MONTPELIER, Vt. -- Deer hunters who applied for a Vermont muzzleloader season antlerless deer permit by the August 29 deadline can now go to the Vermont Fish & Wildlife website (www.vtfishandwildlife.com) to see if they won a permit.
Fish & Wildlife announced the winners on September 26, 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 & 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. Those who applied online will receive an email notification.”
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.
A total of 27,000 December muzzleloader season antlerless permits are authorized for use in 18 of Vermont’s 21 Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) which is estimated to result in 3,914 antlerless deer being taken.
“The number of muzzleloader season antlerless deer permits was increased slightly this year to reduce deer populations in some parts of Vermont,” said Nick Fortin, deer project leader for the Fish & Wildlife Department. “Consecutive mild winters in 2016 and 2017 and a moderate winter in 2018 have allowed for deer population growth throughout the state.”
“Harvesting antlerless deer affords Vermont hunters the chance to secure locally sourced food for their families,” Porter noted. “It also helps the department balance the deer population with the available habitat.”
For Immediate Release: September 26, 2018
Media Contacts: Nick.Fortin@Vermont.Gov 802-786-3860
Mark.Scott@Vermont.Gov 802-777-4217; Scott.Darling@Vermont.Gov 802-786-3862