ADDISON COUNTY — During Vermont’s deer archery season, which ran from Oct. 6 to Nov. 2, 274 hunters brought down deer and took them to one of the seven Addison County wildlife reporting stations to be weighed.
Their efforts kicked off a wildly successful 2018 for area deer hunters.
As reported last week in the Independent, those seven weigh stations in October, November and December handled 1,345 deer — a total that also includes 110 from November’s Youth Hunting weekend, 571 from November’s rifle season, and a record number 390 from December’s muzzleloader/bow season.
That total number set an overall annual record for deer weighed in the county after 2005, when Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department officials banned shooting spikehorn bucks during November rifle season, thus lowering the numbers taken in the most popular deer season.
The previous annual record of 1,189 was set just a year ago. That record in turn broke the mark of 1,064 set in 2016.
Probably the biggest single reason for the increasing numbers of deer killed locally is milder winters. The past three winters have been warmer than the historic average, with less snow, making it easier for deer to survive and to move around in search of food. State wildlife officials this summer pegged statewide deer population at 155,000, higher than the typical 115,000 to 120,000 of just a few years ago.
Average weight, as measured by the Independent by checking the size of bucks taken during rifle season, also rose this season, by almost seven pounds to 147.65 pounds. Weights were low in 2017, but the 2018 average was still higher than the typical range of 144 to 146 pounds per our calculation.
Results from earlier seasons have already been published. Originally the Independent planned to publish the October-November archery results in the Dec. 20 edition, but due to space concerns (largely caused by the record number of muzzleloader deer) these results were moved to this edition.
Although rifle hunters brought down a dozen bucks that weighed in at more than 200 pounds this year, twice the 2017 total, only one hunter in either the first archery or December muzzleloader bagged a 200-pounder. Justin Hall shot a 209-pound, 7-pointer in Orwell and took it to Buxton’s Store in Orwell to have it weighed on Oct. 21.
The following hunters had deer weighed at one of the seven county reporting stations (West Addison and Lincoln general stores, Green Mountain Trails End in Bristol, Buxton’s Store in Orwell, Vermont Field Sports in Middlebury, C&S Hunting Supplies in East Middlebury, and Rack ’N Reel in New Haven) during this year’s first archery season. Along with their name is listed the weight in pounds and number of antler points if a buck, and the town of kill:
WEST ADDISON GENERAL STORE
Gabe LaBerge, Shoreham, 78-4; Richard Ambrose, Ferrisburgh, 110 doe; Eugene Bradford, Ferrisburgh, 110 doe; Daniel White, Ferrisburgh, 76 male; Dwayne Roberts, Bridport, 110 doe; Brendin Roberts, Shoreham, 126-4; Jeffrey Fortune, New Haven, 149 doe; Jeremy Francis, Bridport, 115 doe; Kaleb Roberts, Bridport, 106 doe; and Ernest Cousineau, Addison, 112 doe.
Also, Eugene Bradford, Ferrisburgh, 69 male; James Bodette, Leicester, 102 doe; Christopher Thompson, Cornwall, 116-6; Dale Bushey, Weybridge, 156 doe; Scott Brace, Cornwall, 130-6; Jeff Bishop, Shoreham, 137 doe; Kevin Reed, Addison, 148-6; Brent Perkins, Addison, 120 doe; Adam Thomann, Addison, 170-4; and Wendy Garrow, New Haven, 70 male.
LINCOLN GENERAL STORE
Adam Donnelly, Starksboro, female fawn, 52; Taylor Mason, Lincoln, 102 doe; Dave Cavoretto, Lincoln, 130 doe; Tyler Raymond, Huntington, 100-6; Brian Heffernan, Lincoln, 148-7; Todd Roscoe, 122 doe; Jackson Desautels, Lincoln, 54 fawn; Shaun O’Connor, Lincoln, 99 doe; John Desautels, Lincoln, 112 doe; Jeff Mayo, Lincoln, 96 doe.
