Vermont’s Fish and Wildlife Department issued this press release earlier this week.

The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department reminds hunters that muzzleloader season antlerless deer permit applications are available on its website until Wednesday, August 2. 

The muzzleloader seasons on October 26-29 and December 2-10 will have antlerless permits available for 19 of Vermont’s 21 Wildlife Management Units. 

Landowners who post their land may not apply for a landowner priority muzzleloader antlerless deer permit.  They are eligible to apply in the regular lottery for an antlerless deer permit.

 “Recent management efforts have successfully balanced deer numbers with what the habitat can support in many parts of Vermont,” said Nick Fortin, deer and moose project leader for the Fish and Wildlife Department.  “As a result, the goal is now to maintain current deer numbers in most of the state.”

Deer populations in eight wildlife management units, primarily in the Champlain Valley, remain above their respective population objectives.  The goal is to reduce deer numbers in those areas.”

A lottery drawing of the permit recipients will be held in mid-September.

Vermont Muzzleloader Antlerless Deer Season

If antlerless permits are available, a muzzleloader antlerless deer season will occur for four consecutive days beginning on the Thursday 16 days prior the opening of the regular November deer season (Oct. 26 – 29, 2023) — check our website in June for an announcement. A muzzleloader license and an antlerless permit are required for this season. If this 4-day season is held, the antlerless permit may be used during this season or during the regular muzzleloader deer season.

Vermont Regular November Deer Season — Nov. 11 – 26, 2023

Limit

One legal buck (see definition of Legal Buck above) may be taken anywhere in the state. A person shall not take more than four white-tailed deer in a year in all deer hunting seasons, only one of which may be a legal buck.

Methods

A rifle, shotgun, muzzleloader, handgun, bow, and arrow, or crossbow may be used during this season.

Vermont Muzzleloader Deer Season — Dec. 2 – 10, 2023

Licenses

A muzzleloader license and hunting license are required.

Limit

One legal buck (see definition of Legal Buck above) may be taken anywhere in the state. In addition, with an antlerless permit issued by the department, a person may take an antlerless deer within the authorized WMU.

Definition of Muzzleloading Firearm

A single-shot, single-barrel rifle or smoothbore firearm with a minimum barrel length of 20 inches, designed to be fired from the shoulder or a single-shot pistol with a minimum barrel length of 10 inches. Both rifle and pistol must be incapable of being loaded from the breach without the use of tools, and must have a minimum bore diameter of 0.43 inches and an ignition system of traditional or modern flintlock, caplock, matchlock, in-line or wheellock style.

Definition of Ammunition for Muzzleloaders

Black powder or other suitable non-smokeless propellant, and a single ball or bullet.

Definition of Loaded Muzzleloader

The muzzleloading firearm shall be considered loaded when it has been charged with powder and projectile and is primed or capped.

Special Provisions

A person hunting deer in a muzzleloader deer season shall not possess any firearms other than one single-barreled muzzleloading firearm, and shall not possess or substitute any archery equipment or crossbow while hunting deer under a muzzleloader deer hunting license.