Vermont Fish & Wildlife Newsroom

MONTPELIER, Vt. –The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department reminds us that two of its shooting ranges are open for sighting-in rifles before you go hunting -- one in Hartland and the other near Island Pond.  Both ranges are open for public use from April to mid-December. Hammond Cove Shooting Range at the end of Ferry Road in Hartland features a six-port 100-yard rifle range and a pistol bench. ​ West Mountain Shooting Range in East Haven has a 100-yard shooting range and target frames at 25, 50, 75, and 100 yards . ​ The  range is located on the South American Pond Road on the West Mountain Wildlife Management Area. Users 15 years of age and older are required to have a valid Vermont hunting or fishing license and may bring one guest. “Vermont has some of the safest and most conservation-minded hunters anywhere,” said Fish & Wildlife Commissioner Louis Porter.  “We provide these publicly accessible ranges so they can sigh...

Addition provides important forested habitat connection Mt. TABOR, Vt. – Otter Creek Wildlife Management Area, well known for its waterfowl and songbird habitat, has grown to nearly 1,200 permanently conserved acres through the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department’s purchase of 54 acres of land in Mt. Tabor. The Vermont Land Trust facilitated the transaction. The new addition, known as Hallagan Woodlot, is a land-locked, forested parcel nestled between Otter Creek Wildlife Management Area (WMA) and the Green Mountain National Forest. The Vermont Land Trust bought the land at auction and transferred it to Fish & Wildlife when federal Pittman-Robertson funds (raised through an excise tax on shooting and sporting equipment) became available. “We were excited to partner with Vermont Land Trust to conserve a critical piece that was privately held in our Otter Creek WMA,” said Jane Lazorchak, Vermont Fish & Wildlife’s land acquisition coordinator. “Partnerships like...

MONTPELIER, Vt. -- A youngster’s first hunt can mark the beginning of a lifelong passion for the outdoors and a commitment to wildlife conservation.  There is no finer time to begin this journey than during Vermont’s upcoming youth waterfowl hunting weekend on September 29 and 30. “Vermont’s youth waterfowl hunting weekend helps ensure that young hunters get the quality training and experiences they need for lifelong participation,” said Fish & Wildlife Commissioner Louis Porter.  “By design, the youth weekend hunt reinforces the route of initiation that is critical in recruitment -- learning from an experienced adult role model.” On September 29 and 30, hunters 17 years of age or younger may hunt ducks and geese in the Lake Champlain and Interior Vermont waterfowl hunting zones.  The age requirement is 15 and under in the Connecticut River zone according to the following conditions.  The youth hunter must have a Vermont hunting license and must be a...

Training workshop set for September 22 BERLIN, Vt. - The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department is seeking volunteers to become ‘Let’s Go Fishing’ instructors to pass on Vermont’s fishing tradition to the next generation of Vermonters. The department will be hosting a one-day training workshop for new instructors on Saturday, September 22 at the ANR Annex Building, 190 Junction Rd., Berlin, Vermont. Instructors in the ‘Let’s Go Fishing’ program organize and instruct clinics in their communities for young people and their families. Participants in the training workshop will learn how to teach a basic fishing clinic, as well as learn about fishing ethics, aquatic ecology, fisheries management, habitat conservation and tackle craft. They will also be introduced to conducting specialized fishing clinics, including clinics on ice fishing and species-specific fishing. The class is informal, and it is not necessary to have a high level of fishing expertise to become...

MONTPELIER, Vt. -- Vermont’s annual auction of five moose hunting permits was held today when sealed bids were opened and the permit winners were notified.  The bids totaled $43,702.83 which will help fund Fish & Wildlife Department educational programs, such as the Green Mountain Conservation Camps for youths.  Auction winners will hunt in Wildlife Management Units E1 or E2 in the northeast corner of the state during the October 1-7 archery season, or in the October 20-25 regular season.  Permits are for bulls-only.  No regular public moose permit lottery was held because only thirteen moose hunting permits were authorized this year.  If any public lottery permits had been offered, all those with bonus points from past seasons would have had to apply or lose those points, as required by statute.  By law, in addition to the five permits in the auction, five permits were awarded to Vermont resident military veterans in a lottery and up to ...

