2018 Vermont Black Bear Season Handbook - Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department www.vtfishandwildlife.com - Vermont Fish and Wildlife
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
2018 Vermont
Black Bear Season Handbook
Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department
www.vtfishandwildlife.com
TABLE OF CONTENTS HISTORY OF BEAR MANAGEMENT ............................................................................................................ 1 POPULATION STATUS ................................................................................................................................. 2 2018 BEAR SEASONS................................................................................................................................ 3 LICENSE REQUIREMENTS ......................................................................................................................... 4 LIFETIME AND PERMANENT LICENSE RENEWAL..................................................................................... 5 2017 BEAR HARVEST BY TOWN AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT UNIT ................................................... 6 BEAR TOOTH COLLECTION IS REQUIRED ................................................................................................. 7 HABITS AND HABITAT................................................................................................................................. 7 FOOD HABITS.............................................................................................................................................. 9 PRE-HUNT PLANNING .............................................................................................................................. 10 CROSSBOWS ............................................................................................................................................ 13 PROHIBITIONS .......................................................................................................................................... 13 TAGGING BEAR ......................................................................................................................................... 14 TRANSPORTING ........................................................................................................................................ 14 OPTIONAL VERMONT BIG GAME TAG...................................................................................................... 14 REPORTING A BEAR ................................................................................................................................. 15 BIG GAME REPORTING STATIONS........................................................................................................... 16 USE OF DOGS TO HUNT BEAR ................................................................................................................. 22 BEAR MANAGEMENT RULE ..................................................................................................................... 23 RESEARCH PROJECT STUDY BEARS ....................................................................................................... 32 BEAR HUNTING SAFETY TIPS .................................................................................................................. 33 DON’T SHOOT SOWS WITH CUBS ........................................................................................................... 33 SALE OR PURCHASE OF GAME................................................................................................................ 34 WHERE CAN I HUNT IN VERMONT? ........................................................................................................ 35 HUNTERS, TICKS AND LYME DISEASE.................................................................................................... 36 HOW TO BUTCHER A BEAR ...................................................................................................................... 38 BEAR HIDE ................................................................................................................................................ 39 HUNTERS SHARING BEAR MEAT ............................................................................................................. 40 RECIPES .................................................................................................................................................... 41 HUNT, POST, SHARE, LIKE ....................................................................................................................... 46 VERMONT HABITAT STAMP ..................................................................................................................... 48 2018 Black Bear Season Handbook
HISTORY OF BEAR MANAGEMENT
In 1941, the black bear was elevated to the necessary to ensure it remains healthy and
status of a big game animal and received abundant in the future. The principle
protection under Vermont’s laws. The concern for their future relates to their
techniques of black bear harvesting were habitat. Major concerns include
further regulated by banning trapping in development and varying availability of
1967, controlling the use of hunting dogs, their critical wild foods, such as acorns and
outlawing baiting, and prohibiting the beechnuts.
shooting of bears at dumps in 1972.
Vermont’s black bear management program
Because of improvements in habitat and has four components:
through management efforts, Vermont’s
black bears have made a strong comeback. Educating the public,
Their numbers are higher today than they Protecting bear habitat,
have been in 200 years. Regulating harvest and utilization,
Responding to animal damage and
Close monitoring and management of public safety issues.
Vermont’s black bear population is
2018 Black Bear Season Handbook 1
POPULATION STATUS
By examining the sex and age from was cleared for farmland. Consequently,
harvested bears each year, wildlife bears were at their lowest population level
biologists are able to estimate the bear at that time.
population in Vermont. Bear numbers are
now believed to be higher than at any time From the 1850s to the present, land use
since before European settlement. changed drastically. The once-abundant
pastures and fields slowly reverted to
Regulated hunting is used to align woodlands, and today over 80 percent of
population estimates with biological data, Vermont is once again forested. As a result,
habitat limitations, and public satisfaction the quality of Vermont’s black bear habitat
data to sustain a bear population between has greatly improved.
