Vermont Muzzleloader Antlerless Permits are Mailed

MONTPELIER, Vt. – Antlerless permits for Vermont’s muzzleloader deer season were mailed to recipients on November 14, according to the Fish & Wildlife Department.

Antlerless deer permits are allocated in 16 of Vermont’s 21 Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) for the December 3-11 muzzleloader season, which is expected to result in an estimated 2,700 antlerless deer being taken.

“The number of muzzleloader season antlerless deer permits was increased to account for the expected increase in the deer population following the exceptionally mild winter of 2016,” said Nick Fortin, deer project leader for the Fish & Wildlife Department. “The permit allocation is intended to allow moderate population growth in most of the state while stabilizing or reducing deer densities in a few areas.”

Hunter success with muzzleloader antlerless permits typically ranges from 10 to 35 percent depending on WMU. WMU-specific success rates are taken into consideration each year when issuing antlerless permits in order to better manage the harvest of antlerless deer.

Some unallocated antlerless permits are still available for WMUs A, K and N on Vermont Fish & Wildlife’s website www.vtfishandwildlife.com.

Hunters receiving permits as lottery or landowner applicants are also listed on Fish & Wildlife’s website.