Vermont boasts the best wild turkey hunting in New England.
Considered "Big Game" under Vermont law, you will easily understand why after hunting them. Flocks of up to 100 can be counted in late winter and they are highly visible most of the year. But when hunting season comes in May, their prowess in avoiding the hunter puts them way ahead of any small game species and certainly on a par with deer and bear.
Dates
| Seasons | Dates | Limits |
|---|---|---|
| Youth Weekend and Novice Weekend |
The weekend prior to the opening of spring turkey | One bearded turkey, statewide |
| Spring | May 1 - 31 | Two bearded turkeys, statewide |
| Fall (Archery only) | October 5 - 25, 2024 | One of either sex, statewide |
| Fall (Archery or Shotgun) | October 26 - November 3, 2024 | One of either sex, WMUs B, D, G, H, I, J, L, M, O, P, and Q |
| Fall (Archery or Shotgun) | October 26 - November 10, 2024 | One of either sex, WMUs F, K and N |
Tips & Techniques
Prime turkey habitat consists of a mix of agricultural land and forested areas. Areas where working dairy farms abut mature stands of nut-bearing oak and hickory trees are especially productive. Turkeys are most common in the southwestern foothills, southern Champlain Valley, and low-land portions of the eastern foothills. However, wherever one hunts, the key to success is pre-season scouting and securing landowner permission.