4,500 and 6,000 animals.
The highest numbers of bears can be found
Before European settlers arrived, most of in the center spine of the Green Mountains,
Vermont was dense forestland, providing from Massachusetts to Canada, and in the
ideal bear habitat. However, by the 1850s, northeastern part of Vermont.
almost 75 percent of Vermont’s land area
2018 Black Bear Season Handbook 2
2018 BEAR SEASONS
Vermont’s bear hunting season was LATE SEASON: November 10, 2018
expanded in 2013 to slow the growth in through November 18, 2018
Vermont’s bear population and to provide
Fish & Wildlife Department biologists with The “late season” bear tag is included on
data to better manage black bears in each hunting license except the nonresident
Vermont. small game license.
EARLY SEASON: September 1, 2018 HUNTING HOURS: Hunting hours are
through November 9, 2018 one-half hour before sunrise to one-half
hour after sunset.
Requires a separate early season bear tag –
residents $5, nonresidents $15. LIMIT: The annual limit for bears has not
changed. A hunter may harvest only one
bear per calendar year.
2018 Black Bear Season Handbook 3
LICENSE REQUIREMENTS
There is a separate “early season bear tag” Hunters who purchased a lifetime license
required for those hunters who want to hunt before January 1, 2013 also do not need to buy
bear prior to the beginning of the November an early season bear tag. Their tag is valid for
deer rifle season. It costs $5 for residents and both early and late bear seasons every year in
$15 for nonresidents. Hunters will continue perpetuity. This includes hunters whose
to get a “late season” bear tag along with license was purchased before 2013 but whose
their deer tag on their general hunting license will not be activated until they take a
license at no additional cost, which is valid hunter’s education course, such as a license
during the first nine days of the November purchased for a young child.
deer rifle season.
However, hunters who purchased a lifetime
The additional tag will enable the license on or after January 1, 2013 must
department to gather essential information purchase an early season bear tag to hunt
about hunter effort and success, as well as an bear prior to the November deer rifle season.
idea of overall bear hunter numbers. The
early season tag gives department biologists A bear hunter using a bow or
a better understanding of how many hunters crossbow must have either a bow
are actively pursuing bears before the license or a certificate showing completion
November rifle season. of the bow hunter education course in
addition to a hunting license.
Hunters who hunt with a permanent license
(licenses for hunters 66 and older) do not A digital version of your license carried with
need to buy an early season bear tag no you is also acceptable, except for minor
matter when their license was bought, and children who must still carry a paper license
they will not be charged for an early season signed by their parent.
bear tag. Their tag is valid for both early and
late bear seasons every year in perpetuity.
2018 Black Bear Season Handbook 4
LIFETIME AND PERMANENT LICENSE RENEWAL
If you intend to hunt, fish, or trap in 2018, This updated license will include current
you must update your lifetime, permanent year tags. You may update your license at no
disability, or permanent license regardless cost on-line at our website. If you are unable
of whether or not you used your tags. This to go on-line, you may go to any authorized
is a new statutory requirement which was license agent or Fish & Wildlife Office and
put in place to allow the department to request to have your license updated. You
collect accurate harvest and licensing can also call us at 802-828-1190 to be
information for lifetime license holders. updated. A license agent may charge you up
to $1.50 for a reprint.
Purchase a License Online | Update a http://vtfishandwildlife.com/licenses-and-
Permanent License lotteries/license-center
2018 Black Bear Season Handbook 5
2017 BEAR HARVEST BY TOWN AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT UNIT 2018 Black Bear Season Handbook 6
BEAR TOOTH COLLECTION IS REQUIRED
The Fish & Wildlife Department needs your the bear. Please ask the reporting station
help. Knowing the age of the bears that are operator for a tooth envelope for you to
harvested by hunters is a very important insert the tooth in before placing in the tooth
part of Vermont’s scientific bear manage- bucket found at the reporting station. Every
ment program. A pre-molar tooth is tooth we receive from hunters helps the bear
required to be submitted by the hunter from project.
every bear harvested in Vermont.
