MONTPELIER, Vt. -- Vermont hunting, fishing and trapping licenses for the new year will be available on the Fish & Wildlife Department's website (www.vtfishandwildlife.com) on December 15.

Online license purchasers of 2015 licenses will automatically be entered to win an angler's kayak and other prizes. The winner of the kayak will be drawn on May 14, while the winner of a rifle in the 2014 contest will be drawn at the Yankee Sportsmen's Classic in January.

Kevin Masse of Fair Haven, VT was the lucky winner last spring of an Old Town canoe and Minn Kota electric motor for purchasing his 2014 license from the website. The contest rules are online at: http://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/buylicense_onlinerules.cfm

"Vermonters really enjoy hunting and fishing," said Vermont Fish & Wildlife Commissioner Louis Porter, "and many people like to purchase 2015 licenses before January 1 to be ready to go icefishing. The drawing just provides one more incentive to go online and get yours early."

According to a 2011 federal survey, Vermonters rank first among residents of the lower 48 states when it comes to participating in fish and wildlife recreation -- with 62 percent of Vermonters going fishing, hunting or wildlife watching, and they led in the New England states in hunting and fishing with 26 percent of residents participating in one or both.

New permanent and lifetime licenses will not be available online until January 1.

"Our online license sale system makes buying a year-round license as easy as purchasing a movie off Amazon.com and it's way more rewarding. We encourage people who are new to using websites for purchases to give it a try," said Porter.

Printed copies of the 2015 Hunting, Fishing & Trapping Laws and Guide are also available from license agents. The department's website will soon have a link to an online version.

Media Contacts: Cheri Waters, 802-828-1190, Elizabeth Stratton, 802-377-5602