MONTPELIER, Vt – The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board will hold two public hearings on proposed changes to Vermont’s bear hunting regulation.
The changes proposed by the Fish and Wildlife Board would eliminate the consecutive “early” and “late” seasons to create one bear season extending from September 1 through the last day of the regulated deer seasons.
The proposed rule would require the purchase of a bear tag to take a bear during the bear season. The bear hounding season would extend from September 1 for Vermont residents and September 15 for nonresidents, through the second Sunday after the start of regular November deer season. The proposed changes would allow a second bear tag in annually specified Wildlife Management Units and prohibit the intentional taking of a sow bear accompanied by a cub or cubs.
Two public hearings have been scheduled to solicit input on the proposed rule changes:
August 24 at 6:30 p.m., at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 1265 Main Street, St. Johnsbury, VT 05819. This meeting has a hybrid option. To join the meeting remotely, please use the link on Vermont Fish and Wildlife’s website under Board Rules.
August 27 at 6:30 p.m. at Bennington Elks Lodge, 125 Washington Ave., Bennington, VT 05201.
Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities are available upon request. Individuals making such requests should provide a description of the requested accommodation and must include their contact information. Please send an e-mail to hannah.smith@vermont.gov or call 802-461-8187 (voice), 1-800-253-0191 (TTY).
Public comments can be submitted via email to ANR.FWPublicComment@vermont.gov through September 4, 2026. More information on the proposed rule changes is available online at: https://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/about-us/fish-and-wildlife-board/board-rules