Moose And Deer Hearing To Be Held In St. J March 18
Gary Moore
March 12, 2026
The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board will hold public hearings on deer and moose management for 2026 on March 16, 18 and 19.
The hearings will include results of Vermont’s 2025 deer seasons and prospects for deer hunting next fall as well as an opportunity for people to provide their observations and opinions about the current status of the deer herd.
The hearings will also include a review of the 2025 moose hunting seasons and an opportunity for the public to provide feedback on the number of moose permits recommended for 2026.
The Wednesday, March 18 hearing will be held at 6 p.m. at St. Johnsbury Academy’s South Church Hall.
March 16 it will be at Brattleboro High School and March 19 at St. Albans City Hall.
Pre-recorded videos of the moose and deer presentations that will be given at these meetings will be available by going to the “Public Hearings Schedule” on Vermont Fish and Wildlife’s home page. The Fish and Wildlife Department’s 2026 Moose Season Recommendation is also available on that page.
In addition to the public hearings, anyone can leave a comment on the proposals by emailing ANR.FWPublicComment@vermont.gov. Comments on moose must be received by March 31 and for deer by May 12.
Magnificent Peregrine Falcons Will Soon Return
Vermont Fish and Wildlife and Audubon Vermont recommend people check to see if the area they are planning to hike or climb is open. In addition to trail closures to reduce impacts during mud season, several cliff areas are now closed to protect nesting peregrine falcons.
“Peregrine falcons are very sensitive to human presence during their breeding season, so we ask climbers and hikers to please maintain a respectful distance from their nests,” said Nongame Bird Biologist Jillian Kilborn with Fish and Wildlife. “The areas closed include the portions of the cliffs where the birds are nesting and the trails leading to cliff tops or overlooks.”
Over the next couple months, biologists and community scientists will be identifying cliffs occupied by peregrines this year. Below is a list of sites in this area that have been closed in the past and will remain closed from March 15 - August 1, or until Fish and Wildlife determines the risk to nesting falcons has passed. The majority of the sites are visited in April, and nesting falcons can choose new sites, so additional sites may be added or removed from the closed list which will be updated and provided on Fish and Wildlife’s website.
Eagle Ledge (Vershire) – closed to hiking and climbing
Hazen’s Notch (Lowell) – portions closed to climbing
Fairlee Palisades (Fairlee) – cliff-top closed
Marshfield Mt (Marshfield) -- portions closed to climbing
Nichols Ledge (Woodbury) – cliff-top and climbing closed
Prospect Rock (Johnson) – cliff-top overlook and climbing closed
Report any sightings at other locations to Margaret Fowle at margaret.fowle@audubon.org
You can help Vermont peregrines by respecting cliff closures, and retreating from any cliff where you see peregrines. Report any disturbance of nesting peregrines to your local State Game Warden.
NH Fish And Game To Hold Waterfowl Meeting
The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department will hold a public meeting on proposed season dates and bag limits for the 2026–2027 waterfowl-hunting seasons on Wednesday, March 25 at 6 p.m. The meeting will be held at the NH Fish and Game Department, 11 Hazen Drive, Concord. Comments made at the meeting will be considered in finalizing New Hampshire’s 2026–2027 migratory game bird hunting season dates.
If you cannot attend the meeting but would like to provide input, email comments@wildlife.nh.gov and enter “Waterfowl season setting” in the subject line. Written comments will be accepted and considered until March 31
The proposed 2026–2027 New Hampshire waterfowl season dates are very similar to last year’s and reflect hunters’ requests to have added opportunity later in the season. The general duck season is 60 days, with a daily bag limit of 6 ducks. The regular Canada goose season will be like last year with a 60-day season and a 2-bird bag limit. The Department will offer special veteran and active military days statewide January 23–24, 2027 and a youth waterfowl weekend September 26-27.
To view the full draft proposal, visit https://www.wildlife.nh.gov/hunting-nh/waterfowl-and-migratory-bird-hunting-new-hampshire.
Bits and Pieces
Special turkey-hunting programs co-sponsored by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department and your local National Wild Turkey Federation chapter will be held Saturday, March 28. These workshops are designed for new or novice turkey hunters in preparation for the 2026 spring turkey hunting season, which opens on May 1 and runs through May 31.
The cost is $45 per person to participate. The fee includes course materials, instruction, at least one turkey call to take home for practice, a one-year membership to the National Wild Turkey Federation, and lunch. Payment will be collected at thew door. Cash or check payable to NWTF-NH. To register visit Events | New Hampshire Fish and Game (s3licensing.com).
