Deer hunters who applied for a Vermont muzzleloader season antlerless deer permit by the August 4 deadline can now go to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife website (www.vtfishandwildlife.com) to see if they won a permit.

Fish and Wildlife announced the winners on September 14, after conducting a randomized computer drawing. Permit winners are listed in two categories: regular lottery winners and landowners. Landowners who apply for a landowner antlerless permit are prohibited by law from posting their land against hunting.

“Hunters can go to our website to find out if they are recipients of a muzzleloader season antlerless permit,” said Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Louis Porter. “Knowing early if they’ve won, will help them plan their hunting this fall.”

“They can follow a link on our home page to go to the listing of permit winners.”

Permit recipients will need to reprint their licenses which have been reformatted to include their antlerless permits. Paper “post card” permits will not be sent in regular mail.

Antlerless permits were available for 19 of Vermont’s 21 Wildlife Management Units and may be used during the muzzleloader seasons on October 28-31 (antlerless hunting by permit only) and December 4-12.

“Yearling antler beam diameters, fawn weights and other physical condition measures are declining or are below optimal levels in many areas, indicating that deer have exceeded the level their habitat can support long-term,” said Nick Fortin, Fish and Wildlife’s deer project leader. “No population growth is expected in 2021, however, deer populations in 7 WMUs will be above their respective population objectives. The goal is to reduce deer populations in those areas while stabilizing populations in other areas.”

“Harvesting antlerless deer affords Vermont hunters the chance to secure locally sourced food for their families. It also helps the department balance the deer population with the available habitat.”

Permits are still available in WMUs F1-F2-K-N-O and Q because not enough people applied for them in the lottery. These permits may be purchased beginning September 15 on a first come, first served basis through license agents, district Fish and Wildlife offices and on www.vtfishandwildlife.com.

Fish and Wildlife urges hunters to review the 2021 Deer Season Guide also available their website home page.

Media Contacts: Nick Fortin 802-793-877, Mark Scott 802-777-4217