Vermont expands archery deer hunting season to manage populations

Vermont is implementing new deer hunting regulations that include 16 additional days of archery hunting starting September 15. The expansion targets eight designated areas to manage high deer populations that are causing property damage to gardens and native vegetation, as well as increasing motor vehicle collisions.

In these expanded zones, hunters may only take antlerless deer until the regular archery season begins on October 1. All standard archery license and regulation requirements apply. Commissioner Jason Batchelder noted that many of these areas are developed and privately owned, urging hunters to obtain landowner permission and check local municipal ordinances regarding the discharge of archery equipment.

The designated zones include areas around Bennington, Brattleboro, Burlington, Montpelier, Newport, and Rutland. Notably, city ordinances in Burlington, South Burlington, and Winooski prohibit the discharge of archery equipment.