The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department has announced the 2024-2025 migratory game bird hunting season dates and bag limits.
A printable copy of the Migratory Bird Syllabus can be downloaded from the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department’s website (www.vtfishandwildlife.com) under “Hunt” – “Waterfowl.” A printed version also will be available from license agents and post offices in August.
A statewide Vermont open hunting season for resident Canada geese will occur September 1-25. The daily bag limit is five Canada geese in the Connecticut River Zone and eight in the rest of the state during this September season. The purpose of the September season is to help control Vermont’s resident Canada goose population prior to the arrival of Canada geese migrating south from Canada.
A second Canada goose hunting season for resident and migrant geese will be held October 12-November 10 in the Lake Champlain and Interior Zones with a daily bag limit of three Canada geese.
In the Connecticut River Zone, the second Canada goose season will be October 9-November 11 and November 27-December 22 with a daily bag limit of two Canada geese.
A late Canada goose season will be held Dec. 1-Jan. 19 in the Lake Champlain and Interior Vermont Zones and Dec. 23-Jan. 11 in the Vermont land of the Connecticut River Zone (does not include Connecticut River waters). The daily bag limit in all three zones will be five Canada geese.
Duck season this fall opens on October 12 in the Lake Champlain and Interior Vermont Zones and on October 9 in the Connecticut River Zone. The Lake Champlain Zone has a split season of Oct. 12-Nov. 3 and Nov. 23-Dec. 29. The Interior Vermont Zone has a split season of Oct. 12-Nov. 10 and Nov. 23-Dec. 22.
Scaup daily bag limits vary by season dates. The Lake Champlain (Oct. 12-Nov. 3 & Nov. 23-Dec. 9) and Interior (Oct. 12-Nov. 10 & Nov. 23-Dec. 2) zones allow the harvest of one scaup daily. The remainder of the season you are allowed two scaup daily. Within the Connecticut River Zone, you are allowed only one scaup daily for the entire season.
Vermont’s youth waterfowl hunting weekend will be September 28 and 29. Resident and nonresident hunters 17 years of age or younger on those dates may hunt ducks and geese within the Lake Champlain and Interior Vermont Zones during this weekend while accompanied by an adult 18 or older. In the Connecticut River Zone, youth must be 15 years of age or younger on those dates. Both adult and youth must have Vermont hunting licenses. The adult may not hunt or carry a firearm. Youth ages 16 and 17 must have a Vermont Migratory Waterfowl tag and federal duck stamp.
Woodcock hunting season is September 28- November 11 statewide with a three-bird bag limit.
In addition to a hunting license, a waterfowl hunter 16 or older must carry a current federal duck stamp and Vermont Migratory Waterfowl tag to hunt waterfowl in Vermont. Federal stamps are sold at post offices, federal refuges, or online at www.fws.gov/birds/get-involved/duck-stamp/e-stamp.php. State Migratory Waterfowl tags are available on Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department’s website and from license agents. The hunter must sign the federal duck stamp.
All migratory game bird (woodcock, ducks and geese) hunters must also be registered with the Harvest Information Program (H.I.P.) in each state they hunt. You can register on Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department’s website or call toll-free 1-877-306-7091. After providing some basic information, you will receive your annual H.I.P. registration number, which is then recorded on your hunting license.
The hunting season dates, bag limits and related regulations for all migratory birds are set annually within a framework established by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and in coordination with New York and New Hampshire.
Waterfowl season dates and bag limits are set in three zones: Lake Champlain, Interior Vermont, and Connecticut River. The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department sets the season dates and bag limits for the Connecticut River Zone.