Hunting Seasons in Vermont 2025: Big Game and Small Game, Licenses, and Regulations Guide

Plan your 2025–26 Vermont hunt with our state‑by‑state guide—season dates, bag limits, licenses, bow & rifle rules, and key game species from whitetail deer to wild turkey to moose. Vermont’s rolling Green Mountains, forested river valleys, and pond‑dotted lowlands create prime habitat for deer, turkey, upland birds, and waterfowl. In early fall, the hills echo with the sound of gobbling turkeys; by winter, snow‑packed ridges offer silent stillness for tracking whitetail deer. Whether you’re archery hunting deep in hardwood stands, glassing for moose in remote wetlands, or calling in ducks on misty ponds at dawn, the Green Mountain State delivers well‑timed seasons, clear bag limits, and straightforward licensing designed to keep its wildlife healthy and hunters satisfied. What Is There to Hunt in Vermont? Vermont’s game list includes: Big Game: Whitetail deer, black bear, wild turkey, moose (limited draw) Small Game & Upland Birds: Ruffed grouse, woodcock, bobwhite quail, cottontail rabbit, snowshoe hare, squirrels Waterfowl & Migratory Birds: Ducks (mallard, wood duck, teal), geese, mergansers, coots (HIP registration and federal duck stamp required) Furbearers & Predators: Coyote, raccoon, fox, mink, muskrat, beaver, bobcat (many open seasons) What Animals Can You Hunt Year‑Round in Vermont? A few furbearers carry no closed season on private lands, offering off‑season opportunities and helping with nuisance control. These include coyote, raccoon, muskrat, mink, and beaver. Public‑land regulations may impose seasonal or area‑specific restrictions. Vermont Big Game Hunting Seasons 2025–26 Whitetail Deer Archery: Sept 16 – Oct 15 Youth Rifle: Oct 4 – 6 (weekend before general season) General Firearms: Oct 7 – 20 (Zone A); Oct 14 – 27 (Zone B) Muzzleloader: Nov 13 – 17 Late Bow: Nov 20 – Dec 31 Black Bear Spring Archery/General: May 15 – June 30 Fall Archery/General: Sept 1 – Oct 15 Youth Bear: Aug 24 – 25 Wild Turkey (Spring) Season: Apr 15 – May 31 Youth Hunt: Apr 8 – 14 Fall Turkey (Limited): Oct 1 – Dec 31 (youth only, select zones) Moose Limited Draw: Archery only, dates vary by region and tag; application required Vermont Small Game & Waterfowl Seasons 2025–26 Upland Game Birds & Small Mammals Ruffed Grouse & Woodcock: Sept 15 – Nov 30 Bobwhite Quail: Sept 15 – Feb 28 Cottontail & Snowshoe Hare: Oct 1 – Mar 15 Squirrels: Sept 1 – Mar 31 Ducks & Geese Duck Season: Oct 1 – Nov 30; Dec 1 – Jan 31 (north zone) Goose Season: Sept 15 – Nov 30; Dec 1 – Jan 31 (north zone) Mergansers & Coots: Same as duck season Shooting Hours: ½ hour before sunrise to sunset Bag Limits by Species Whitetail Deer: 1 antlered buck per season; antlerless tags limited by quota Black Bear: 1 per season; youth tag in addition Wild Turkey: 1 gobbler per spring season; fall youth season subject to draw Ruffed Grouse & Woodcock: 3 per day, 9 in possession Ducks & Geese: 6 ducks per day, 3 wood ducks; 5 geese per day Bobwhite Quail, Rabbits & Squirrels: 15 quail; 10 rabbits; 10 squirrels per day Coyote & Furbearers: No daily limit on private lands; check public‑land rules License & Tags Information for Vermont Hunters (2025–26) All hunters must hold a valid Vermont hunting license. Additional permits and tags include: Deer & Bear Tags: Issued over‑the‑counter (some antlerless tags by quota) Turkey Permits: Spring tags available in advance; fall youth draw Moose Tags: Limited‑entry draw, application deadline early spring HIP Registration & Federal Duck Stamp: Required for waterfowl hunting Hunter Education Certification: Mandatory for all first‑time hunters Hunting Methods: Bow, Rifle, Muzzleloader Vermont authorizes: Archery Seasons: Rifle‑season and spring overlap for deer and bear; long‑bow, compound, crossbow in fall Firearms: Center‑fire rifles, shotguns (slugs & buckshot) during general seasons Muzzleloader: Dedicated week in November for deer; spring bear archery only Dogs & Bait: Permitted for turkey and bear only under specific conditions; check local regulations Regulations & Resources Vermont Fish & Wildlife regulations cover: Legal Shooting Hours: ½ hour before sunrise to sunset Zone Maps & Boundaries: Defined for deer zones A & B, and specific waterfowl areas Mandatory Harvest Reporting: Online or phone-based check-in for deer, bear, turkey, and moose Special Designations: Wildlife management areas, waterfowl refuges, and chronic wasting disease zones Before you head out, always verify season dates, bag limits, and license requirements on the official Vermont Fish & Wildlife website to stay compliant and ensure a legal, ethical hunt. This guide was created based on information from the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department (VFWD): https://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/hunt/hunting-and-trapping-seasons