MONTPELIER, Vt. – The deadline to apply for an antlerless deer permit to be used during Vermont’s December 1-9 muzzleloader deer season is Thursday, August 29.  Antlerless deer hunting permit applications are on Vermont Fish & Wildlife’s website ( www.vtfishandwildlife.com ), and printed applications are available from license agents statewide.  Hunters applying online for an antlerless permit will do so through the online license sales system as if they were purchasing a license or a tag using their conservation ID number, or CID#.  Landowners who do not have a Conservation ID number will need to create a profile through the online license sales system to apply for a landowner application even if they do not intend to purchase a hunting license. The December 1-9 muzzleloader season has 27,000 antlerless permits distributed in 18 of Vermont’s 21 WMUs, which is estimated to result in 3,914 antlerless deer being taken.  Landowners who post thei...

‘Beaver Baffles’ Prevent Flooding and Resolve Beaver-Human Conflicts MONTPELIER, Vt. – To prevent flooding on nearby roads, the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department recently completed construction of 19 water control devices on beaver dams in locations throughout Vermont. Known as ‘beaver baffles’ these devices allow some water to pass through the dam without breaching the dam and destroying the wetland.  The Fish & Wildlife Department expects to continue to install additional beaver baffles throughout the state this year.  The baffles are one of many techniques that department staff employ or recommend to landowners to minimize beaver damage to property or trees.  Other techniques include using fences to protect culverts, or placing wire mesh or special paint around the base of trees to prevent gnawing. "The wetlands that beavers create provide critical habitat for a variety of wildlife such as waterfowl, songbirds, frogs, turtles, and otters.  T...

WHITINGHAM Vt. -- The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department is offering a New Instructor Training Course for people interested in volunteering to teach Hunter Education, Trapper Education or Bowhunter Education courses in Vermont. The training will take place Saturday, September 15, at 8:00 a.m. at the Deerfield Valley Fish & Game Club in Whitingham, Vermont. Policies and procedures, field techniques and teaching methods will be covered to give instructors the tools to teach future hunters how to have a safe and enjoyable experience. “The skills and ethics that our instructors impart to their students will serve them for a lifetime,” said Training Coordinator, John Pellegrini.  “There is no better way for a hunter to give back to the outdoors than by instructing the next generation of hunters.” All applicants are required to pass a background check with a warden and apprentice-teach with a Chief Instructor before they can teach on their own.  Upon course c...

One careless resident can cause problems for the entire community MONTPELIER, Vt – As incidents of bears breaking into homes, garages, sheds and vehicles in Vermont increases, so too should efforts by residents to bear-proof their homes and secure potential outdoor food sources that can attract bears. While searching for food in early July, one bear broke into a Killington home through an open window, and another Killington bear entered the Northstar Lodge through an open door. A Pownal woman awoke to the sound of a bear breaking through a kitchen window to access a honey comb that had been left within reach, while a similar incident occurred in Townsend where a bear broke into a kitchen freezer. According to Vermont State Game Warden Sergeant Chad Barrett, bears don’t naturally break into homes. They must first have had experience receiving food from humans. The process of habituation begins with attractants that residents leave out such as birdseed, pet food, or unsecure...

MONTPELIER, Vt. – The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department will be hosting seven free hunting seminars that will be helpful for hunters who have some experience as well as for beginners. The seminars will be taught by Vermont Fish & Wildlife staff and hunter education volunteers. “Both experienced and first-time hunters stand to benefit from these seminars,” said John Pellegrini, Hunter Education Training Coordinator with Vermont Fish & Wildlife.  “We will provide useful information including practical hunting tips, ecology and behavior of these animals, and how to have a fun, safe experience in the woods.” Participants are urged to bring a lunch for the day-long seminars and dress for the weather, as these seminars have an outdoor portion to them and will be held rain or shine.  Space is limited, and they fill up quickly, so signup as early as possible at  www.vtfishandwildlife.com and clicking on the seminar portion of the Hunter Education pag...