We will publish the age information on our
Removing the bear’s pre-molar tooth is easy website in the spring.
and does not affect the mounting quality of
Bear Tooth Extraction Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0n3i91OAXGc&feature=youtu.be
2018 Black Bear Season Handbook 7HABITS AND HABITAT
The best habitat for black bears in Vermont like a large bird’s nest, with all the branches
is a mixture of coniferous trees, hardwoods, pulled toward the center. Bears climb trees
wetlands, and variation in terrain. Because with the use of their claws, and claw marks
they need dense cover to escape danger, the can usually be seen on the trunk.
wary and elusive black bears prefer rough
and wooded habitats. The habitat should Although bears are often thought to
also have a good water supply nearby. hibernate, they are not true hibernators.
Coniferous trees provide concealment and During true hibernation, body temperature,
protection from severe weather. Stands of respiration, and metabolic rates are
beech and oak, along with wetlands, are considerably decreased. A bear’s respiration
important feeding areas for bears in and metabolic rate do decrease during the
Vermont. winter sleep, but its body temperature
remains close to normal. Thus a bear in a
Bears are usually silent and usually travel winter den can be easily aroused within
alone. Exceptions are family groups and moments, whereas in a true hibernator, it
breeding adults during the mating season. may take several hours.
Family groups typically consist of the adult
female and her cubs, which travel with her Food supplies are the most critical factor
through their second spring. determining when bears go to den in the fall.
When foods are abundant, bears will
Black bears climb trees to eat on ripening continue eating throughout the snows of
fruit and as a means to escape danger. Bears November and into December. When fall
will sit near the trunk of a tree on a large foods are scarce, most bears are denned by
branch and pull other branches towards mid-November.
them to eat the nuts. This eating place looks
2018 Black Bear Season Handbook 8FOOD HABITS
Although the black bear belongs to the order upon young deer and moose at this time,
Carnivora, it is a true omnivore, eating both although bears do not actively hunt for these
plants and animals. Major food sources food sources. During this time, no single
include seeds and insects, but the black bear food source is available in such abundance
is an opportunist and will eat just about that bears can concentrate on only one item.
anything that crosses its path.
As summer progresses, raspberries,
Early spring is the most difficult time of the blueberries, and blackberries ripen. If these
year for bears. At this time, food is scarce, crops are abundant, bears can at last
and bears must scavenge intensively to stay immerse themselves in a concentrated food
alive. Because wetlands green up first, source with a high sugar content.
wetland grasses and green, leafy plants have
been found to be the primary food of the By late August, bears seek foods with the
black bear in the spring. However, these highest nutritional value. In an effort to store
have limited nutritional value, so bears as much energy as possible, they will eat up
continue to draw from any remaining fat to 24 hours a day. If beechnuts and acorns
reserves. From the time they emerge from are plentiful, bears will move into
their dens to the end of July, their activities productive beech and oak stands and
center around forested wetlands, beaver consume high quantities of the nuts. Bears
dams, and along streams and riverbanks. may travel many miles to reach fall food
supplies and will continue to forage for
Typically, bears must wait until early to beechnuts for several weeks.
midsummer before regaining an adequate
level of nutrition. By early summer, bears Other fall foods include cherries, apples,
have the opportunity to eat a variety of succulent plants, and berries. Bears will also
succulent plants such as the roots of the jack- eat available crops of corn and oats, and will
in-the-pulpit and berries that are beginning commonly raid beehives if they are not
to become available. Bears may also prey protected with electric fences.
2018 Black Bear Season Handbook 9PRE-HUNT PLANNING
Bear hunting is a physically demanding all hunters. Making a clean kill as humanely
activity, especially removing a harvested as possible is a fundamental component of
bear from the woods. Pre-hunt planning is ethical hunting. Incorrect shot placement on
very important to a successful and a black bear can lead to unnecessary
rewarding bear hunting experience. suffering, wounding, and failure to retrieve
the animal.
