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 105 Wildlife Management Areas totaling more than 130,000 acres throughout Vermont. Department staff are assessing damage from the July 10-11 flooding. At this time we ask that visitors to Access Areas/WMAs stay out of moving water, and turn back at any sign of risk or damaged infrastructure.
Conservation Easements
The Fish & Wildlife Department holds more than 50 easements, protecting more than 9,800 acres statewide. In most 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.
Streambank Management Areas
The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department owns many miles and hundreds of acres of land along rivers and streams throughout Vermont known collectively as Streambank Management Areas. These lands provide public access to our waters for fishing, hunting, trapping, fish and wildlife viewing, photography and other fish and wildlife-based activities.
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.