C&S HUNTING SUPPLIES
Travis White, Middlebury, 97 doe; Shawn Frost, Middlebury, 107-3; Richard Tatro, Salisbury, 100-3; Hunter Warner, Middlebury, 136-4; Brian Ramsey, Lincoln, 52 female; Kyle Charron, Ferrisburgh, 90 doe; Tyson Rotax, Ripton, 92 doe; Henry Ramsey, Lincoln, 123 doe; and Tyler Tanner, Salisbury, 54 female.
GREEN MT. TRAILS END
Casey Butler, Middlebury, 182-8; Carla Jimmo, Grand Isle, 172-8; McGregor Butler, Middlebury, 172-6; Jody Brown, Lincoln, 154 doe; George Carty, Starksboro, 150-4; Donna Mashia, Richmond, 144 doe; John Chamberlain, Lincoln, 142-7; Abraham Goyette, New Haven, 139-4; Nolan Whitcomb, Starksboro, 138-4; Jacob Lathrop, Starksboro, 135 doe; and Cory Jennings, Hinesburg, 133-7.
Also, Matthew Norris, New Haven, 133 doe; Timothy Cousino, Lincoln, 130-6; Michael Kenyon, Bristol, 130-4; Mark Tierney, Charlotte, 129 doe; Cody Haines, Middlebury, 129 doe; Ronald Dusablon, Shelburne, 128-6; Scott Manning, Lincoln, 127 doe; Bruce Perlee, New Haven, 127 doe; Jerry Butler, Middlebury, 126-5; Nick Lossman, Bristol, 125 doe; William Grace, Bristol, 125 doe; and Caleb Tucker, Salisbury, 125 doe.
Also, Lawrence Martell, Lincoln, 122-4; Earl Pecor, Monkton, 121 doe; John Chamberlain, Lincoln, 120 doe; Dusty Grace, Middlebury, 119 doe; Gary Briggs, Orwell, 118-6; Erin Dalley, Lincoln, 114 doe; Aaron Josey, Huntington, 113 doe; Justin Malzac, Lincoln, 112 doe; Carla Jimmo, Grand Isle, 112 doe; David Pepe, Whiting, 111 doe; Craig Shepard, Starksboro, 110 doe; and Lucas Livingston, Bristol, 110 buck.
Also, John Chamberlain, Lincoln, 110 doe; Edward Lafayette, Lincoln, 108 doe; Justin Malzac, Lincoln, 106-4; Benjamin Turner, Lincoln, 106 doe; Jack Bodington, Monkton, 104 doe; Philip Cantin, Bristol, 103 doe; Anthony Rochon, Lincoln, 99 doe; Ross Orvis, Hinesburg, 98 doe; Adam Whitcomb, Starksboro, 98 doe; Robert Twenge, Monkton, 89 doe; David Patterson, Lincoln, 87 doe; and Phillip Williams, Middlebury, 71 female.
Also, Bradley Palmer, Charlotte, 70 female; Jacob Lathrop, Bristol, 65 female; Cory Jennings, Hinesburg, 63 male; Dylan Raymond, Hinesburg, 60 female; Daniel Briggs, New Haven, 60 female; Daniel Nugent, Middlebury, 56 female; and Randy Little, Lincoln, 50 female.
VERMONT FIELD SPORTS
David Gagnon, New Haven, 115 doe; Lawrence Kaufmann, Shoreham, 123 doe; Kendra Dwyer, Weybridge, 113 doe; Michael Forbes, Middlebury, 100 doe; Charles Rule, New Haven, 109 doe and 110 doe; Donald Williams, Ripton, 121 doe; Kirk Ringey, Cornwall, 143-4; Richard Miller, Middlebury, 123-4; Darcy Trudeau, Middlebury, 126 doe; Frank Raymond, Addison, 121 doe; and Roger Regnaud, New Haven, 50 fawn.
