The Vermont Department of Fish & Wildlife is issuing a reminder about some upcoming changes to the state’s most popular hunting season, after the department learned of some apparent confusion about their start date.The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Board recently approved a package of hunting changes, including updates to the rifle season for deer. State biologists said the changes will support the department’s herd management goals. For a long time, hunters who use rifles have only been able to harvest a buck during November’s regular deer hunting season. However, under the newly approved changes, in 2026, hunters will be able to harvest an antlerless deer during the regular November rifle season. In 2025, antlerless deer may only be taken with permits during the muzzleloader or archery seasons. Young people 15 or under may also shoot an antlerless deer during the Youth Deer Weekend when accompanied by an adult supervisor, according to state rules.Colonel Justin Stedman, the director of the Vermont Warden Service Division, said this month’s release of antlerless permits for 2025 prompted a series of questions from hunters to Fish & Wildlife officials about the policy changes and when they go into effect. Stedman said the department was prompted to launch a messaging campaign to make it clear that the rifle season change about antlerless deer will not happen until 2026.”We’re very excited that people are excited about the changes coming,” Stedman said in an interview with NBC5 News. “We just want to make sure people recognize that the changes to the deer rules are coming in 2026. The 2026 regulations that have garnered so much attention and have gotten people very excited—we just want to be clear, so that everybody knows those do not take effect until 2026.”Stedman went on to emphasize that people who participated in recent Vermont deer hunts using rifles can expect the same regulations for one more year.”2025 remains the same as it was last year,” Stedman said. ” rifle season is bucks only.”More information on hunting white-tailed deer in Vermont is available on this website from the Vermont Department of Fish & Wildlife. Printed rule books for 2025 are also available where hunting licenses are sold, or at Fish & Wildlife offices in Springfield and Montpelier, the department said.The dates for Vermont’s 2025 rifle season for bucks are Nov. 15—30. Other key dates for white-tailed deer hunting are available on this Fish & Wildlife website.
The Vermont Department of Fish & Wildlife is issuing a reminder about some upcoming changes to the state’s most popular hunting season, after the department learned of some apparent confusion about their start date.
The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Board recently approved a package of hunting changes, including updates to the rifle season for deer. State biologists said the changes will support the department’s herd management goals.
For a long time, hunters who use rifles have only been able to harvest a buck during November’s regular deer hunting season. However, under the newly approved changes, in 2026, hunters will be able to harvest an antlerless deer during the regular November rifle season.
In 2025, antlerless deer may only be taken with permits during the muzzleloader or archery seasons. Young people 15 or under may also shoot an antlerless deer during the Youth Deer Weekend when accompanied by an adult supervisor, according to state rules.
Colonel Justin Stedman, the director of the Vermont Warden Service Division, said this month’s release of antlerless permits for 2025 prompted a series of questions from hunters to Fish & Wildlife officials about the policy changes and when they go into effect. Stedman said the department was prompted to launch a messaging campaign to make it clear that the rifle season change about antlerless deer will not happen until 2026.
“We’re very excited that people are excited about the changes coming,” Stedman said in an interview with NBC5 News. “We just want to make sure people recognize that the changes to the deer rules are coming in 2026. The 2026 regulations that have garnered so much attention and have gotten people very excited—we just want to be clear, so that everybody knows those do not take effect until 2026.”
Stedman went on to emphasize that people who participated in recent Vermont deer hunts using rifles can expect the same regulations for one more year.
“2025 remains the same as it was last year,” Stedman said. “[This] rifle season is bucks only.”
More information on hunting white-tailed deer in Vermont is available on this website from the Vermont Department of Fish & Wildlife. Printed rule books for 2025 are also available where hunting licenses are sold, or at Fish & Wildlife offices in Springfield and Montpelier, the department said.
The dates for Vermont’s 2025 rifle season for bucks are Nov. 15—30. Other key dates for white-tailed deer hunting are available on this Fish & Wildlife website.
