MONTPELIER, Vt. – The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department is urging young deer hunters to help scientific management of Vermont's deer population by bringing the deer they take during the state's November 4 and 5 youth deer hunt to a biological reporting station.

"We encourage young hunters to bring their deer to a biological reporting station to get the deer weighed, aged and examined by a state wildlife biologist," said Vermont's deer biologist Nick Fortin. "Examining deer during youth deer hunting weekend is our best opportunity to assess the deer herd because young hunters are allowed to harvest any deer on that weekend, including spike bucks."

"The information collected will help biologists assess the physical condition of Vermont's deer, and the age, weight and antler development data will help guide future deer management decisions."

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 may 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 who is over 18 years of age and 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 in order 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.

Fish & Wildlife will have personnel at the 25 biological reporting stations listed below between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m., unless the store closes earlier, for youth weekend, November 4 and 5. Along with having their deer examined and aged by a biologist, youth hunters visiting a biological reporting station will receive a 2017 Vermont Hunter Cooperator Patch.

Biological Reporting Station Name	Town		County	Address
Buxton's Country Store	Orwell		Addison County	Main Street, Orwell, VT 05760-0016
Vermont Field Sports	Middlebury		Addison County	1458 Route 7 South, Middlebury, VT 05753
Marty's Sports & Gunsmithing	Bennington		Bennington County	1679 Harwood Hill Drive, Bennington, VT 05201
Thetford Center Village Store	Thetford		Orange	3956 Vermont 113, Thetford, VT 05074
Riteway Sports	Hardwick		Caledonia County	241 Wolcott Street, Hardwick, VT 05843-1129
Jericho General Store	Jericho		Chittenden County	53 VT Route 15, Jericho, VT 05465-0244
Currier's Market	Glover		Orleans	1 Main Street, Glover, VT 05839
Barnies Market	Concord		Essex County	166 Main Street, Concord, VT 05824-0254
Northern Wildlife	Island Pond	Essex County		550 East Charleston Road, Island Pond, VT 05846
West Enosburg Country Store	Enosburg Falls		Franklin County	2394 W. Enosburg Rd, Enosburg Falls, VT 05450
St Marie's	Swanton		Franklin County	31 Grand Avenue, Swanton, VT 05488
A&B Beverage	Grand Isle		Grand Isle County	193 US Route 2, Grand Isle, VT 05458
Ingalls Market & Deli	Eden Mills		Lamoille County	4121 VT Route 100, Eden Mills, VT 05653
Middle Branch Market & Deli	East Randolph		Orange	29 Vt Rte 14 South, East Randolph, VT 05041
Cambridgeport Country Store	Cambridgeport		Windham	997 Saxtons River Rd, Cambridgeport, VT 05141
C&S Beverage & Dairy	Wilmington		Windham	157 Vt Rte 100N, Wilmington VT 05363
Wright's Enterprises	Newport		Orleans County	48 Community Drive, Newport, VT 05855
Keith's Country Store	Pittsford		Rutland County	4085 US Route 7, Pittsford, VT 05763-0538
Grant's Village Store	Middletown Springs		Rutland County	752 Coy Hill Road, Middletown Springs, VT 05757
R&L Archery	Barre		Washington County	70 Smith Street, Barre VT 05641
Mountain Deer Taxidermy	Northfield	Washington County		1308 Loop Road, Northfield, VT 05663
West Barnet Quick Stop	West Barnet		Caledonia	113 West Main St, West Barnet, VT 05821
Guilford Country Store	Guilford		Windham County	475 Coolidge Highway, Guilford, VT, 05301
Singleton's Store	Cavendish		Windsor	356 Main Street, Proctorsville, VT 05153
Steve's Bait Shop	North Hartland		Windsor County	8 Rockwood Street, North Hartland, VT 05052-0083

Vermont's 2017 Deer Hunting Guide, with regulations and other helpful information, is on Fish & Wildlife's website (www.vtfishandwildlife.com).


Media Contact: Nick Fortin 802-786-3860, Scott Darling 802-786-3862, Mark Scott 802-777-4217