Long before harvesting a bear, the hunter
must decide how the meat will be processed Making a clean kill should be the top
and how the hide will be used. Hunters priority for hunters who decide to shoot a
should arrange to have help available for all bear. An animal that is harvested humanely
aspects of handling a harvested bear and shows more character in a hunter than just a
have plans made ahead of time to ensure lucky shot. Especially if you are taking a
that the meat and hide are properly youth or apprentice hunter bear hunting,
processed. help it be a positive experience by
emphasizing ethics and making a clean kill.
Bears have a tremendous amount of fat and
a thick hide that provide great insulation. To be ethical, all hunters need to be
Both the meat and the hide can spoil quickly proficient with their firearm or bow,
especially at temperatures above freezing. A understand their personal effective range,
dead bear can be large and cumbersome. and have an understanding of basic bear
Skinning, processing, and transporting a anatomy for shot placement. This will help
bear are difficult tasks and may be difficult lead to a quick and effective kill and
without assistance. minimize the chance for wounding the bear.
As a result, it is imperative that the hide be Planning the Shot. The following are some
removed as soon as possible to prevent meat general tips to help ensure correct shot
spoilage. In temperatures above freezing, if placement:
there is going to be a delay in getting your
harvested bear to a cooler, you should Hunters must understand that bears are
consider quartering it to allow the heavier built differently than deer and other big
portions to cool more quickly. Before taking game animals. The chest of a bear is
your bear out from the place it is killed, pack compressed compared to that of a deer
bags of ice in the body cavity or around the when looking at it from the side.
quarters. You may dismember the carcass to
If you make a poor shot, a wounded bear
pack it out of the place of kill as long as the
can run for considerable distances before
identity of the sex is not destroyed.
dying. Heavy bones, hides, and fat layers
Know Your Capabilities. To help ensure the may prevent quick-clotting blood from
future of bear hunting, and all hunting, it is dripping and leaving a good trail,
incredibly important to instill respect for the making an injured bear hard to track.
outdoors and acceptable hunting ethics for
2018 Black Bear Season Handbook 10KNOW YOUR CAPABILITIES AND A head shot is not recommended since a
KNOW YOUR SHOT! bear skull is very dense. The blunt,
rounded shape may cause bullets or
A bear’s most vital area is an 8” circle arrows to glance off or become lodged in
behind the front shoulder. the skull without penetrating.
The best shot opportunity is a broadside Frontal shots or shots from directly
shot or “quartering away” for overhead (like might occur from a tree
penetration into the vital organs. stand) are not recommended because
they offer little opportunity for
To take your shot, wait for the bear to
penetration of the vital organs (especially
step forward with the near side leg
with archery equipment).
exposing the heart/lung area.
NEVER take a shot you are unsure of, at
Shots directly in the shoulder bone are
a bear that is not clearly visible, or one
not recommended. Bears have massive,
that is positioned in such a way that you
muscular shoulders and heavy bones. A
cannot cleanly hit the vital area.
hunter who shoots ahead of the front
shoulder may miss or injure the animal.
The National Bowhunter Education Foundation has created an excellent document called
Advanced Black Bear Anatomy and Shot Placement Guide for both archery and firearm hunters
(including muzzleloaders); the following photos have been adapted from the NBEF publication.
2018 Black Bear Season Handbook 11Best shot placement for gun or bow.
Shoulder and leg bones protect the heart and lungs when the near front leg is behind during
stride. Wait until the near front leg is in front or ahead during stride.
