Hunting in Vermont: Regulations for Hunting With Dogs

Regulations about hunting with dogs in Vermont allow dogs to aid in hunting raccoons, bears, several furbearing species, and help recover a bear or deer a hunter believes that they legally killed.

Here are four things to keep in mind when hunting with dogs in Vermont.

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1. Prohibited Animals
In Vermont, wardens and officers of the law are permitted to shoot a dog that is found harassing deer or moose, so hunters should be extra careful with their hunting dogs, according to Vermont hunting laws. However, dogs can be used to track a killed or wounded deer or moose that the hunter took legally. To use your hunting dog to recover a fallen animal, the dog must have a Leashed Tracking Dog Certificate, and this permission is only granted during open season. Interested hunters must also take a test to receive this special certificate.

2. Eligible Animals
Vermont allows for a variety of wildlife to be pursued with the aid of hunting dogs. Although dogs cannot join hunts for bears or deer, they may be involved in the recovery of these animals as outlined above. However, they also may be used to hunt rabbits, hare, game birds, raccoons, foxes and bobcats.

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3. Training Seasons
Anyone with a hunting license is permitted to train their dog to track eligible animals as long as they comply with Vermont Fish and Wildlife regulations. These include licensed hunters may “condition a hunting dog to hunt and pursue game from the second Monday in March to June 1 from sunrise to sunset inside an area fenced sufficiently to contain the breed of dogs being trained or conditioned.”

In addition, a commissioner must inspect the fence. The use of a long gun is not permitted while training. However, a pistol is permitted to be used during training, but should game should not be taken during this time.

4. Use of Illumination
The one case when it’s permissible to use a light in Vermont is when hunting raccoons with dogs. A raccoon can be shot after its been treed by a dog both in-season and during the training season.

This article is for information only. Please check current regulations before hunting.

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Related Stories:

• Hunting in New Hampshire: Regulations for Hunting With Dogs
• Hunting in South Carolina: Regulations for Hunting With Dogs