MONTPELIER, Vt. -- Vermont’s muzzleloader season antlerless deer permit applications are now available on Vermont Fish and Wildlife’s website (www.vtfishandwildlife.com). A link to the information and online applications is on the home page.

The Fish and Wildlife Board met on May 20 and set antlerless deer permit numbers for the fall deer hunting seasons.

Hunting for antlerless deer will be allowed statewide during the archery season. One deer of either sex will be allowed during the October 24-25 youth and novice weekend hunt.

The muzzleloader season on October 29-November 1 and December 5-13 will have antlerless permits distributed in 19 of Vermont’s 21 Wildlife Management Units, which is estimated to result in 6,385 antlerless deer being taken.

Landowners who post their land may not apply for a landowner priority muzzleloader antlerless deer permit. They are eligible to apply in the regular lottery for an antlerless deer permit.

“The winter of 2020 was relatively easy for deer throughout Vermont,” said Nick Fortin, Fish and Wildlife’s deer project leader. “However, minimal population growth is expected due to lingering effects of the more-severe winter of 2019. Fawn and yearling age classes appeared to have fewer deer than usual in 2019. Yearling antler beam diameters, fawn weights and other physical condition metrics are declining or are below optimal levels in many areas, indicating that deer have exceeded the level their habitat can support long-term.”

The deadline to apply for a muzzleloader antlerless deer permit is August 12.

Contacts: Nick Fortin 802-793-8777; Mark Scott, 802-777-4217