2012 Vermont Muzzleloader Antlerless Deer Permit Winners Announced
OutdoorHub 10.03.12
The winners of Vermont’s muzzleloader season antlerless deer permits are listed on the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department’s website: www.vtfishandwildlife.com.
“Hunters who applied for muzzleloader antlerless deer permits may check our website to find out if they will be receiving a muzzleloader season antlerless permit,” said Adam Murkowski, Vermont’s deer biologist. “Knowing the answer will help them in planning their hunt and making informed harvest decisions this fall.”
The Fish and Wildlife Board approved the number of December muzzleloader permits at 12,425 for 15 of the state’s 24 Wildlife Management Units. The taking of antlerless deer with archery equipment is permitted in all WMUs except WMU-E. However, youth hunters are allowed to harvest any deer, regardless of WMU, during the youth deer hunting weekend on November 3 and November 4.
“The antlerless permit allocation represents a conservative approach to antlerless deer hunting this fall,” said Murkowski. “Deer herds throughout the state are at or below population objectives. Thus, the number of muzzleloader season antlerless permits for this year will allow for slow growth in the deer herd throughout much of the state.”
Biologists expect hunters who receive the permits will take about 2,200 antlerless deer in the muzzleloader season and an estimated 3,000 antlerless deer in youth and archery seasons.
“The winter of 2011-2012 was the mildest recorded in recent decades,” said Murkowski. “It will be important for hunters to continue to manage their local deer herds for deer herd health to ensure the number of deer remains appropriate for the available habitat.”
