Youth and Novice Deer Hunting Opportunities Open This Weekend in Vermont and New Hampshire
VERMONT – Authorities in Vermont and New Hampshire are promoting Youth Deer Weekend, scheduled for this coming Saturday and Sunday, encouraging families to share outdoor hunting experiences.
During this special weekend, licensed hunters aged 18 and older who are unarmed may accompany children 15 years and younger to hunt one deer of either sex in both states.
Licensed hunters may supervise up to two youth hunters at a time, allowing for increased participation and mentoring in the field.
Regulations and Seasonal Context
This event takes place ahead of the regular deer hunting seasons, with archery seasons already underway as of October 1 in Vermont.
Vermont requires youth hunters to have completed a hunter education course, emphasizing safety and ethical hunting practices. New Hampshire does not impose this requirement for participation in the youth weekend.
All harvested deer must be properly tagged, with free tags made available online in both states. Tagging is a crucial regulatory step, assisting wildlife officials in monitoring harvest rates and population health.
Additionally, Vermont extends the opportunity for novice hunters—those who purchased their licenses less than a year ago—to hunt under supervision on October 25 and 26.
Biological Reporting and Management Efforts
Vermont Fish and Wildlife encourages all youth and novice hunters to bring their deer to any of 18 designated biological reporting stations. These stations provide critical data to wildlife biologists tasked with managing deer populations sustainably.
Nick Fortin, Vermont’s state deer project leader, highlights the importance of this monitoring: “Examining deer during this weekend offers valuable insight into herd dynamics.” Biologists collect data including age, weight, and antler development, which directly inform management decisions that balance population health with hunting opportunities.
- Age estimates help determine recruitment and survival rates within the population.
- Weight measurements can indicate overall health and habitat quality.
- Antler development data assists in managing the genetic diversity and size of the herd.
Additional Resources
Hunters can download the list of reporting stations staffed by biologists for the weekend via the Vermont Fish and Wildlife website.
More comprehensive details about Youth Deer Weekend in Vermont, including information on acquiring hunting tags, are available on the state’s official webpage.
Similarly, New Hampshire provides specific information geared towards youth hunters on its dedicated youth hunting webpage.
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