2012 Vermont Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Licenses Now Available Online

Waterbury, VT – Vermont hunting, fishing and trapping licenses for the New Year are now available online at the Fish and Wildlife Department’s website (www.vtfishandwildlife.com).

“Many people like to purchase new licenses for themselves, friends or relatives before January 1, but we were unable to provide that service from our website until now,” said Vermont Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Patrick Berry. “License agents have always had licenses for the next calendar year in December, but now you can conveniently and quickly get them online.”

If you are purchasing a license for someone else, you must have the license recipient answer the questions and provide the information on the application, but you can assist them and use your own credit card to make the purchase.

“While you are there, consider signing up in “Join Our Mailing List” to receive Vermont Fish and Wildlife news, and you can also purchase a 2012 Fish and Wildlife calendar,” added Berry.

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Hunters in Vermont Spend More Than $189 Million Each Year

The Fish and Wildlife Department in Vermont reported that hunters in the State of Vermont spend more than $189 million each year. This is according to a survey done by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Census Bureau.

More than $20 million of these charges are for the hunting trip. This includes lodging, transportation, food, and other related trip costs. Another $151 million of the money is spent on the equipment needed for the trip, and $17 million is spent on miscellaneous other items.

Hunting is important for the state economically, not because of the total economic impact, but because most if not all of the hunting expenditures occur after the foliage season, before skiing. Much of the money that the hunters spend is spent within the State of Vermont, including a lot of the rural areas.

This allows the state to prosper. In 2010 close to 80,000 people purchased Vermont hunting licenses. 68,700 of these people were residents, while the other 10,800 were nonresidents. Deer are the number one hunted animals sought by hunters in the State of Vermont, 92 percent of these license buyers go deer hunting.

The fees that come with the hunting licenses and the federal taxes on the hunting equipment provide the most funding for the Wildlife Management and Conservation Center in Vermont.

Vermont is third on the list in the entire nation that participates in wildlife related recreation such as hunting, wildlife watching, and fishing. 62 percent of the residents in Vermont enjoy these resources that are provided. Nonresidents and residents spend $376 million on average each year in Vermont in order to pursue these activities.

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Chad Lumbra Memorial JAKES Event is a Huge Success

The North Country Longspurs, a Northern Vermont chapter of the NWTF, held its annual JAKES Day event in Passumpsic, Vermont this past September. For those of you who may not be familiar with this program, JAKES stands for Juniors Acquiring Knowledge, Ethics and Sportsmanship and is open to kids of all ages whether your child is a member of the NWTF or not.

Through the generosity of host Bill Bunnell and his family this event has been held at his camp fourteen straight years and his son Rocky reports this year’s attendance of 124 kids was a record turnout. Rocky will be quick to point out how it would not be possible without the support of chapter members and sponsors that donate hats, t-shirts, prizes and food. Many members and their spouses also provide hands on educational materials that include fishing, kayaking, shooting, archery and tree stand safety. Typically a smaller group of eight to ten kids will spend ample time at a variety of stations designated for specific instruction. After the instruction is complete the kids will then get an opportunity to practice what they just learned. It was most impressive to see how well organized and efficient the kids were able to flow from station to station throughout the day. With a slight grin on his face Bill will tell you, “that after fourteen years we ought to have it figured out by now”. They clearly do, that’s for sure. The event was kicked off with a fishing derby at Bunnell Pond that saw 124 bobbers shoot from the shore line like fireworks. I nearly had to look away as I was sure a massive ball of fishing line was about to form in the middle of the pond. Much to my surprise each strategically placed cast found its mark without incident and it sure did bring a smile to my face watching the young boys and girls reel’em in.

While milling around the event I was introduced to Brent Lumbra who is a chapter member and instructor. Brent was thrilled with the turnout and so happy to see the excitement of all the youngsters. It was not long ago that Brent lost his son, Chad, in a tragic hunting accident and this event now honors his name. Hunter safety is strongly emphasized and presented in a very understandable format that clearly resonates with all age groups. It is important that all of us parents and mentors emphasize the importance of SAFETY at all times while in the field and remember accidents don’t discriminate!! Chapter member Joe Avery offered instruction on tree stand safety that was extremely well done. It can be very difficult when getting into technical instruction and Joe broke it down with excellent visual aids by actually having a variety of tree stands and harnesses to demonstrate proper usage. The ability of all the instructors to connect and make things interesting and understandable for all age groups was very impressive.

North Country Longspur members in conjunction with the NWTF have really done a wonderful job with habitat management. Chapter member Tim Corey explained the many benefits that a NWTF membership can offer including habitat restoration or enhancement. This chapter has worked on many acres of habitat enhancement and it’s clear that if local chapters keep working nationwide, at a local level, we will not only pass on the hunting tradition but the importance of land management as well. I must also point out Tim explained this to me while cooking 400 ears of corn and 450 hot dogs; he truly has taken multitasking to another level. So congratulations to the North Country Longspurs for a great event and be sure to look for this event next year—You will not be disappointed.

