MONTPELIER — The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Board approved the 2015 migratory bird hunting season dates at its Aug. 12 meeting in Montpelier.
A printable copy of the regulations can be downloaded from the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department website (www.vtfishandwildlife.com). A printed version also will be available from license agents and post offices in early September.
A statewide Vermont open hunting season for Canada geese will occur Sept. 1-25. The daily bag limit is five Canada geese in the Connecticut River Zone and eight in the rest of the state during this September season. The purpose of the September season is to help control Vermont’s resident Canada goose population prior to the arrival of Canada geese migrating south from Canada.
A second Canada goose hunting season, for resident and migrant birds, will be held Oct. 10-Nov. 28 with a daily bag limit of three Canada geese in the Lake Champlain and Interior Vermont Zones.
In the Connecticut River Zone, the Canada goose season will be Oct. 6-Nov. 5, and Nov. 15-Dec. 23 with a daily bag limit of three Canada geese.
Duck season this fall opens on Saturday, Oct. 10, in the Lake Champlain and Interior Vermont Zones, and on Oct. 6 in the Connecticut River Zone. The Lake Champlain Zone has a split season (Oct. 10-14 and Oct. 24-Dec. 17). The Interior Vermont Zone is a straight season (Oct. 10-Dec. 8). The Connecticut River Zone is a split season (Oct. 6-Nov. 5 and Nov. 15-Dec. 13).
Vermont’s youth waterfowl hunting weekend will be Sept. 26 and 27. Resident and nonresident hunters 15 years of age or younger may hunt ducks and geese statewide during this season while accompanied by an adult 18 or older. Both must have Vermont hunting licenses. The adult may not hunt or carry a firearm. The youth and the adult are not required to hold state or federal duck stamps on this weekend.
Woodcock hunting season is Oct. 1- Nov. 14 statewide with a three-bird bag limit.
In addition to a hunting license, a waterfowl hunter 16 or older must carry current federal and Vermont duck stamps in order to hunt waterfowl in Vermont. Federal stamps are sold at post offices. State duck stamps are available on Vermont Fish & Wildlife’s website (www.vtfishandwildlife.com) and from license agents. The hunter must sign the federal duck stamp.
All migratory game bird hunters must also be registered with the Harvest Information Program (H.I.P.) in each state they hunt. You can register on Vermont Fish & Wildlife’s website or call toll-free 1-877-306-7091. After providing some basic information, you will receive your annual H.I.P. registration number, which you then need to record in the H.I.P. section of your hunting license.
The hunting season dates, bag limits and related regulations for all migratory birds are set annually in August within a framework established by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and in coordination with New York and New Hampshire.
Waterfowl season dates and bag limits are set in three zones: Lake Champlain, Interior Vermont, and Connecticut River are set by the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board. The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department sets the season dates and bag limits for the Connecticut River Zone.