Early Season Bear Tags and 5-Year Licenses Added to Vermont’s 2013 Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Licenses
OutdoorHub 12.16.12
Early season bear tags and licenses good for five years are new options available to Vermont’s hunters, anglers and trappers.
The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department announced that a “late season” bear tag good for bear hunting November 16-24, 2013 is included on each hunting license except the nonresident small game license. This late portion of the bear season coincides with the first nine days of the November rifle deer season. It also includes a four-day extension of the bear hunting season during the November deer season.
A hunter who wishes to hunt bear in the “early season,” September 1- November 15, 2013, must purchase a separate early season bear tag – residents $5, nonresidents $15. The purpose of the changes in bear hunting tags is to be able to best manage the black bear population by gathering more information about bear hunters and bears.
Anyone who purchased a lifetime, permanent, five-year hunting, or five-year combination license before 2013 does not need to purchase the early season bear tag. The bear tag on each of those licenses is good for the entire bear season.
The annual limit for bears has not changed. A hunter may harvest only one bear per calendar year.
The five-year license option may appeal to dedicated hunters, anglers and trappers for a slight savings. For example, a resident fishing license for five years is $119, whereas if purchased at the 2013 rate of $25, the cost would be $125. The angler would have additional savings if the rate went up during the five years.
Vermont’s hunting, fishing and trapping licenses are quickly and easily available on Fish & Wildlife’s website: www.vtfishandwildlife.com and at license agents statewide.
