ADDISON COUNTY — The 2015 deer rifle season got off to a promising start in Addison County on Nov. 14 and 15, with the numbers coming in at the third-best opening-weekend total since 2010 and hunters taking down many trophy animals.
In all, the county’s nine official weigh stations handled 188 bucks, just 12 fewer than the highest opening weekend total of the past six years, 200 in 2013, and four fewer than 2010’s two-day total of 192.
In the other three years since 2010, opening weekend totals have ranged from 122 to 154, with that latter total coming in 2014.
Weights were heavy, with two deer tipping the scales at more than 200 pounds and four more topping 190 pounds.
Things were going well enough that Vermont Field Sports manager Greg Boglioli said he didn’t even hear hunters express a typical gripe in that Middlebury shop.
“I don’t feel anyone was really complaining about the weather,” Boglioli said.
The final rifle season total from 2014 ended up at a below-average 359, although weigh station operators all said the animals were mostly good-sized.
The county’s six-year rifle-season average stands at 375, and this past weekend’s total puts 2015 already halfway to that mark.
Opening weekend of rifle season followed a low count of 75 for Youth Hunting Weekend, below the county average of a little bit more than 100 (see story on Page 1B). Boglioli said, however, that Vermont Field Sports’ numbers for the first half of bow season were up from 27 to 43.
The Independent will wrap up all deer seasons once the muzzleloader season concludes in mid-December, as well as report full rifle results early next month.
Ferrisburgh resident Tyler Barber brought down the largest buck on opening weekend, a 226-pound, seven-pointer he shot in Shoreham and took to Buxton’s Store in Orwell to be weighed.
Waltham resident Kevin Kayhart shot a 213-pound, nine-point buck in his hometown and had it weighed at Rack and Reel in New Haven. Rack and Reel also weighed William Whittemore’s 193-pound, eight-pointer that he shot in Ferrisburgh.
Buxton’s also handled William Bishop’s 195-pound, nine-pointer, an animal he shot in Orwell.
Chris Huston shot a 194-pound, nine-point buck in New Haven and took it to the Village Green Market in the same town to be weighed.
Keith Tremblay killed a 190-pound, six-point buck, and trucked it to Vermont Field Sports to be put on that shop’s scales.
The following hunters found success this past weekend and brought deer to those shops or Lincoln General Store, West Addison General Store, Jerusalem Corners Country Store in South Starksboro, Green Mountain Trails End in Bristol, or C&S Hunting Supplies in East Middlebury. They are listed by hunter, town of kill, and pounds and points.
VILLAGE GREEN MARKET
William Forbes, Middlebury, 145 lbs.-8 points; James Giard, Shoreham, 163-8; Jeremy Lattrell, Lincoln, 128-4; Andre Rheaume, New Haven, 125-4; Daniel Shepard, New Haven, 158-4; Chris Huston, New Haven, 194-9; Stephen Davis, New Haven, 112-3; Matthew Davis, Hinesburg, 122-4; Leon Demers III, New Haven, 123-4; Sean Kingman, New Haven, 124-3; Bruce Kraetcheck, New Haven, 125-6; Peter Norris, Monkton, 143-3; and Brad Sprague, Monkton, 170-0.
LINCOLN GENERAL STORE
Richard Carpenter, Ripton, 165-7; Matt Elder, Starksboro, 161-7; Kevin Micklas, Lincoln, 160-8; Tom Miller, Lincoln, 154-4; John Masterson, Lincoln, 152-8; Justin Donnelly, Lincoln, 149-6; Matt Germon, Rupert, 143-3; Jody Brown, Lincoln, 140-7; Gary Trayah, Ripton, 137-3; Scott Walters, Lincoln, 134-8; Kim Deering, Lincoln, 132-4; Mark Cousino, Lincoln, 116-4; and Mitchell Jackman, Lincoln, 107-4.
