I have been a wildlife manager (hunter or fisherwoman) since the age of six and have continued my involvement throughout life. For the past three years, I have been unable to escape Michigan State University to participate in this family tradition. However, this morning, I got outdoors, listen to the chickadees sing, watch the fog roll in and out over the course of the morning, and to watch a small doe wander into the field I was sitting at the edge of. This doe (female deer) was no bigger than my 70 lb. Irish setter and she was alone. In Michigan, I have observed small does, but never by themselves. So I wondered where the other deer were. I watched her quietly and patiently over the course of thirty minutes to see if she was signaling to other deer, but there were no others. I was delighted that this little doe wandered out into the field so I could observe the Vermont wildlife first hand without it knowing that I was watching it. The doe wasn’t scared, but just kept grazing and being alert to every sound she heard. I had an amazing morning, but unfortunately, I am feeling very tired before environmental law.
If you want to know more about VT deer hunting, I have put together some facts for you below.
Vermont’s antler regulations put in place in 2005 are designed to allow more bucks to live longer. ”A deer population with a healthy number of older bucks is better for the deer herd, and it means exciting hunting opportunities for Vermont hunters,” said Fish & Wildlife Commissioner Wayne Laroche. Vermont allows for an annual limit of two bucks per year where a legal buck must have at least one antler with two or more points one inch or longer. However, one anterless deer may be taken in 19 of the 24 wildlife management units only during archery season. Vermont hunters saw a dramatic improvement in the quality of bucks taken last year. About 42 percent of the bucks shot were 2 ½ years old. This fall hunters will be seeing more 3 ½ year old bucks, a prospect that has hunters planning with great excitement for Vermont’s upcoming hunting seasons. You can see recent photos of Vermont bucks on the Fish & Wildlife website . Last year, hunters or wildlife managers took 12,682 deer in Vermont’s deer hunting seasons.
*These views are my own and do not reflect the views of VLS.