Raymond Baptist Church, 145 Route 27, Raymond, NH. Class begins at 8 a.m. and concludes at 4 p.m.
NH Fish and Game Department Headquarters, 11 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH. Class begins at 8 a.m. and concludes at 3 p.m.
***
Mark your calendars. At 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 18, representatives from the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Wild Turkey Federation, National Shooting Sports Foundation, and the Town of Pawlet will meet at the West Pawlet Fire House and present a Wildlife Restoration Marker plaque to commemorate that 1969 turkey stocking that set the stage for the return of wild turkeys, statewide.
***
Mark Breen reports in the Fairbanks Museum's Skywatch Almanac that on
March 17, 2007: “The St. Patrick’s Day storm continued the “holiday” theme (the Valentines Day Blizzard a month earlier), dumping 8 to 16 inches of snow, up to 20 inches over the higher elevations.”
March 23, 1934: “Late season cold dropped thermometers below zero, including 4 below in Woodstock, VT, and 8 below in Newport, VT.”
Parting Shots
It is a question of semantics. I tell people we have three wood stoves when actually we have three stoves that burn wood for fuel. I dare say most readers of this column know what I mean but I can just imagine how baffled someone just learning to speak English might be.
***
I have driven to Newport five times in the past month twice to NCH for my cardiologist and three times to the Newport City Fire Department to test firefighters. I like Newport, especially in the summer but it is a 162 mile round trip.
Back in the late 60s and early 70s, I delivered freight there for Gleason Transportation and later Hemingway and picked up trailer loads of milk to take to Massachusetts for Haywards. Unfortunately, many of the businesses I delivered to are gone as is Hoods where the milk came from.
***
Times change. We used to think sugaring started after Town Meeting. Now the big automated operations with thousands of taps often boil much earlier thanks to vacuum systems, reverse osmosis and miles of pipeline ready to transport the occasional early run.
Now as before, steam rising from sugarhouses gets me excited and realizing spring is not far off. It is a psychological uplift for me as for every cold, snowy day in March there is a warm sunny day with water running in the ditches and streams gurgling.
Although I have not sugared in 65 years, I have fond memories of doing so and look forward to visiting sugarhouses around the region to smell the sweet aroma of the boiling sap and perhaps have a raised donut dipped in fresh syrup.
Syndicated columnist Gary W. Moore may be reached by e-mail at gwmoore1946@icloud.com or at Box 454, Bradford, VT 05033.
copyright 2026 Gary W. Moore
The hearings will include results of Vermont’s 2025 deer seasons and prospects for deer hunting next fall as well as an opportunity for people to provide their observations and opinions about the current status of the deer herd.
The hearings will also include a review of the 2025 moose hunting seasons and an opportunity for the public to provide feedback on the number of moose permits recommended for 2026.
The Wednesday, March 18 hearing will be held at 6 p.m. at St. Johnsbury Academy’s South Church Hall.
March 16 it will be at Brattleboro High School and March 19 at St. Albans City Hall.
Pre-recorded videos of the moose and deer presentations that will be given at these meetings will be available by going to the “Public Hearings Schedule” on Vermont Fish and Wildlife’s home page. The Fish and Wildlife Department’s 2026 Moose Season Recommendation is also available on that page.
In addition to the public hearings, anyone can leave a comment on the proposals by emailing ANR.FWPublicComment@vermont.gov. Comments on moose must be received by March 31 and for deer by May 12.
Magnificent Peregrine Falcons Will Soon Return
Vermont Fish and Wildlife and Audubon Vermont recommend people check to see if the area they are planning to hike or climb is open. In addition to trail closures to reduce impacts during mud season, several cliff areas are now closed to protect nesting peregrine falcons.
“Peregrine falcons are very sensitive to human presence during their breeding season, so we ask climbers and hikers to please maintain a respectful distance from their nests,” said Nongame Bird Biologist Jillian Kilborn with Fish and Wildlife. “The areas closed include the portions of the cliffs where the birds are nesting and the trails leading to cliff tops or overlooks.”
Over the next couple months, biologists and community scientists will be identifying cliffs occupied by peregrines this year. Below is a list of sites in this area that have been closed in the past and will remain closed from March 15 - August 1, or until Fish and Wildlife determines the risk to nesting falcons has passed. The majority of the sites are visited in April, and nesting falcons can choose new sites, so additional sites may be added or removed from the closed list which will be updated and provided on Fish and Wildlife’s website.