BUXTON’S STORE
Robert Blaise, Leicester, 125-4; Pamela Strong, Shoreham, 167-4; Peter Mayhew, Ripton, 157-5; Will Madison, Shoreham, 171-4; Jesse Booska, Orwell, 180-3; William Bishop, Orwell, 195-9; Timothy Williams, Sudbury, 185-8; Robert Charron, Benson, 155-6; Steven Pyenta, Castleton, 115-6; Jacob Kemp, Orwell, 112-3; David Hanson, Shoreham, 169-4; Bailee Wigginton, Sudbury, 181-4; and Edward O’Neill, Castleton, 103-6.
Also, Paul Maynard, Orwell, 173-5; Ryan Hadvab, Orwell, 145-4; Andrew Guyette, Hubbardton, 116-6; Billy Ryan, Castleton, 117-8; William Shouldice, Benson, 153-3; Darren Ouellette, Shoreham, 135-3; Daniel Boyce, Benson, 150-7; Andrew Lanpher, Benson, 179-5; Michael Matot, Shoreham, 140-5; David Stearns, Orwell, 152-6; David Leonard, Shoreham, 160-5; and Steven Blaise, Shoreham, 153-4.
Also, Tyler Barber, Shoreham, 226-7; Ron Parent, Orwell, 135-6; Wright Myrick, Shoreham, 165-4; James McCray, Orwell, 122-3; Michelle Williams, Whiting, 134-4; Delbert Frazier Jr., Salisbury, 155-4; John Sullivan, Orwell, 162-3; Charles Mingo, Orwell, 111-4; Louis Hall, Orwell, 150-5; Charles Kellogg, Benson, 141-3; and John Audet, Orwell, 180-7.
Also, William Shouldice, Benson, 147-5; John Boyer, Hubbardton, 133-5; Stephen Manning, Orwell, 107-3; Keith Hartline, Sudbury, 164-4; Brian Wilson, Orwell, 140-4; Shirley Bowen, Orwell, 181-7; Edward Christian, Shoreham, 139-4; Jesse Wing, unknown, 122-3; Kyle Trudo, Orwell, 157-6; Patrick Mayhew, Leicester, 119-5; and Calvin Hogan, Sudbury, 181-8.
WEST ADDISON GENERAL
Jameson Bannister, Addison, 128-3; Kevin Payne, Shoreham, 130-3; Kenneth Nolan, Panton, 137-7; Wayne Stearns Jr., Ferrisburgh, 138-4; and Nathan Fleming, Addison, 124-4.
JERUSALEM COUNTRY STORE
Robert Ayers, Huntington, 152-4; Edward Campbell, Starksboro, 135-4; Ronald Raymond, Huntington, 189-4; Seth Clifford, Starksboro, 115-4; Eric Larose, Lincoln, 168-8; John Miles, Starksboro, 140-4; Jack Gracie, Lincoln, 173-8; Joanne Tanner, Bristol, 140-6; and Matthew Coleman, Starksboro, 153-6.
Also, Joseph Calevro, Richmond, 149-8; Richard Mason, Monkton, 131-3; Francis Jennings, Starksboro, 152-6; Matthew Niquette, Starksboro, 136-6; Thomas Young, Huntington, 160-5; Paul Morse, Goshen, 160-5; Eric Jennings, Monkton, 123-4; and Michael Aruzza, Huntington, 169-8.
RACK AND REEL
Kevin Kayhart, Waltham, 213-9; Christien Paquin, Addison, 188-6; Gary Hallock, Salisbury, 168-6; Daniel Stearns, Ferrisburgh, 129-4; Dustin Bradford, Ferrisburgh, 141-4; Brian Morin, Addison, 117-5; Lance Fleming, Ferrisburgh, 131-3; Charles Roy, New Haven, 145-4; Shaw Kipp, Orwell, 159-6; and Jason Whittemore, Shoreham, 144-4.
Also, Sean Kehoe, Hinesburg, 122-4; Daniel Bushey, Chittenden, 151-6; Joseph Fortune, Cornwall, 144-6; Brent Jocelyn, Bristol, 123-4; Matthew Titus, Ferrisburgh, 134-4; Michael Lucier, Ferrisburgh, 105-7; Andy Gendreau, Monkton, 151-8; Adam Lafountain, Starksboro, 144-6; and Harold Kittredge, New Haven, 171-7.
