The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department reminds hunters that antlerless deer permit applications are available on its website until Wednesday, July 22.
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.
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."
A lottery drawing of permit recipients will be held August 19.