Eagle Ledge (Vershire) – closed to hiking and climbing
Hazen’s Notch (Lowell) – portions closed to climbing
Fairlee Palisades (Fairlee) – cliff-top closed
Marshfield Mt (Marshfield) -- portions closed to climbing
Nichols Ledge (Woodbury) – cliff-top and climbing closed
Prospect Rock (Johnson) – cliff-top overlook and climbing closed
Report any sightings at other locations to Margaret Fowle at margaret.fowle@audubon.org
You can help Vermont peregrines by respecting cliff closures, and retreating from any cliff where you see peregrines. Report any disturbance of nesting peregrines to your local State Game Warden.
NH Fish And Game To Hold Waterfowl Meeting
The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department will hold a public meeting on proposed season dates and bag limits for the 2026–2027 waterfowl-hunting seasons on Wednesday, March 25 at 6 p.m. The meeting will be held at the NH Fish and Game Department, 11 Hazen Drive, Concord. Comments made at the meeting will be considered in finalizing New Hampshire’s 2026–2027 migratory game bird hunting season dates.
If you cannot attend the meeting but would like to provide input, email comments@wildlife.nh.gov and enter “Waterfowl season setting” in the subject line. Written comments will be accepted and considered until March 31
The proposed 2026–2027 New Hampshire waterfowl season dates are very similar to last year’s and reflect hunters’ requests to have added opportunity later in the season. The general duck season is 60 days, with a daily bag limit of 6 ducks. The regular Canada goose season will be like last year with a 60-day season and a 2-bird bag limit. The Department will offer special veteran and active military days statewide January 23–24, 2027 and a youth waterfowl weekend September 26-27.
To view the full draft proposal, visit https://www.wildlife.nh.gov/hunting-nh/waterfowl-and-migratory-bird-hunting-new-hampshire.
Bits and Pieces
Special turkey-hunting programs co-sponsored by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department and your local National Wild Turkey Federation chapter will be held Saturday, March 28. These workshops are designed for new or novice turkey hunters in preparation for the 2026 spring turkey hunting season, which opens on May 1 and runs through May 31.
The cost is $45 per person to participate. The fee includes course materials, instruction, at least one turkey call to take home for practice, a one-year membership to the National Wild Turkey Federation, and lunch. Payment will be collected at thew door. Cash or check payable to NWTF-NH. To register visit Events | New Hampshire Fish and Game (s3licensing.com).
Raymond Baptist Church, 145 Route 27, Raymond, NH. Class begins at 8 a.m. and concludes at 4 p.m.
NH Fish and Game Department Headquarters, 11 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH. Class begins at 8 a.m. and concludes at 3 p.m.
***
Mark your calendars. At 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 18, representatives from the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Wild Turkey Federation, National Shooting Sports Foundation, and the Town of Pawlet will meet at the West Pawlet Fire House and present a Wildlife Restoration Marker plaque to commemorate that 1969 turkey stocking that set the stage for the return of wild turkeys, statewide.
***
Mark Breen reports in the Fairbanks Museum's Skywatch Almanac that on
March 17, 2007: “The St. Patrick’s Day storm continued the “holiday” theme (the Valentines Day Blizzard a month earlier), dumping 8 to 16 inches of snow, up to 20 inches over the higher elevations.”
March 23, 1934: “Late season cold dropped thermometers below zero, including 4 below in Woodstock, VT, and 8 below in Newport, VT.”
Parting Shots
It is a question of semantics. I tell people we have three wood stoves when actually we have three stoves that burn wood for fuel. I dare say most readers of this column know what I mean but I can just imagine how baffled someone just learning to speak English might be.
***
I have driven to Newport five times in the past month twice to NCH for my cardiologist and three times to the Newport City Fire Department to test firefighters. I like Newport, especially in the summer but it is a 162 mile round trip.
Back in the late 60s and early 70s, I delivered freight there for Gleason Transportation and later Hemingway and picked up trailer loads of milk to take to Massachusetts for Haywards. Unfortunately, many of the businesses I delivered to are gone as is Hoods where the milk came from.
***
Times change. We used to think sugaring started after Town Meeting. Now the big automated operations with thousands of taps often boil much earlier thanks to vacuum systems, reverse osmosis and miles of pipeline ready to transport the occasional early run.
Now as before, steam rising from sugarhouses gets me excited and realizing spring is not far off. It is a psychological uplift for me as for every cold, snowy day in March there is a warm sunny day with water running in the ditches and streams gurgling.
Although I have not sugared in 65 years, I have fond memories of doing so and look forward to visiting sugarhouses around the region to smell the sweet aroma of the boiling sap and perhaps have a raised donut dipped in fresh syrup.
Syndicated columnist Gary W. Moore may be reached by e-mail at gwmoore1946@icloud.com or at Box 454, Bradford, VT 05033.
copyright 2026 Gary W. Moore
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