Vermont Asks Deer Hunters to Join Survey
The Fish and Wildlife Department is inviting licensed deer hunters to record their hunting time and wildlife sightings.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Hunting
Vermont's Fish and Wildlife Department is asking licensed deer hunters to take part in its annual hunter survey, which will be available on the department's website after the regular deer season opens on November 14. The survey records hours hunted and wildlife seen each day, covering deer, moose, bears, and other animals.
Why it matters
The survey gives the department data on how hunting pressure and animal numbers vary across the state, informing wildlife management decisions for Vermont. Greater hunter participation would make population estimates more reliable.
The survey tracks daily hunting hours and sightings of deer, moose, bears, and other wildlife across Vermont. It becomes available on the Fish and Wildlife website when the regular season opens on November 14, and how many hunters respond has not been announced.
The players
Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department
The state agency responsible for managing Vermont's fish and wildlife resources, including deer, moose, and bear populations, and for conducting the annual hunter survey.
The details
Licensed deer hunters are invited to log, for each day they hunt, how many hours they spent hunting and how many deer, moose, bears, or other wildlife they observed. Hunters can complete the survey through the Fish and Wildlife website once the season begins.
Timeline
November 14: Regular deer hunting season opens and the hunter survey becomes available on the Fish and Wildlife website.
Season Trajectory
The annual survey continues the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department's recurring effort to track hunting pressure and wildlife numbers over time. Its daily logs add to the department's ongoing record of how deer, moose, and bear populations change across seasons.
Licensed deer hunters in Vermont can contribute by recording their daily hunting hours and wildlife sightings once the season opens. Participation is voluntary and is completed through the Fish and Wildlife website.
The takeaway
Hunters who log their time and sightings help Vermont build a clearer picture of wildlife numbers across the state. Each season's data adds to the record the department uses to manage deer, moose, and bear populations.
What happens next
The hunter survey becomes available on the Fish and Wildlife website when the regular deer season opens on November 14.
Further reading
For more on hunting rules and seasons across the state, explore Hunting coverage on Wisevoter.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Vermont Business Magazine.
