MONTPELIER, Vt – Vermont’s new deer hunting regulation effective this year includes 16 additional days of archery hunting opportunity to help manage deer in eight targeted areas. High deer numbers in these areas are damaging property and native vegetation. Most are developed areas where deer cannot be effectively managed with firearms.
Archery deer hunting in these expanded archery zones begins September 15, and only antlerless deer may be taken in these areas until the regular archery deer season begins on October 1. Like in the regular archery season, an archery license is required, and all archery season regulations apply.
“This addition to Vermont’s deer regulation came about because of the many complaints we are receiving from property owners about deer damage to gardens and ornamental vegetation as well as due to motor vehicle collisions with deer,” said Commissioner Jason Batchelder. “Most lands in expanded archery zones are privately owned, and some areas are not huntable, so we strongly encourage hunters to obtain landowner permission before hunting in these zones.”
“We also urge hunters to check with city and town offices, because some municipalities have ordinances limiting or prohibiting the discharge of archery equipment.”
Vermont Fish and Wildlife’s website has information and maps of the following eight expanded archery zones in the deer hunting section.
Bennington Area: Parts of the towns of Pownal, Bennington, Shaftsbury, Arlington, and Sunderland.
Brattleboro Area: Parts of the towns of Brattleboro, Guilford and Vernon.
Burlington Area: Parts of the towns of Burlington, South Burlington, Winooski, Colchester, Essex, Essex Junction, Williston, and Shelburne. Note: city ordinances prohibit the discharge of archery equipment anywhere in Burlington, South Burlington and Winooski. Ordinances in Essex Junction limit where archery equipment can be discharged.
Montpelier Area: The city of Montpelier.
Newport Area: The city of Newport.
Rutland Area: Parts of the towns of Rutland Town, Rutland City, West Rutland, Proctor, and Clarendon. Note: Rutland City ordinances prohibit the discharge of archery equipment anywhere in the city.
Saint Johnsbury Area: Parts of the towns of Saint Johnsbury and Waterford.
WMU-A: All of wildlife management unit A, which is all of Grand Isle County.
Descriptions of Expanded Archery Zone boundaries can be found in the Deer Management Rule (10 App. V.S.A. § 37)
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