GENERAL
·       Annual limit is TWO deer per year per hunter. See each season below for restrictions.

·        "Legal buck" -- a deer with at least one antler having two or more points

·       A "point" is an antler projection of at least one inch measured from base to tip. The main beam counts as a point regardless of length [insert artwork of point here]

·       "Antlerless deer" - a deer without antlers or with antlers less than three inches long

·       Baiting and feeding of deer are illegal
 

HUNTING -- BY THE SEASON
Archery Deer Season
Open season: October 1-23 and December 3-11, 2005
Limit: One legal buck and one antlerless deer in authorized WMUs only.

During this season, hunters may take one legal buck with one antler having two or more points anywhere in the state. In addition, one antlerless deer (a deer without antlers or with antlers less than three inches) may be taken by bow and arrow during the archery season in the following WMUs: A-B-C-F1-F2-G-H1-J1-J2-K1-K2-M2-N-02-Q. The hunter must use archery licenses to tag these deer.
Caution: Spike bucks may not be taken during this season so they may grow to at least
2 ½ years of age.    

Youth Deer Weekend
Open season: November 5-6, 2005
Limit: One deer of either sex

A young hunter under 16 years of age who has at least one parent or guardian who is a legal resident of Vermont and who has successfully completed a hunter education course may obtain a free youth hunting tag and take one deer of either sex anywhere in the state during this weekend. There are no antler restrictions for this season. The young hunter must have a Vermont hunting license, be accompanied by an unarmed adult over 18 who also has a Vermont hunting license, and have permission to hunt on private land.

November Rifle Deer Season
Open season: November 12 - 27, 2005
Limit: One legal buck

A hunter with a hunting license may take one legal buck with at least one antler having two or more points.
Caution: Spike bucks may not be taken in this season so they may grow to at least 2 ½ years of age.

Muzzleloader Deer Season
Open season: December 3 - 11, 2005
Limit: One legal buck with at least one antler having two or more points and one antlerless deer by permit in authorized WMUs only

A person with one muzzleloader hunting license may take one buck with at least one antler having two or more points by muzzleloading firearm. A hunter who wins an antlerless deer permit by lottery may take one antlerless deer by muzzleloader during the December 3 - 11 muzzleloader season.

Muzzleloader antlerless deer permits were assigned to these wildlife management units this year: A, B, F1, F2, J2, K1, M2, N, O2, and Q.
[Insert color map]

Caution: Spike bucks may not be taken during this season so they may grow to at least
2 ½ years of age.

FEEDING DEER
No person shall feed white-tailed deer at any time in Vermont except:
1.       Under a license or permit issued by Fish & Wildlife for scientific research, mitigation of wildlife damage or nuisance problems, or wildlife population reduction programs;
2.       By planting, cultivating or harvesting of crops directly associated with agricultural practices, including planted wildlife food plots;
3.       Distribution of food for livestock directly associated with agricultural practices;
4.       Cutting of trees or brush.

BAITING DEER
No person shall take any game or wild animal by using bait during any deer hunting season, except that persons taking furbearers may use bait in lawful trapping. "Bait" is defined as any animal, vegetable, fruit or mineral matter placed with the intention of attracting wildlife. Natural and artificial substances that are, or that mimic the natural odors of deer (scents or lures), shall not be bait for the purposes of this rule. Scents that mimic any food are illegal.

No person shall take deer by using bait. Exempted from this prohibition are:
1.       Elevated bird/squirrel feeders providing seed, grain, fruit, worms, or suet for birds or squirrels located within 100 feet of a dwelling devoted to human occupancy

2.       Incidental feeding of wildlife within active livestock operations

3.       Standing crops planted and left standing as food plots for wildlife;

4.       Grain or other feed scattered or distributed solely as a result of normal agricultural, gardening, or soil stabilization practices; and

5.       Standing, flooded, or manipulated natural vegetation or food/seed deposited by natural vegetation.

Rules on Importing and Possession of Deer or Elk from Areas
with Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) and Captive Hunt Areas
or Farms:
It is illegal to import or possess legally taken deer or elk, or parts
of deer or elk, from states and Canadian provinces that have had
Chronic Wasting Disease, or from captive hunt or farm facilities
with the following exceptions:
- Meat that is cut up, packaged and labeled with hunting license
information and not mixed with other deer or elk during processing.
- Meat that is boneless.
- Hides or cape with no part of the head attached.
- Clean skull-cap with antlers attached.
- Antlers with no other meat or tissue attached.
- Finished taxidermy heads.
- Upper canine teeth with no tissue attached.
As of July, 2005, the following states and Canadian
provinces had found CWD in their wild deer or elk populations: New York,
Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska, South Dakota, Utah, New
Mexico, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Saskatchewan.
These states and Canadian provinces had found CWD in
captive herds of deer or elk: New York, Colorado, Nebraska, South Dakota,
Kansas, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Montana, and
Alberta.

For the latest information on CWD,
check the following websites:
www.vtfishandwildlife.com  / www.iafwa.org  / www.cwd-info.org


For Further Information please contact: John Hall at 802-241-3711 or email to john.hall@state.vt.us