The 16-day Vermont deer hunt opens November 14 and finishes November 29. Lottery antlerless permit holders may harvest antlerless deer then but others may not, while licenses provide a buck tag and a bear tag through November 22.

Buck legality depends on the wildlife management unit, needing either one three-inch antler or two points an inch long, per the 2026 guide map. Hunters must report every deer taken November 14-29 in person at a station, including those from archery, because online reporting is unavailable. Nick Fortin observed that western and valley parts of the state have the greatest deer numbers, with the Green Mountains and Northeast Kingdom offering fewer yet often larger ones, and fluorescent orange wear supports the strong safety record.