The Vermont Fish and Wildlife department has increased the number of antlerless deer permits for the upcoming hunting season.
There are 1,975 more antlerless permits available for the muzzleloader season, which runs for nine days in mid-December. A total of 12,425 antlerless permits were issued in 2012 and 14,400 will be issued for this year.
Muzzleloader permits are distributed through an annual lottery that draws more than 20,000 entries. Applications can be made online through the Vermont Fish and Wildlife department’s website, or by mail through Aug. 29. The cost to enter the lottery is $10 for Vermont residents and $25 for non-residents, said Mark Scott, director of wildlife.
“The past two winters have been below average in severity, and these conditions are beneficial to Vermont’s deer herd.” Adam Murkowski, deer project manager, said in a news release. “Therefore, it is important that hunters continue to harvest antlerless deer to ensure the number of deer remains appropriate for the available habitat in each of Vermont’s 24 Wildlife Management Units.”
Biologists expect hunters who receive the permits will take about 2,469 antlerless deer during muzzleloader season and an estimated additional 3,333 antlerless deer during youth and archery seasons, according to documents presented to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board.
