Every year I read the new hunting and fishing regulation magazines for Vermont and New Hampshire cover to cover, trying to keep informed about wildlife laws. This year the Vermont hunting regulations revealed more significant changes than ever. The fall turkey season will be longer, starting on October 1, which is also Opening Day for archery deer season. This makes a lot of sense, because an archer hunting deer during the early days of the season will now be able to harvest an incidental turkey, should the opportunity arise. Archery for turkeys will continue until the Friday before the regular season for deer, allowing plenty of time to fill a turkey tag. The regular season for moose will also be longer, increasing from 6 to 9 days by including two weekends. The archery season for deer is also longer, running continuously from October 1 to December 15 without closing during the regular deer season. The December muzzleloader season will also be expanded, beginning on the Monday after the regular season ends and running for 14 days. All these changes simplify regulations and increase opportunities.
Youth and novice weekend for deer will be held on the weekend before the regular deer season. Antlerless deer permits will now be valid during the regular rifle season, as well as during muzzleloader seasons. A hunter who draws an antlerless tag by lottery may now purchase a second antlerless permit before the first permit is filled, provided it s in a different Wildlife Management Unit and unallocated permits are available. In eight expanded archery areas near large towns, archery season will begin early, on September 15, for antlerless deer. Hunters who harvest a buck with at least three points on one antler and also tag an antlerless deer may now purchase a second buck tag. The annual limit for deer is still four deer per year per hunter.
I m sure that some of these changes will be met with skepticism, or even outrage, by some hunters. Personally, I m in favor of them, except that I don t like the three-point-minimum per antler to qualify for a second buck tag. There s another new change that I don t like, reinstating the antler point restriction in WMU-D1, outlawing the harvest of spikehorns. I prefer the traditional regulation of a 3-inch antler. Otherwise, I think the Department has a good plan to balance the buck-to-doe ratio, despite shrinking hunter participation.
Michael Hahn Band varies in size from a duo to a six-piece band, depending upon the size and budget of the venue. They love to make music for any occasion. For bookings call 802-754-8889.
Upcoming Gigs:
Bull Wheel at Jay Peak on Saturday, January 31 from 4 to 7
Iron Rail in Woodsville on Thursday, February 26 from 5 to 8

https://www.thebridgeweekly.com/rural-matters

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