Hunting

Vermont is one of the most rural states in the country, and Vermonters have a proud heritage of living close to the land. Hunting and trapping are highly regulated and provide a way to connect with the land, connect with nature, and connect with a healthy, sustainable food source.

Beginning January 1, 2018, every trapper licensed in Vermont is required to submit an annual report of their trapping activity. These annual reports help the department monitor furbearer harvest and trappers’ effort.

Here’s your opportunity to directly contribute to the management of deer, moose, and other wildlife species in Vermont.

What Is the Hunter Effort Survey?

This survey is like a diary, where hunters record how many hours they hunted and how many deer, moose, bears, or other wildlife they saw on each day of the November rifle season. 

The department is asking all successful rifle season hunters to provide a tooth from their buck, regardless of its size or age. The tooth is used to accurately age the deer and provides information critical for managing Vermont's deer herd. We will publish the age information on our website in the spring.