Vermont

Green Mountain big-woods tracking, public Green Mountain National Forest, and pristine upland grouse and woodcock covers.

Vermont - The Green Mountain State & North Country Timber Heritage

Vermont offers outstanding sportspeople opportunities, rich wildlife habitats, and extensive public land access. From trophy big game hunting to abundant upland bird coverts and waterfowl flyways, Vermont provides a premier destination for hunters of all experience levels.

Vermont Bull Moose in Green Mountain Spruce Bog

Managed under strict wildlife conservation guidelines by the state department of natural resources, hunting in Vermont contributes directly to habitat preservation and healthy game populations across the state.

Vermont Black Bear in Hardwood Beech Ridge

Top Hunting Attractions in Vermont

Discover the premier wildlife management areas, big game habitats, and renowned wingshooting regions across Vermont.

Green Mountain National Forest Big Woods

Over 400,000 public acres of scenic northern hardwoods, high ridges, and spruce valleys offering wilderness whitetail and black bear hunting.

Northeast Kingdom Boreal Moose Lottery

Essex and Caledonia counties' dense spruce-fir forests producing trophy bull moose through an annual summer public draw lottery.

Champlain Valley Agricultural Deer & Waterfowl

Rich agricultural lowlands along Lake Champlain holding heavy whitetail bucks, wild turkey, and massive autumn duck flights.

Green Mountain Timberdoodle & Upland Bird Covers

Damp alder corridors and old hill farms offering exceptional autumn wing-shooting for migrating woodcock and ruffed grouse.

Hunting Benefits

Green Mountain Deer Tracking: Classic New England tracking for heavy-bodied big-woods bucks.

Moose Draw Lottery: Regulated draw permits for moose hunting in the Northeast Kingdom.

Premier Spring Turkey: Leading wild turkey state in New England with high gobbler success.

800,000 Public Acres: Open access across Green Mountain National Forest and state WMAs.

Unposted Private Land Laws: Traditional New England access laws favoring respectful hunters.

Hunter's Bottom Line

Summary

Vermont offers a quintessential New England big woods hunting experience. With picturesque rolling mountain ridges, working maple sugarbushes, and the expansive Green Mountain National Forest, it rewards hunters who value wilderness woodcraft.

The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department manages deer hunting across archery, youth, regular November rifle, and December muzzleloader seasons. Antler restrictions (requiring at least two points on one antler in designated zones) protect yearling bucks.

Black bear hunting in Vermont opens on September 1, offering early-season spot-and-stalk hunting in high-altitude beech stands where bears gorge on protein-rich beechnuts before denning.

Waterfowl hunters on Lake Champlain experience exceptional gunning for mallards, black ducks, and diving ducks (goldeneyes, bluebills, buffleheads) along rocky points and sheltered bays from late October through December.