Also, Kathryn Kayhart, Waltham, 138-6; Adam Shortsleeve, Bristol, 157-5; Michel Latreille, Monkton, 123-6; William Whittemore, Panton, 193-8; Kevin Carter, Bridport, 144-4; Craig Newton, Waltham, 151-8; Charles Huizenga, Monkton, 159-7; and Dean Gilmore, New Haven, 133-5.
Also, Charles Barnum, Bristol, 130-8; Raymond Stearns, Ferrisburgh, 185-7; Brad Bassett, New Haven, 142-8; Pamela Laroche, New Haven, 154-6; Anthony Duprey, Waltham, 131-4; Patrick Needham, New Haven, 133-5; Randy Sargent, New Haven, 163-6; and Randy Poquette, Ferrisburgh, 186-7.
GREEN MT. TRAILS END
Colin Jennings, New Haven, 117-4; Kevin Masse, Bristol, 112-3; David Robert, Bristol, 112-6; Wendell Jennings, Starksboro, 114-3; Cory Jennings, Hinesburg, 150-8; Philip Canton, Bristol, 122-6; Nick Lossman, Bristol, 172-9; Cole Lossman, Bristol, 117-6; Brian Ladeau, Bristol, 126-4; Pernell Bedell, Buel’s Gore, 149-3; and Amanda Snider, Weybridge, 137-6.
VERMONT FIELD SPORTS
Keith Tremblay, Goshen, 190-6; Michael Carter, Bridport, 189-8; Casey Butler, Middlebury, 178-4; Gene Torrey, Salisbury, 178-6; Christopher Goodrich, Monkton, 171-8; Thomas Ayer, Hinesburg, 171-6; Carson Bertrand, Whiting, 171-7; David Fuller, Cornwall, 168-6; and Larry Butler, New Haven, 168-5.
Also, David Morris, Leicester, 166-6; Charles Rule, New Haven, 166-8; John Fleury, Ripton, 166-9; Ricky Rheaume, Cornwall, 165-5; Scott Galipeau, Weybridge, 163-8; Nathan Warren, Bridport, 156-5; Thomas Lloyd, Orwell, 154-8; Steven Ouellette, Bridport, 154-8; and Eric Fifield, Middlebury, 153-4.
Also, Dean Ouellette, Weybridge, 150-6; Frank Kurek, Middlebury, 147-4; Dylan Hill-Quintin, Shoreham, 147-4; Steven Hutchinson, Bristol, 146-6; Bruce Cram, Ripton, 146-6; Scott Hance, Starksboro, 142-8; Harry Duffany, Shoreham, 142-4; Danny Dragon, Ripton, 139-6; and Dylan Peterson, Salisbury, 138-3.
Also, Dylan Racine, Monkton, 137-3; Ronald Berthiaume, Salisbury, 137-3; McGregory Butler, New Haven, 134-4; Meagan Bigelow, New Haven, 132-4; Michael Keeler, Middlebury, 132-6; Logan Boyer, Salisbury, 132-6; Peter Scott, New Haven, 131-4; and Richard Dutton, Brandon, 129-6.
Also, Joseph Whitley, Weybridge, 127-6; Dakoda Miller, Middlebury, 126-5; Barry Delphia, Leicester, 125-4; Jill Ambrose, Middlebury, 115-3; Jakob Peterson, Ripton, 109-4; George Scribner, Salisbury, 107-3; Louis Poirier, Ripton, 107-3; Jeff Wulfman, Ripton, 106-6; Richard Greene, Charlotte, 106-7; Morgan Laroche, Salisbury, 103-3; and Patricia Ringey, Cornwall, 102-3.
C&S HUNTING SUPPLIES
Wyatt Cameron, Salisbury, 129-6.
Andy Kirkaldy may be reached at [email protected]