Also, Andrew Hutchison, Leicester, 112-3; Charles Sargent, Weybridge, 131-4; Remington Coburn, Salisbury, 109-6; Paul Blair, Ripton, 100 doe; Eric Bingham, Middlebury, 62 fawn; Robert Cameron, Middlebury, 113 doe; Paul Deering, Bridport, 120-4; Charles Holbrook, Ripton, 99 doe; David Wemette, Salisbury, 133-8; Kevin Carter, Bridport, 104 doe; John Cogley, Ripton, 111 doe; and Brent Warren, Salisbury, 105 doe.
Also, Gene Torrey, Salisbury, 55 pounds and 103 doe; David Wemette, Salisbury, 122 doe; Jason Gingras, Salisbury, 165-4; Chris Groman, Whiting, 175-6; Ralph Brown, Middlebury, 130 doe; Andre Deering, Bridport, 135 doe; Tyler Pockette, Salisbury, 62 pounds; Chris Ringey, Cornwall, 107 doe; William Casavant, Salisbury, 90 doe; Joseph Zeno, Middlebury, 70 pounds; Avery Gale, Salisbury, 151-6; and Michael Ash, Cornwall, 137-4.
Also, Tallon Real, New Haven, 105 doe; Roger Gingras, Middlebury, 102 doe; Edward Galvin, Salisbury, 124-4; Daniel Wimett, Brandon, 105 doe; Brian Armell, Starksboro, 128-4; Scott Galipeau, Weybridge, 100 doe; Robert James, Weybridge, 106 doe; James Reynolds, Salisbury, 117-4; Calvin Loven, Salisbury, 123 doe; Kevin Payne, Bridport, 160-8; Morgan Laroche, Salisbury, 92 doe; Barry Forbes, Middlebury, 116 doe; and Leon Demers, New Haven, 146-6.
RACK ’N REEL
Christopher Breen, Starksboro, 182-8 and 181-8; Bruce Perlee, New Haven, 179-6; Ronald Swenor, Monkton, 172-7; Lee Lapell, West Haven, 167-5; Bruce Cheever, Middlebury, 160-8; Ernest Goodrich, Salisbury, 156-5; Jeremy Lattrell, New Haven, 150 doe; Erik Carruth, Cornwall, 150-8; Chad Phillips, Huntington, 150-4; Brent Perkins, New Haven, 150-7; Isaac Preston, Panton, 148-6; and Mark Deering, Weybridge, 147-7.
Also, William Maloy, Sudbury, 140-6; Courtney Morin, Addison, 136 doe; Gary English, Salisbury, 134-4 and 130 doe; Dewey Barrows, Ferrisburgh, 131-3; Shaw Kipp, Salisbury, 130 doe; Bailey Smith, Ferrisburgh, 129-6; Kim Goodell, Monkton, 128-6; John Parker, Addison, 127 doe; Travis Kilburn, Ferrisburgh, 125 doe; Michael Hurlburt, Monkton, 124-5; Allan Mackenzie, Brandon, 123 doe; and Daniel Bourgeois, Charlotte, 123 doe.
Also, Edward Raymond, Richmond, 123 doe; Sterling Pelsue, Vergennes, 122 doe; Peter Norris, New Haven, 120 doe; Ralph Dragon, Middlebury, 120-3; Charles Levarn, Lincoln, 120 doe; Jeff Palmer, Starksboro, 120 doe; John Connor, Bridport, 119 doe; Joseph Fortune, Ferrisburgh, 119 doe; Eric Wedge, Waltham, 117-4; Sterling Pelsue, Charlotte, 117-5; Mark Deering, Weybridge, 117 doe; and Daryl Tribou, Weybridge, 116 doe.
