Most of these state-managed lands are open to hunting, fishing, and other forms of wildlife-based recreation.
Wildlife Management Areas
The Fish & Wildlife Department currently owns more than 99 Wildlife Management Areas totaling close to 130,000 acres throughout Vermont.
Conservation Easements
The Fish & Wildlife Department holds more than 50 easements that protect more than 9,800 acres across the state. In the majority of cases, these easements allow public access. However, these lands are still privately owned and though access is protected, the department does not maintain these lands in any formal way. Therefore parking and signage in many cases does not exist.
Riparian Lands
The Vermont Fish &Wildlife Department owns many miles and hundreds of acres of land along rivers, streams, lakes and ponds throughout Vermont known collectively as “Riparian Lands.” These lands provide public access to our waters for fishing, hunting, trapping, fish and wildlife viewing, photography and other fish and wildlife-based activities.
Riparian lands are widely distributed throughout Vermont and tend to be relatively small and often long narrow parcels. Some parcels have small, gravel parking areas while others provide no formal parking or rely on parking just off the road shoulder.
Agency of Natural Resources
The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources manages more than 345,000 acres as wildlife management areas, state forests, and state parks. The Agency also holds easements on over 128,000 acres of conserved commercial forestlands that guarantee public access.
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