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Vermont Man Pleads Guilty on Bear Poaching Charge

Rutland, VT – Jake Duprey, 27, of Chittenden pled guilty on November 14, 2011 in Rutland Superior Court Criminal Division to attempting to take a black bear by illegal means.

Duprey was apprehended on September 20, 2011 by State Game Wardens Lt. Don Isabelle and  Dale Whitlock as he was observed checking a baited steel cable foot snare.  Duprey admitted to the wardens that he had baited the snare with grain and donuts as well as setting the snare in an attempt to catch a bear.

Duprey told Lt. Isabelle that ever since he was a kid he always wanted to trap a bear and knowing that one was in immediate area felt this was an opportunity to do so.  It is a violation of Vermont law to take a wild animal with a snare as well as to take a bear with a trap or the aid of bait.

Duprey was fined $371 and will not be able to have licenses to hunt, fish and trap in Vermont for three years and until he successfully completes a remedial hunting course.

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Controlled Waterfowl Hunt Application Deadline is Sept. 20

Waterbury, VT – Applications are available for controlled waterfowl hunting permits to be used at two Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department wildlife management areas. Interested hunters must apply by Monday, September 20, 2010.

Hunting under controlled conditions for ducks at Mud Creek in Alburgh and geese at Dead Creek in Addison has been popular since the early 1970′s. Permit applications for these two areas are available on Fish and Wildlife’s website (vtfishandwildlife.com). Printed applications will also be available September 7, at Vermont Fish and Wildlife offices in Essex Junction, Waterbury , Addison, Barre, St. Johnsbury, Springfield and Rutland .

Applications must be filled out correctly and postmarked no later than September 20, 2010. There is no fee to apply.

A public drawing to award hunting permits will be held Friday, September 24 at 12:00 Noon at Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area headquarters off Route 17 in Addison . Attendance is not required. Successful applicants will be notified and must pay a $10 permit fee on the day of the hunt.

Vermont’s Bear Hunting Season is Sept 1–Nov 17

WATERBURY, VT – Vermont ’s bear hunting season is September 1- November 17 this year.

Vermont’s bear population is healthy and estimated at more than 5,500 black bears, according to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department. The bear population has increased slowly for the last two decades, and regulated hunting is used to control the population’s growth. Under the recently enacted 2010-2020 Big Game Plan the population objective is to maintain bear numbers to between 4,500 to 6,000 animals. Hunters took 629 bears in Vermont ’s 2009 hunting season.

“Carefully regulated hunting allows for the sustainable utilization of black bears for food and other purposes,” said wildlife biologist Forrest Hammond. “Bears also have ecological and aesthetic values for Vermont .”

“ Vermont ’s black bears appear to have plenty of food available as we approach fall,” Hammond added. “ Berry crops are abundant, and we have a good crop of apples and acorns in many areas of the state.”

The biggest long-term threat to Vermont ’s bears continues to be habitat loss. “Each year Vermont loses many acres of critical bear habitat to development,” said Hammond . “The ability to keep bears in Vermont over the next 50 years will depend on how much habitat we keep to support bears.”

Although wearing fluorescent orange clothing is not mandatory for hunting in Vermont , hunters and others are urged to wear a fluorescent orange vest and hat while in the woods. Anyone hunting deer during archery season, waterfowl or turkeys will normally wear camouflage clothing.

Hammond also asks successful bear hunters to help in determining the age of bears taken by removing the bear’s pre-molar tooth and sending it to the Fish and Wildlife Department. Special envelopes are provided to big game check stations for this purpose.

Vermont’s Fall Turkey Hunting is Expanded

WATERBURY , VT – Vermont ’s fall turkey hunting season opportunities are expanded as the result of a regulation change in effect this year.

Following strategies outlined in Vermont ’s Big Game Management Plan, the Fish and Wildlife Department recommended expanding fall turkey hunting based on scientific data and public input. As a result, the Fish and Wildlife Board passed a regulation that allows turkey bow hunting statewide, a seven-day shotgun season is expanded to nine days, and Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) B, D1, D2, and H1 are opened for the fall shotgun season for the first time. Only WMUs A, C and E remain closed to the hunting of turkeys with shotguns in the fall season.

Vermont’s 2010 Turkey Fall Seasons:

Bow & arrow only: October 2-22 in all WMUs statewide

Shotgun or bow & arrow: October 23-31 in WMUs B, D1, D2, G, H1, H2, I, J1, J2, L, M1, M2, O1, O2, P, and Q

Shotgun or bow & arrow: October 23-November 7 in WMUs F1, F2, K1, K2 , and N

The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department tracks the abundance of turkeys using harvest data, nesting success provided by turkey brood surveys, winter severity, and hunter pressure based on license sales. Vermont ’s wild turkey population is estimated to be more than 50,000 birds.

