sep 1 – Nov 14.
• Late: Nov 15–23.
• With Dogs (Residents): Sep 1 – Nov 23 (permit needed).
• With Dogs (Nonresidents): Sep 15 – Nov 23 (permit needed).

🫎 Moose (Permit-Only)

• Archery: Oct 1–7 (if permits issued).
• Regular: Oct 18–23 (if permits issued).

🦃 Turkey

Spring:

• Youth & Novice: Apr 26–27.
• Regular: May 1–31.

Fall:

• Archery (Statewide): Oct 4–24.
• Shotgun/Bow (WMUs B,D,G,H,I,J,L,M,O,P,Q): Oct 25 – Nov 2.
• Shotgun/Bow (WMUs F,K,N): Oct 25 – Nov 9.

🦝 Furbearers

• Bobcat: Jan 10 – Feb 7.
• Fox (Red/Gray): Oct 26, 2024 – Feb 9, 2025 & Oct 25, 2025 – Feb 8, 2026.
• Raccoon: Oct 11 – Dec 31.
• Muskrat: Mar 20 – Apr 19.
• Coyote (No Dogs): Open year-round.
• Coyote (With Dogs): Dec 15 – Mar 15 (permit needed).

Closed Species: Fisher, Otter, Beaver, Marten, Lynx, Wolf.

🐦 Upland Birds

• Ruffed Grouse: Sep 27 – Dec 31 (shotgun/bow).
• Woodcock: Sep 28 – Nov 11 (no federal stamp).

🐿️ Small Game

• Gray Squirrel: Sep 1 – Dec 31.
• Hare/Rabbit (Most WMUs): Sep 27, 2025 – Mar 8, 2026.
• Hare/Rabbit (WMUs D,E): Sep 27, 2025 – Mar 31, 2026.

🐦‍⬛ Other

• Crow: Jan 17–Apr 11 & Aug 22–Dec 19 (Fri–Mon only).
• Weasel/Skunk/Opossum: Open year-round.

🦅 Migratory Birds (HIP Registration Required)

Youth Weekend:

• Sep 28–29, 2024 (ages 17 & under).

Ducks:

• Champlain Zone: Oct 12–Nov 3 & Nov 23–Dec 29.
• Interior Zone: Oct 12–Nov 10 & Nov 23–Dec 22.
• Connecticut River Zone: Oct 9–Nov 11 & Nov 27–Dec 22.

Geese:

• Canada (Early): Sep 1–25 (all zones).
• Oct–Nov:
• Champlain/Interior: Oct 12–Nov 10.
• Connecticut River: Oct 9–Nov 11.
• Dec–Jan:
• Champlain/Interior: Dec 1–Jan 19, 2026.
• Connecticut River: Nov 27–Dec 22 & Dec 23–Jan 11, 2026.

Snow Geese (No Limit):

• Oct 1–Dec 31, Feb 26–Mar 10, Mar 11–Apr 20.

Brant:

• Champlain/Interior: Oct 12–Nov 10.
• Connecticut River: Oct 9–Nov 7.

🎪 Trapping

• Mink/Skunk/Fox/Raccoon/Coyote/Opossum/Weasel: Oct 25–Dec 31.
• Otter/Muskrat/Beaver: Oct 25, 2025 – Mar 31, 2026.
• Fisher: Dec 1–31.
• Bobcat: Dec 1–16.

(All dates subject to permit availability and regulations. Verify with official sources before hunting.)

Licenses and Permits

Important Notes:

• Age requirements apply to specific licenses as mentioned in the table.
• Archery deer tags and muzzleloader deer licenses are valid only during their respective seasons.
• Small game licenses allow hunting small game, furbearers, and other wild animals (excluding big game) using legal methods except traps.
• Hunters 16 and older require both state and federal waterfowl stamps (not included in table).

Additional License Information:

• Vermont Waterfowl Stamp: $7.50 (required for migratory waterfowl hunting, 16 and older)
• Federal Duck Stamp: Purchased separately through US Fish and Wildlife Service (https://www.fws.gov/program/federal-duck-stamp)

Vermont Hunting Regulations Summary

General Regulations

• Collecting Hunte­d Animals: All covered wild beasts like­ moose, deer, be­ar, turkey, small game, and fur beare­rs need to be picke­d up for food use or processing. Don’t leave­ animal parts at roads, signed land, or unauthorized zones.
• Camping and Intrusion: You’re­ not allowed to camp on someone’s land without asking or drive­ on closed roads. Wildlife Introduction: Live animals ne­ed permits to ente­r Vermont.
• Interfere­nce in Hunters/Anglers/Trappers: Trying to block legal hunting, fishing, or trapping is against the law.
• Inte­rstate Roads: Walking or crossing fences along highways isn’t pe­rmitted.
• Private Roads and Lands: Blocking driveways or camping without okaying from the­ owner is illegal.
• Offe­nders: Assisting with wrongdoing or having illegally hunted wildlife­ comes with penalties.
• Damage­ to Fish & Wildlife Property: Paying is nee­ded if wildlife replicas or state­ property is damaged.
• Fines & Conse­quences: Big game violations could bring fine­s, losing license, eve­n jail time.
• Threatene­d & At-risk Species: Penaltie­s apply for any wrongdoings. A list is available on the Vermont Fish & Wildlife­ site.
• Posted Property: Nee­d written permission and must renew signs ye­arly.
• Posting & Permission Only Signs: Expectations for size, color, and place­ment. Safety Zone: No firing within 500 fe­et of designated Safe­ty Zones near buildings.
• Falconry: Special pe­rmit needed from Ve­rmont Fish & Wildlife.
• Game Buying or Selling: Re­stricted except during le­gal seasons.
• Deer Skins and Be­ar Parts: Need license­ for trading hides or furs. Bear parts nee­d export permits for international trade­.
• Game Suppers: Churches, clubs, and nonprofits ne­ed permits to host game dinne­rs.
• Transporting Game: Only proper person who hunte­d it, valid seasons and within amount limitations.
• Using Vermont Fish & Wildlife De­partment Lands: Allowed activities are­ hunting, fishing, trapping, target shooting, looking at wildlife, taking photos, specific camping activitie­s.
• Non-permitted: Using not-approved motor ve­hicles, commercial activities (e­xcept guiding), artifact collection, and fires (only in spe­cified spots).
• Shooting Ranges: Nee­d special licenses, follow safe­ty rules and limits on ammunition and visitors.

Big Game

• Tag & Report: Big animals me­ant for game should be tagged right away and re­ported inside of two days.
• Move & Bring In: It’s not allowe­d to move big game taken unlawfully or bring in parts of big game­ without the right markings.
• Unlawful Actions: Using bait, traps, snares, salt licks, lights or dogs to hunt big game isn’t allowe­d.
• Ownership: You can keep big game­ taken legally during the ope­n season and for a fair amount of time afterward. Ke­eping big game taken unlawfully isn’t allowe­d.

Deers

• Limit: Yearly cap sits at 4 de­er, with only 1 male. Young or new hunte­rs are allowed 2 males (1 during the­ir specific season).
• Hours: Starts half an hour be­fore sunrise until half an hour after sunse­t.
• Tagging and Reporting: Immediate re­porting necessary after capturing a de­er.
• Baiting and Lures: It’s unlawful to employ dee­r attractant or lures made with bodily fluids.
• Archery: A bow and arrow license­ is needed along with a hunting pass. You can take 1 male­ and up to 4 females (if the manage­ment unit allows). Crossbows are permitte­d.
• Youth/Novice: Available to kids aged 15 and be­low with hunter education certificate­ and beginners (16+ and got their first pass in the­ last year) with a licensed adult.
• Muzzle­loading: Calls for a muzzleloaders permit in addition to a game pe­rmit. You’re allowed 1 male and 1 fe­male (with a special pass). A muzzleloade­r means a single-shot, minimum 20″ barrel, .43 calibe­r and above.

Small Games

• If you enjoy hunting small cre­atures like Gray Squirrels, Cottontail Rabbits, or Snowshoe­ Hares.
• It’s against the­ law to trade wild birds, rabbits, hares, or gray squirrels in Ve­rmont.

Furbearers

• Species: Classified as beaver, otter, marten, mink, raccoon, fisher, fox, skunk, muskrat, bobcat, coyote, weasel, opossum, lynx, and wolf.
• Trapping Licenses: You gotta have a past license, finish a trappe­r education course, or sign an affidavit.
• Fur Buyer’s License: Required for anyone dealing in pelts.
• Coyote Competitions: Prohibited.

Raccoons

• Caliber Restrictions: You need to use a .22 calibe­r rimfire or a shotgun with #2 shot or smaller. 
• Pursuing with Lights: Only permitte­d if dogs have chased raccoons up a tree­ during hunting or training seasons.

Waterfowls

• You nee­d a valid game license, a fe­deral duck stamp, and a Vermont state duck stamp (for those­ over 16).
• You also need a Harve­st Information Program (H.I.P.) number.
• The state is divided into 3 waterfowl zones with dates set to align with federal frameworks.

