Find the answers to the frequently asked questions about hunting black bears in Vermont.
Are there two different bear tags?
Yes. There is a separate early season bear tag required for those hunters who want to hunt bear prior to the beginning of the 16-day regular November deer season. It costs $5 for residents and $15 for nonresidents. Hunters will continue to get a late season bear tag along with their buck tag on their general hunting license at no additional cost, which is valid during the first nine days of the 16-day regular November deer season.
Does this mean I can shoot two bears per year
No. The current limit of one bear per calendar year remains the same. If a hunter harvests a bear during any part of the year, that hunter is done bear hunting for the year.
How much longer is the bear season extended?
The annual bear season is extended by four days. This increases the overlap of the bear and the regular November deer season from five to nine days to allow for the harvest of additional bears.
Do holders of permanent licenses (licenses for senior hunters) need to purchase the additional $5 early-season bear tag?
No. Hunters who hunt with a permanent license do not need to buy an early season bear tag no matter when their license was bought, and we will not charge these hunters for an early season bear tag. Their tag is valid for both early and late bear seasons every year in perpetuity.
What about lifetime license holders?
No. Hunters who purchased a lifetime license before January 1, 2013 also do not need to buy an early season bear tag. Their tag is valid for both early and late bear seasons every year in perpetuity. This includes hunters whose license was purchased before 2013 but whose license will not be activated until they take a hunter's education course, such as a license purchased for a young child. However, hunters who purchased a lifetime license on or after Jan. 1, 2013 must purchase an early season bear tag to hunt bear prior to the November deer rifle season.
Why do we need an additional tag?
The bear license will enable the department to gather essential information about hunter effort and success, as well as an idea of overall bear hunter numbers. This information is important for obtaining best estimates of bear population trends.
Why does the department recommend that hunters not shoot a bear with cubs?
Black bear cubs are dependent on sows until they are approximately 16-18 months old. Cubs are born in January and forage, travel, and rest with their mother during their first fall. It isn’t until the following spring that they are ready to strike out on their own.
Tips for Identifying Sows with Cubs
It is important that hunters take precautions to avoid harvesting sows accompanied by cubs. Follow these steps to increase the likelihood that you will correctly identify bear family groups:
- Be observant. Most adult female bears in Vermont weigh between 120 to 180 lbs. Cub sizes can vary widely by their first fall depending on food availability throughout the year, the fitness of the sow, and the number of cubs in a litter. Larger cubs can weigh over 50 lbs. and may appear almost as large as the sow while smaller cubs can be as little as 20 lbs. Be diligent to observe bears of this size class to determine if they are alone before harvesting.
- Be patient. Family groups may not always be within sight of each other, but members will be nearby. Take time to observe a bear to determine it is alone before harvesting. Select a shooting location that offers views of the surrounding area to increase the chance of observing potential cubs.
- When in doubt, don’t shoot.