MONTPELIER, Vt. -- The five winners of Vermont 2018 moose hunting permits for resident military veterans were determined in a randomized computer lottery drawing August 1 at the Fish & Wildlife office in Montpelier.  The five permit winners were among 100 military veteran applicants who applied at no cost by a July 6 deadline.  The winners’ names are posted on Vermont Fish & Wildlife’s website ( www.vtfishandwildlife.com ). No regular public lottery was held because only thirteen moose hunting permits were authorized this year.  If any public lottery permits had been offered, all those with bonus points from past seasons would have had to apply or lose those points, as required by statute.  By law, five permits were available to Vermont resident military veterans and up to three permits are available for “Special Opportunity” recipients with life-threatening illnesses.  Also required by law, the remaining five permits will be auctioned with p...

MONTPELIER, Vt. – Wild turkeys are found throughout most of Vermont, but their reproductive success is monitored annually by the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department with help from “citizen scientists” who report the number and size of turkey families they see during August.   Fish & Wildlife is again asking the public for help.  If you see a group of young turkeys in Vermont during August, the department asks you to go to the turkey brood survey on its website ( www.vtfishandwildlife.com ) so you can record where and when you observed the number of adult and young turkeys, or poults.  When combined with annual harvest data, information gathered from this survey helps to establish long-term trends in Vermont’s wild turkey population,” said Vermont Fish & Wildlife’s wild turkey biologist Chris Bernier.  “It also helps us assess the impacts of spring and winter weather on the survival of poults and adult turkeys which is an important considera...

COLCHESTER, Vt. – Drew Price of Colchester, VT, has completed the state’s first-ever ‘Master Angler Sweep’ by catching at least one trophy-sized specimen of all 33 eligible fish species that are part of the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department’s Master Angler Program. Price spent eight years in his quest to be the first to catch and enter all 33 species in the Vermont program.  “This is a remarkable achievement,” said fisheries biologist Shawn Good, who founded the Master Angler Program with fisheries biologist Jud Kratzer and currently administers it.  “He called me from the lake moments after landing his final species – a 30-inch pike-pickerel hybrid.  He was kind of deliriously happy and I don't blame him.” Price, who started fly fishing in 1993, said “Once I found fishing, I was like ‘this is it, this is my calling.’” In 2010, he began entering fish in the department’s new Master Angler Program, spending the time he wasn’t working as a full-time school ...

MONTPELIER, Vt. – Hikers and rock climbers can return to Vermont cliffs starting August 1 now that peregrine falcon nesting season has ended.  The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department has confirmed that all the young falcons have learned to fly and will not be disturbed by human presence on the cliffs. “The young peregrines have fledged, and nesting data suggest Vermont falcons had a very successful year.  A final report will be issued later this year,” said Vermont Fish & Wildlife’s migratory bird biologist John Buck.  “The falcon’s nesting success is due to a combination of good weather and the cooperation from hikers and rock climbers who observe a respectful distance from nesting falcons during this critical period.  Peregrine nesting success would not be possible without more than 50 volunteers who monitor the nest sites statewide from March to the end of July.”  According to Audubon biologist Margaret Fowle, who coordinates the monitorin...

WILMINGTON, Vt. – From climate change to parasites to the state’s changing forested landscape, moose face a variety of challenges. Scott Darling, wildlife biologist with Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, will give a talk on Vermont’s moose population entitled Moose in Vermont – The Tiny Threats to Our Biggest Mammals on Wednesday, August 15 in Wilmington. The presentation will be given as part of the Hogback Mountain Conservation Association’s Annual Meeting at Memorial Hall. The event will begin with a meet and greet at 7:00 p.m., and Darling will speak from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.  With nearly four decades of experience in conservation in Vermont, Darling has worked on many conservation initiatives in the state, from his internationally recognized work conserving Northeast bat populations to his efforts leading the department’s managed large game species program, which conserves moose, deer and other game species in Vermont....

