MONTPELIER — With youth deer weekend just around the corner, young hunters are encouraged to take to the field to hone their skills and to also help Fish & Wildlife biologists by reporting their deer at one of 24 biological reporting stations around the state.
Youth deer hunting weekend helps ensure that young hunters get the quality training they need for lifelong participation, and it also provides biological information needed to manage the deer population.
“We encourage hunters to bring their deer to one of these biological reporting stations so they can directly contribute to deer management in Vermont,” said Vermont Fish & Wildlife’s deer project leader Nick Fortin. “Examining deer during the youth deer hunting weekend is our best opportunity to assess the deer herd because youth hunters are allowed to harvest any deer, including spike bucks. Biologists will be able to collect data on age, weight and antler development to help guide future deer management decisions.”
Along with having their deer examined and aged by a biologist, successful youth hunters visiting a biological reporting station will receive a 2018 Vermont Hunter Cooperator Patch.
Anyone, resident or nonresident, who is 15 years old or younger on the weekend of the hunt and who has successfully completed a hunter education course must purchase a hunting license and obtain a free youth deer hunting tag. The requirements apply to all interested young hunters, including the children of landowners.
The young hunter must be accompanied by an unarmed adult over 18 years of age who holds a Vermont hunting license. The adult may accompany up to two young hunters. The law requires the adult to have direct control and supervision of the young hunters, including the ability to see and communicate without the aid of artificial devices such as radios or binoculars.
Landowner permission is required to hunt on private land during the youth deer hunt weekend, and youth are encouraged to secure permission well in advance.
The youth hunter may take one deer of either sex on youth deer weekend, and the antler restriction that applies in other deer seasons does not apply during youth deer weekend.
Violation of the youth deer hunting law can result in a doubled fine that is assessed against the adult who accompanies the youth.
The Addison County biological reporting stations below will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., on Nov. 3 and 4: Buxton’s Country Store, 499 Main St., Orwell; Rack N Reel, 5343 Ethan Allen Highway, New Haven; and Vermont Field Sports, 1458 Route 7 South, Middlebury.
Vermont’s 2018 Deer Hunting Guide, with regulations and other helpful information, is on Fish & Wildlife’s website, vtfishandwildlife.com.