Also, Peter McDurfee, Shoreham, 114 doe; Codey Corse, Starksboro, 112 doe; Howard Humiston, Ferrisburgh, 112 doe; Eric Dalley, New Haven, 111-8; Andy Gendreau, Monkton, 110 doe; Shaw Kipp, Orwell, 110 doe; George Torrey, Ferrisburgh, 110 doe; Chad Jerome, Bristol, 110 doe; John Peck, Ripton, 110 doe; Brian Morin, New Haven, 110 doe; Glen Jewell, Monkton, 110 doe; and Mike Castillo, Monkton, 109 doe.
Also, Chris Carlson, Shelburne, 109-4; Scott Stearns, Ferrisburgh, 109-3; Adam Terry, Bristol, 108 doe; Lucas Smith, New Haven, 107 doe; Timothy Wildey, New Haven, 105 doe; Andre Deering, Bridport, 101 doe; Ryan Zeno, Bristol, 100 doe; Vincent Comai, Charlotte, 100 doe; Joshua Baldwin, New Haven, 99 doe; Bruce Cram, Ripton, 99 doe; Benjamin Newkirk, Bristol, 98 doe; and Kyle Cousino, Bristol, 98 doe.
Also, Anthony Curtis, Shelburne, 98 doe; Leman Bronson, Monkton, 97 doe; Gary Thibauld, Charlotte, 97 doe; Craig Newton, Cornwall, 94 doe; Kenneth Sullivan, Panton, 92 doe; Michael Crosby, Ferrisburgh, 91 doe; Devin Bradford, Ferrisburgh, 90 doe; Shawn Lacey, Shelburne, 89 doe; Bryan Peck, Ripton, 88 doe; and Kyle Armell, Starksboro, 86 doe.
Also, Craig Cheever, Middlebury, 77 doe; Shannon Martin, Starksboro, 75 male; Benjamin Smith, Starksboro, 75 male and 73 doe; Peter Funk, Cornwall, 63 male; and Krystal Bigelow, Monkton, 61 male.
BUXTON’S STORE
Abigail LaRock, Shoreham, 138 doe; Tyler Steady, Shoreham, 115 doe; Matt Spardella, Benson, 175-6; Jason D’Avignon, Orwell, 161-4; Wyatt Forbes, Orwell, 145-5 and 90 doe; Greg Borah, Shoreham, 75 doe; Edson Lanpher, Shoreham, 160-6; Dustin, Shaw, Orwell, 151 doe; Stephen Blaise, Rutland, 65 female; Dylan Ryan, Orwell, 123 doe; Terry Norris, Shoreham, 166-4; and Dylan Lanpher, Shoreham, 132-4.
Also, Christopher Davis, Shoreham, 137 doe; Justin Hall, Orwell, 209-7; Bruce Bishop, Orwell, 176-4; Gene Goodspeed, Orwell, 100 doe; Michael Chicoine, Shoreham, 135 doe; Keith Betourney, Bridport, 110 doe; Earl Kehoe, Orwell, 143 doe; Roy Murdock, Brandon, 78 female; Timothy Smith, Orwell, 106 doe; Michael Mahoney, Orwell, 120 doe; Robert LaRose, Ripton, 52 female; and Michael Dame, Shoreham, 106 doe.
Also, John Gosselin, Shoreham, 110 doe; Dennis Patterson, Shoreham, 108 doe; Kevin Kayhart, Vergennes, 140 doe; Taylor Patterson, 111 doe; Jeffrey Booska, Orwell, 115 doe; Sarah Washburn, Orwell, 135-6; Barry Delphia, Brandon, 140-6; and Shane Wood, Whiting, 115-4.
Also, Brian Raymond, Middlebury, 60 female; Stephen Myrick, Bridport, 140-3; Dylan Lee, Orwell, 143 doe; Calvin Hogan, Whiting, 119 doe; Jeritt Patch, Whiting, 106 doe; and Bruce Potter, Sudbury, 96 doe.
Andy Kirkaldy may be reached at [email protected].