Vermont manages our deer population, despite changes in weather, habitat and hunting patterns, to keep a consistently healthy and age-diverse herd across the state. Our deer management program is guided by management goals and population objectives outlined in Vermont’s 2010-2020 Big Game Management Plan.
While the plan establishes deer population objectives, it also allows for evaluating the department’s practices. We want to include Vermont citizens in this process as a way of being responsive to our stakeholders.
Issues Worth Considering
The department, working with the Fish and Wildlife Board, will consider issues that affect our management decisions and how hunters feel about their experience in the field, such as the antler point restriction and the current makeup of the hunting seasons.
Getting Involved with the Evaluation Process
We have several strategies we plan to employ in the coming months to get Vermonters involved in the evaluation process of our deer management program. In particular, we’re planning to:
