Vermont.gov

Youth turkey hunters must have landowner permission to hunt on private land, whether or not the land is posted. To be eligible, a resident or nonresident youth must be age 15 or under. The youth must have successfully completed a hunter education course and possess a hunting license, a turkey hunting license and a free youth turkey hunting tag. The youth also must be accompanied by an unarmed adult who holds a hunting license and is over 18 years of age. The youth may take one bearded turkey during youth weekend and two bearded turkeys in the regular May hunting season.

The regular spring turkey hunting season is May 1-31. Two bearded turkeys may be taken, and all of Vermont is open to turkey hunting during the youth weekend and regular spring season. Shooting hours for both the youth and regular spring turkey season are one half hour before sunrise to 12:00 Noon.

A shotgun or bow and arrow may be used in the youth turkey or regular spring turkey hunting seasons. Shot size must be no larger than #2 and no smaller than #8.

The 2011 Turkey Harvest Report, which includes the number of turkeys taken in each town, is posted on Vermont Fish & Wildlife’s website (www.vtfishandwildlife.com). Under “Hunting and Trapping,” click on “Big Game.”

Vermont offers some of the best turkey hunting in New England according to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department. In 2011, hunters took more than 4,700 turkeys in both the youth weekend and regular May 1-31 seasons.

Source: Department of Fish and Wildlife
Last Updated at: April 18, 2012 07:52:44

News Releases

Vermont’s Youth Turkey Hunting Weekend, April 28-29