Note: the Vt FWD already has on staff a “Habitat Biologist” whose mission is to improve habitat on State-owned lands for all species in Vermont. This proposal focuses on sportsmen paying for deer winter habitat specifically.

VERMONT DEER HUNTING 2011  (10-18-11 JH)

HUNTING SEASONS

Archery            Oct 1-2 & Dec 3-11

Youth               Nov 5-6

Rifle                 Nov 12-27

Muzzleloader Dec 3-11

LICENSES

Resident Hunting $22

Resident Youth Hunting (under 18) $8

Nonresident Hunting $100

Nonresident Youth Hunting (under 18) $25

2011 FAQs for Vermont White-tailed Deer Bio-check Stations

How many deer are there in Vermont?

The pre-hunt prediction for 2011 was about 123,000 (+/- 15,000).

How many deer should there be?

No more than 20/mi² for most of the state, and the new statewide density objectives are 13–18 deer/mi², or 102,000–141,000 deer - a little more in productive areas with mix of agriculture and forests and a little less in the northeast where moose are abundant and winters severe.  Southeastern Vermont also has a relatively low deer-density objective because overabundant deer from 1940–1980 literally paved the way for invasive plants expanding their range north up the Connecticut River valley – the forage base is now low for deer in this region and foresters are having difficulty regenerating valuable tree species such as oak, ash, and maple, also preferred deer browse – we need to battle invasive plant species, increase the deer food base, and maintain relatively low deer densities to recover healthy ecosystems in the southeast region of Vermont.  Parts of southwestern Vermont remain above density objectives, but deer densities have declined in the past few years as a result of increased antlerless harvests in that region.

Why can’t we have more deer like in the 1960s and even in the mid-late 1990s in some places?

Many forest habitats were younger in the mid-1900s and could support more deer – still, there were too many deer back then causing them to be in poorer condition and more susceptible to winter-kill and self destruction of their own habitats, like deer wintering areas.  Deer are healthier now with adult females conceiving, producing, and rearing more fawns on average compared to the 1960s and 1970s.  Also, deer are now heavier going into winter, which means that fewer deer are wasted to winter starvation.  It is Vermont law that we protect and promote the health of our deer herd; this is done by taking the right number of does from the right areas to keep deer from becoming overabundant like they were in the 1960s and 1970s.  There are much fewer deer in the state now, but this is considered a biological success story, not a failure.  It is understood that different people have different opinions on the matter.  Also, in many places, edge habitats have grown up so deer are just harder to see now too.

Were there fewer deer in Vermont just a few years ago?

Yes, the harsh winters of 2001 and 2003 took their toll on the deer population.  However, because the herd is healthy and habitats have been improved by reduced deer densities since 1980, and we’ve had some mild winters since, the deer herd has bounced back quickly since a population low in 2004.  In 2007 and 2008, the deer population was considered overabundant again at the statewide level, so antlerless deer permits for muzzleloaders were markedly increased in 2008 and maintained at a high level in 2009 where more does need to be taken.  Statewide, deer population size in 2011 is where it should be.

Why so few antlerless deer muzzleloader permits this year?

Due primarily to winter severity and its effects on deer survival, the number of muzzleloader season permits was reduced this year to 9,575 for 14 of the state’s 24 wildlife management units. 

Antlerless deer may be taken in 23 of Vermont’s 24 Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) during the archery season, October 1-23 and December 3-11.  WMU-E is closed to antlerless hunting during the archery season.  Youth deer hunting weekend on November 5-6 is an either-sex deer season statewide.  Any deer may be taken during this season, regardless of antler length or points.

Biologists estimate 5,224 antlerless deer will be taken in the three hunting seasons.

“This is a fairly conservative approach to antlerless deer hunting this fall,” said Mark Scott, Director of Wildlife for the department.  “We’ve been able to reduce deer numbers in parts of the state and meet our management objectives in recent years through aggressively issuing muzzleloader permits.  That, combined with severe winter weather, contributes to issuing fewer antlerless permits during the muzzleloader season this year.”

Is it true that I can still get an antlerless-deer permit for muzzleloader season?

No.  All available antlerless permits were issued in the lottery.

