The Outdoor Wire

Vermont Antlerless Deer Permit Applications are Available

Vermont’s antlerless deer hunting permit applications are available on Vermont Fish & Wildlife’s website. VTF&W photo by John Hall

Vermont's antlerless deer permit applications are now available online at Vermont Fish and Wildlife's website and from license agents.

The Fish and Wildlife Board met on May 20 and set antlerless deer permit numbers for the fall deer hunting seasons.

An antlerless permit allows a hunter to take one antlerless deer during the muzzleloader seasons on October 29-November 1 and November 30-December 13 or during the regular deer season on November 14-29. Antlerless permits are available for 19 of Vermont's 21 Wildlife Management Units.

Landowners who do not post their land may apply for a landowner priority antlerless deer permit. Landowners who do post are still eligible to apply in the regular lottery for an antlerless deer permit.

The deadline to apply for an antlerless deer permit is July 22, and the lottery drawing for permits is August 19.

Antlerless deer may be taken statewide during the archery season and the youth and novice weekend using the respective tags for those seasons. Antlerless permits are not valid during these seasons.

"The number of antlerless permits available this year is much lower than recent years," said Nick Fortin, deer and moose project leader for the Fish and Wildlife Department. "Due to new regulations taking effect this fall and some uncertainty about how those regulations will affect antlerless harvests, we're taking a conservative approach and reducing permit allocations in all WMUs."