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Vermont Deer Forecast: Find Mature Bucks in the Green State

What will be the deer hunting be like in Vermont this season?

Vermont Deer Forecast: Find Mature Bucks in the Green State
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This whitetail hunting forecast for the state of Vermont is part of Game & Fish’s “Great States" project identifying the best deer-hunting states in the country. Read more: America's Top Whitetail States


Weather-Dependent Tactics Needed

As with many things in Vermont, daily and seasonal weather conditions will have an impact on daily life. That goes for deer hunting, too.

Last year’s warmth and rainy conditions in October lowered deer harvests, according to Vermont Fish and Wildlife, then snow and more seasonable temps in November and December resulted in increases. Deer often move more during the day when temperatures are cool, and snow helps hunters locate them.

The state said 78,511 people purchased or renewed a deer hunting license in 2023; an estimated 66,700 license-holders actively hunted deer last year.

Vermont hunters harvested 16,845 deer in 2024, about three percent down from the three-year average of 17,436. The buck harvest of 9,848 was three percent up from the three-year average of 9,533. The 2022 harvest was 17,461.

DID YOU KNOW?

HUNTER-SUCCESS RATE

Vermont Fish and Wildlife say 21 percent of active hunters (13,801) harvested a deer last season.

Big-buck hunters should check out remote areas of the Green Mountains and Northeast Kingdom, but for greater numbers of hunt-able deer, turn to lower elevations. "Finding a place to hunt is relatively easy, but hunters tend to congregate where deer are most numerous, typically on lowland farm country where posting is also common," the state says in its online deer hunting database. "However, the hunter who shows respect for the landowner and asks for permission to hunt can often find private land to hunt on."

Vermont has more than 800,000 acres of federal and state public land open to hunting: National Wildlife Refuges, the Green Mountain National Forest, and all state forests. State Parks are open to hunting outside the operating season.

IT’S A FACT

FIREARMS HARVEST IN VERMONT

Rifle hunters accounted for 45 percent of the 2024 deer harvest in Vermont. Next was bowhunting at 29 percent.

The state’s system of more than 100 Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) are open to hunting, trapping, fishing, and other wildlife- related outdoor activities.

Vermont hunters can harvest four deer, one of which can be antlered.

Get more info: Detailed information on hunting seasons and rules can be found here.

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