Why can youths take spike-horns during Youth Weekend and play by different rules than adults?

First, we believe that youth harvest of any deer does not keep us from achieving our goals set out in the antler restriction regulation or the annual antlerless harvest objectives. Second, we want them to take spike-antlered deer for research and management purposes – so we can get data on yearling bucks comparable to data collected since the 1940s that are used to track the health of the deer herd – that’s why we’re here today and not on the opening weekend of rifle season anymore.

Will you operate bio-check stations on opening of rifle weekend to?

No, we simply do not need the data from both weekends and will get the data we need on Youth Weekend.

Can I have a Hunter-Cooperator Patch even though I may not get a deer until next weekend?

Yes, please be a Hunter-Cooperator by participating in our public surveys that ask for your opinions or observations while hunting during the rifle season – it may be a few years before you get one.

Should youths and others be allowed to take fawns when hunting for antlerless deer?

Yes, only about 2% of the annual fawn crop is harvested by hunters.  Data from fawn weights should prove to be useful to track herd health like we use yearling buck weights.  If it were illegal to shoot fawn deer, some would be accidentally shot, thought to be adult does, and perhaps just left in the woods to rot – it is not necessary to put this burden on hunters.

Can the deer herd support the 3 deer annual limit?

Yes, less than 1% of hunters harvested 3 deer when Vermont used to have the 3 deer limit.  Recent rule changes were designed to put more pressure on does, where it is needed.

Is the antler restriction working?

The antler restriction has resulted in more 2- and 3-yr-old bucks in Vermont now – our data tell us so and so do hunters.  Buck hunting pressure is heavy enough in Vermont that we do not expect to see big increases in 4- and 5-yr-olds.  The new Big Game Plan talks about antler restrictions in more detail; there is likely to be a thorough evaluation of the regulation in the future.  The Big Game Plan is on the Vermont Fish and Wildlife website (www.vtfishandwildlife.com).  Look under Hunting and Trapping, and then Big Game. 

Are Vermont’s deer healthy?

Yes, beginning in 1979 with control of antlerless deer hunting, the Department took actions to reduce the overabundant deer herd, let habitats recover through the 1980s, and let the herd grow again in the 1990s.  This has resulted in a much healthier deer herd as evidenced by yearling buck weights and their ability to recover from harsh winters.  Vermont’s deer have limited disease issues, and the Department is working diligently to keep disease such as Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) out of the state.

Is it true that CWD is transported in captive deer or wild deer killed in areas with CWD?

Yes, this is the most likely way CWD would enter Vermont right now.  This is why import rules for deer and elk carcasses are stringent, and it is very important to keep a close eye on captive deer facilities.  There is evidence that CWD can be transmitted in urine, so deer-urine-based lures, collected from captive deer, are now suspect.  Many of these facilities in other states have not followed mandatory disease prevention rules.

Why can’t you just let captive white-tailed deer or moose go back into the wild?

There is no reliable live-test for CWD, and contagious diseased animals can appear healthy for several years.  Especially where deer or moose have comingled with captive elk, the risk is much too great.

Do coyotes and other predators regulate deer numbers in Vermont?

If they did then the deer herd would not have nearly doubled in size from 2003–2007.  Coyotes kill some young fawns, and they scavenge and kill dead and dying deer in late winter; domestic dogs can be a bigger problem because they chase deer during winter for fun, not just to get a meal.  Predators can have noticeable localized impacts, at work with other factors such as severe winters and deep snow.

How many hunters buy Vermont licenses?

In 2010, 79,603 bought hunting licenses (excludes archery, muzzleloader, turkey). 

Residents = 68,723

Nonresidents = 10,880

The total is 22% lower than ten years ago in 2000.  At that time we had 101,459 hunters (83,593 residents and 17,866 nonresidents).

How much do hunters spend in Vermont?

Hunters spend more than $189 million in Vermont annually according to the latest survey (2006) by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.  We know that 92% of Vermont hunters hunt deer. 

Hunters and anglers are important to Vermont’s economy not only because they spend a lot of money, but also because of the timing and distribution of that money. 

High points in hunting and fishing activity tend to occur when other recreational activities are in transition. 

Hunters make their purchases throughout the state, including in our most rural areas.