MIDDLEBURY, Vt. – Vermonters of all ages are invited to attend a presentation about Vermont’s black bears at the Middlebury Town Offices on Wednesday, August 1 at 6:00 p.m.  Vermont Fish & Wildlife bear biologist Forrest Hammond will talk about the extraordinary life history of bears, their ecology and behaviors, and what people can do to better co-exist with bears.  Through colorful photos and captivating stories, the audience will come away with a new appreciation for these intelligent animals.  Vermont State Game Warden Dale Whitlock will be in attendance to meet with the public and answer questions.  Warden Whitlock is stationed in the Middlebury area and has extensive experience providing advice and assistance to residents on bear-human conflicts. “We’ve had a lot of interest in black bears in Middlebury this summer following several prominent bear sightings around town,” said Hammond.  “We’ll answer people’s questions about bears and talk ...

ADDISON, Vt. –   The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department will host an evening of art in nature at the Dead Creek Visitor Center in Addison, Vermont on Thursday, August 9 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.  This free event will consist of a short talk and refreshments at the Visitor Center, after which the group will venture outside to the wildlife management area for some nature exploration through art creation. The evening will be led by Vermont Fish & Wildlife naturalist and artist Ariel Burgess.  Burgess is an ecological artist who works in art, conservation and education.  She helped develop the new Dead Creek Visitor Center including designing and painting its murals. Burgess will talk about benefits of artistic observation, ecological art and help guide the group in an evening of plein air art, art created outside, on the beautiful Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area.  “Naturalists have long used art and the practice of intentional observation to ...

MONTPELIER, Vt –The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department and the Vermont Council of Trout Unlimited are encouraging anglers to consider their impact on trout when fishing during the current hot, dry weather.  Many of the trout streams and rivers throughout Vermont are currently at or above stressful temperatures for trout and flows in most rivers are already dangerously low.  “Trout prefer water temperatures in the upper-50’s to mid-60’s and become increasingly stressed when water temperatures climb above 70°F,” said Clark Amadon, Chair of the Vermont Council of Trout Unlimited.  “The stress of being caught by an angler when water temperatures are this warm makes it much more likely that the trout will die after being released.” As a result, officials are recommending that anglers do not fish for trout during extended hot spells if they do not also intend to harvest their catch for a healthy meal of fresh fish .  Instead, consider targeting warmwater f...

ESSEX JUNCTION, Vt. -- Applications are available for controlled waterfowl hunting permits to be used at two Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department wildlife management areas. The applications may be downloaded from Fish & Wildlife’s website ( www.vtfishandwildlife ), and printed applications are available at Vermont Fish & Wildlife offices in Montpelier, Essex Junction, Addison, Barre, St. Johnsbury, Springfield, and Rutland. Hunting under controlled conditions for ducks at Mud Creek in Alburgh and geese at Dead Creek in Addison has been popular since the early 1970's. Applications must be filled out correctly and postmarked no later than August 20. There is no fee to apply. A public drawing to award hunting permits will be held Friday, August 24 at 12:00 Noon at Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area headquarters off Route 17 in Addison. Attendance is not required. Successful applicants will be notified by mail and must pay a $10 permit fee on the day of the hunt....

MONTPELIER, Vt – Governor Phil Scott has appointed three new members to represent Addison, Essex, and Grand Isle counties on the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Board. The new members are Wendy Butler from Addison County, Mike Kolsun from Essex County, and Bryan McCarthy from Grand Isle County.  The fourteen-member Fish and Wildlife Board is a group of Vermont citizens that enact fish and wildlife regulations for hunting, fishing, and trapping. Members serve six-year terms. “The Fish and Wildlife Board members bring a strong level of personal experience to the job of setting Vermont’s hunting, fishing, and trapping regulations,” said Gov. Scott. “Volunteer board members give a great deal of their time and energy to the task, so I’m grateful to them for stepping up to serve the people of Vermont.”  Wendy Butler lives in New Haven. A certified volunteer hunter education instructor since 2007, Butler enjoys guiding new hunters, many of whom have returned with their ...