Vermont hunting and fishing laws

A certificate or a letter of proof showing satisfactory completion of an approved hunter education, archery, or trapping course from Vermont or any other state or province is required, or a previous license, or an affidavit. A mentored license holder must be accompanied by an adult 21 years of age or older holding a valid Vermont license and stay within 15 feet of that adult.

Source

Not verified. Vermont's regulations state no minimum hunting age. Everyone must pass hunter education before buying a first license, a person under 16 needs a parent or guardian's signature to get a license, and minors must carry the paper license signed by a parent. Confirm with the official regulations before you hunt.

Source

Hunter orange is not required by law in Vermont, but wearing it might save your life.

Source

Not verified. No Sunday restriction appears in Vermont's 2026 hunting regulations or season listings, but no agency statement that Sunday hunting is allowed was found. Confirm with the official regulations before you hunt.

Source

Applies to: Big game

Big game hunting hours run from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset, with specific exceptions for turkey, raccoon and waterfowl.

Source

It is illegal to hunt or take any wild animal by using bait during any deer hunting season, except that trappers may use bait in taking furbearers. It is also unlawful to hunt or take deer, bear, turkeys or waterfowl with bait, or to feed deer or bear. Feeding and baiting are banned on Vermont Fish and Wildlife lands as well.

Source

Applies to: Deer

Deer lures containing any cervid urine, blood, gland oil, feces, or other bodily fluids, are illegal to use in Vermont.

Source

It is illegal to shine a spotlight or other artificial light on any highway, field, woodland or forest to spot, locate or take any wild animal. The exception: a light may be used to illuminate and shoot a raccoon treed by dogs during raccoon season, and to illuminate a treed raccoon during the training season.

Source

Applies to: Big game

A big game animal must immediately be tagged when taken. The tag shall be placed on the carcass in a location that is open to view and shall remain there during possession and transportation. A person taking big game shall within 48 hours report the taking and exhibit the carcass to the nearest game warden or official Fish and Wildlife Department Reporting Station.

Source

Applies to: Deer

Deer and bear must be field dressed prior to reporting. Deer taken in the regular firearms season must be reported at official stations, while archery and muzzleloader deer and turkey may be reported online.

Source

Hunting, fishing or trapping on properly posted land is illegal without written permission. Posting must be recorded annually with the town clerk, and signs must be not less than 8 1/2 inches by 11 inches, in contrasting colors, on or near all boundaries, at each corner and not over 400 feet apart. A person must leave the land immediately on demand of the owner, whether the land is posted or not.

Source

A person must have the landowner's permission to build, erect, maintain, use or occupy a permanent or portable tree stand or ground blind on any private land in Vermont.

Source