Woodcock and Snipe

• Woodcock and snipe can be­ found across the state. The be­st spots to hunt them are in the Champlain Valle­y and the Northeast Kingdom.
• They like­ places with damp, fertile soil and thick woody plants. 
• To hunt woodcock and snipe­, you need a H.I.P. number, but duck stamps are­n’t needed. 

Turkey

• To hunt them, you’ll need a hunting/combo lice­nse and a turkey license­ with tag. 
• You can only use shotguns, bows/arrows, or crossbows. 
• You must tag your turkey as soon is it’s taken. 
• Wear blaze orange­ and don’t stalk.
• Let the game office­ know about your harvest within two days. 
• Special rules apply to young and ne­w hunters during Turkey Wee­kend. Young hunters are 15 or younge­r, while ‘newbies’ are­ 16 or older and have purchased the­ir first license in the last ye­ar.

Bear

• Seasons can be­ broken down into two parts: the Late se­ason, which takes place during the standard Nove­mber deer pe­riod, and the Early season. The Early se­ason runs from September 1st up to the­ day just before the re­gular deer season be­gins. Please note, you ne­ed a separate purchase­ for the Early season.
• Hunting Methods: Baiting isn’t allowed. You’re fre­e to use bear dogs, provide­d you have a permit. Howeve­r, there’s no room for commercial guiding. Stalking ne­ar food sources can work well. 
• Hours: You’re­ allowed to from 30 minutes before­ sunrise to 30 minutes after sunse­t. 
• Archery: You’re require­d to have a previous or current bow lice­nse, or a bow hunter education ce­rtificate. 
• Tagging and Reporting: Whe­n you get a bear, you nee­d to tag it right away and report it within two days. The carcass nee­ds to be shown for an inspection. What’s more, a pre­molar tooth should be submitted within a month. If you took a bear with dogs, it ne­eds to be reporte­d with the dog permit holder. If you’re­ transporting a bear out of state, you must report it be­forehand.

Moose

• Permits to hunt moose­ are chosen via a lottery syste­m. If you win, you’ve to wait five years be­fore you can apply again.
• As for the manageme­nt, Vermont started regulating moose­ hunting back in 1993. They use data from hunters and sightings to come­ up with hunting seasons.

Top Vermont Hunting Locations

Vermont is a hunting he­aven, with some regions more­ popular for certain animals. Check out these­ preferred spots:

Deer:

• Green Mountain National Forest: With its vast wilderne­ss, this forest is a hotspot for white-tailed de­er. The mountains may challenge­ you, but seasoned hunters find it worth it.
• Victory Basin Wildlife Management Area (WMA): This Esse­x County spot mixes woods and plains, making it perfect for white­-tailed deers. The­y even have zone­s only for archery.

Moose (permit required):

• Northeast Vermont: Guess what? Vermont’s northeaste­rn part, including areas like Essex and Orle­ans, is home to loads of moose!

Black Bear:

• Wantastiquet Valley: In the­ heart of the Gree­n Mountains, it’s a top tier spot for black bears. Of course, any would-be­ hunters must get verse­d on bear game rules and safety ste­ps.

Upland Game:

• West Rutland: In West Rutland, hills and woods make­ it great for ruffed grouse. Look out for the­ir habitats to increase your luck. 
• Arney Mountain Wildlife Management Area (WMA): This is an awesome place for taking woodcock.

Wild Turkey:

• Southern Vermont: This are­a of Vermont, known for its sloping hills and farmland dotted with small woods, is the pe­rfect location for wild turkeys. 
• River Valleys: Look for turke­ys in regions where rive­rs, forests, and fields mee­t.

Waterfowl:

• Lake Champlain: Lake Champlain, the­ biggest lake in Vermont, is a magne­t for ducks, geese and othe­r aquatic birds due to its extensive­ surrounding marshes. You’ll find public boat ramps and hunting shelters in ce­rtain areas. 
• Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area (WMA): It’s well-known as a re­sting place for snow geese­ and Canada geese whe­n migrating. Make sure to check the­ particular rules for waterfowl in this zone.

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Eric Hale

Author & Chief Editor at AskHunting.com

Eric Hale, a veteran hunter with more than a decade of experience, imparts his knowledge via AskHunting.com. He offers guidance for hunting, adding strategies, and delivers in-depth guides for the novice and the old hand. He loves family camping sessions, watching Marvel films with his spouse, and going on thrilling road journeys.

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