“Weather conditions appear to have been favorable for chick survival this year, so hunters should expect to see a higher of number of turkeys going into the fall season,” said Forrest Hammond, Vermont Fish and Wildlife’s lead biologist on wild turkeys.

September Canada Goose and Youth Waterfowl Hunts Set

Waterbury, VT – September dates for Vermont ’s resident Canada goose hunting season and the youth waterfowl hunt weekend have been set by the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board.

A statewide open hunting season for Canada geese will occur September 7-25, 2010. The daily bag limit will be five Canada geese except in that portion of the Lake Champlain Zone within Addison County north of Route 125, where the limit will be two per day. The purpose of the season, which is held earlier than the regular waterfowl hunting seasons, is to help control Vermont’s resident Canada goose population prior to the arrival of Canada geese migrating south from northern Canada.

“This September goose season is prescribed for resident Canada geese that have built up a sizeable breeding population here in Vermont ,” said State Wildlife Biologist William Crenshaw.

Vermont’s youth waterfowl hunting weekend will be held September 25-26, 2010. Hunters under age 16 may hunt ducks and geese statewide during this season while accompanied by an adult 18 or older. Both must have Vermont hunting licenses. The adult may not hunt or carry a firearm. Neither the youth nor the adult is required to hold a state or federal duck stamp on this weekend.

This year, as in 2004 the September Canada goose season and the Youth Waterfowl Hunting Weekend overlap by one day, Saturday, September 25. On this day the daily bag limit for Canada geese will be the same as the September Canada Goose Season. On Sunday, September 26, the daily bag limit will be three, the same as the late (October-November) Canada goose season.

Vermont Turkey Brood Survey Online

WATERBURY , VT – The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department’s fourth annual on-line wild turkey brood survey with input from the public begins on August 1.

“If you see wild turkeys in the month of August, please help us by reporting your sightings in the online turkey brood survey,” said Vermont Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Wayne Laroche. “The data you provide will help answer questions concerning the impacts of spring and winter weather on the survival of poults and adult turkeys and help us identify any long-term trends in survival of young.

The turkey brood survey will be on the department’s website (www.vtfishandwildlife.com), starting August 1. The survey allows entry of the number of adult male turkeys, adult females and poults as well as the date, time and location of the observations.

Laroche says the information will be helpful in setting turkey hunting seasons and harvest limits that are designed to manage the turkey population.

Records from the late 1700s and early 1800s indicate wild turkeys were present in southern Vermont in smaller numbers than today. At the time of European settlement, most turkeys seemed to exist along the Taconic Mountain Range in southwestern Vermont and along the Connecticut River Valley in southeastern Vermont . Loss of forestland and unregulated market hunting in the early 19th century led to the elimination of Vermont ’s wild turkeys by the mid-1800s.

Vermont released the first 17 wild trapped New York turkeys in Pawlet , Vermont in 1969. A second release of 14 wild birds in was made in Hubbardton in 1970. Today, Vermont ’s wild turkey population is estimated to number more than 50,000 birds. All of these are believed to directly descend from the original 31 New York wild turkeys. Wild turkeys are now found throughout Vermont .

Vermont has excellent turkey hunting across most of the state with 5,000 to 6,000 turkeys normally taken each year. Turkey hunting is a significant benefit to the people of Vermont by providing hunting opportunity, economic activity and a mechanism to control turkey numbers. Over-abundant turkey populations can result in nuisance or damage situations.

“This is your chance to contribute to the scientific management of Vermont ’s turkey population,” said Laroche. “By entering the information about the turkeys you observe, you can help ensure that Vermonters will continue to enjoy turkeys in the years ahead.”

Special Opportunity Moose Hunt

WATERBURY , VT – Special opportunity moose hunts for as many as three people under 21 years old who have a life threatening disease or illness are being offered by Vermont this year.

All applicants must be sponsored by a charitable organization with 501(c)(3) status. The deadline to apply to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department is September 9, 2010, and there is no cost to apply and no cost for the permit. Anyone who held a Vermont moose hunting permit in 2007, 2008 or 2009 is not eligible to apply.

Those who are selected to receive a special opportunity moose hunting permit must purchase a Vermont hunting license before going hunting. In order to purchase the license, the person must have passed a hunter education course or have held a hunting license previously.

Each recipient of one of these hunting permits may take one moose of either sex during the October 16 -21, 2010 moose hunting season. The permittee may designate up to five support personnel who may accompany the permittee on the moose hunt, one of whom may be a second shooter with a Vermont hunting license.

Information and a special application are available from the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, 103 South Main Street , Waterbury , VT 05671-0501 . Tel. 802-241-3695. Email: fwinformation@state.vt.us

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