National Bowhunter Education Foundation (https://nbef.org/)
2018 Black Bear Season Handbook 12CROSSBOWS
A crossbow may be used by anyone 50 years a licensed physician’s certificate certifying
of age or older. Anyone 49 years of age or that the disability requires the use of a
younger may hunt with a crossbow, crossbow. Obtain an application from Fish &
provided they possess a crossbow disability Wildlife before visiting your doctor.
permit. The crossbow disability permit is Applicant must also appear before a state
issued to a person so physically impaired game warden to obtain a crossbow license.
that he or she cannot operate a standard bow Be sure to make an appointment ahead of
and allows that person to hunt with a time.
crossbow. A permit applicant must produce
Crossbow Disability Permit Application (49 years
and younger)
PROHIBITIONS
A hunter may take only one black bear in any other substance capable of luring or
a calendar year. attracting bear has been placed or
deposited.
Bears may not be taken alive.
It is illegal to shoot a bear that is visiting
Bears may not be trapped. a bird feeder.
Hunters may not use bait or a baited area It is illegal to feed bears, even when not
to take a bear. A “baited area” is defined hunting for them.
as an area where meat, carrion, honey, or
Bear Hunting Regulations
2018 Black Bear Season Handbook 13TAGGING BEAR Bear must be tagged immediately when open to view and remain there until the taken. The tag must be placed on the carcass carcass is cut up for consumption. TRANSPORTING A tagged bear may be transported only during the open season and for 20 days thereafter. OPTIONAL VERMONT BIG GAME TAG Optional Vermont Big Game Tags are available free from license agents as durable alternatives to the paper tags on licenses. Optional tags may be used to tag deer, bear, turkeys, or moose. Record your CONSERVATION ID number (top left corner of your license) on the Optional Big Game Tag. A qualifying landowner may use the tag by writing “landowner” in the same space. The existing paper tag that comes with a license may also be used. Optional Big Game Tags may only be used by a person who has purchased the appropriate license and tag for the species they are hunting. 2018 Black Bear Season Handbook 14
REPORTING A BEAR
A person taking bear shall within 48 hours A hunter must take a warden to
report the taking and exhibit the carcass to the kill site of a bear if requested
the nearest game warden, official Fish & to do so by a warden.
Wildlife Department Reporting Station, or to
Bears must be field dressed prior
a person designated by the commissioner to
to reporting.
receive the reports.
It is now mandatory that the It is also legal to skin the bear and cut
hunter provide a pre-molar tooth it up in order to carry it out of the
from the bear at the same time. No woods. Although the bear must be
bear carcass shall be transported reported within 48 hours, Fish &
Wildlife urges doing so quickly to
out of state without first being
cool the meat.
reported.
Big Game Reporting Stations
2018 Black Bear Season Handbook 15BIG GAME REPORTING STATIONS 2018 Black Bear Season Handbook 16
2018 Black Bear Season Handbook 17
2018 Black Bear Season Handbook 18
2018 Black Bear Season Handbook 19
2018 Black Bear Season Handbook 20
2018 Black Bear Season Handbook 21
USE OF DOGS TO HUNT BEAR
PERMIT REQUIRED: Hunters may use dogs otherwise sell the use of a dog or dogs for the
to take bear only when the person in control of purpose of taking black bear. It is unlawful
the dogs has a bear-dog permit available from to take a bear that is being pursued by
the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department. The hounds if you are not a permit or sub-permit
permit is required to pursue black bear with holder.
the aid of dogs for training purposes or for
hunting and taking a bear. It is unlawful to Non-resident bear hound hunters
shoot a bear that was pursued by dogs may not hunt in Vermont until
without a permit. Non-residents can only September 15th.
train their dogs in Vermont during the time
Additional changes to Vermont’s bear
period when the training season is open in
hound hunting laws have been made and
their home state.
will be included with information provided
A person shall not advertise, barter, in a bear hound hunter’s permit.
exchange goods or services, expose or
Bear-Dog Permit Bear-Dog Permit
Application Form Application Form
(Resident) (Non-Resident)
2018 Black Bear Season Handbook 22BEAR MANAGEMENT RULE
(Cite as: 10 App. V.S.A. § 7)
• [Section 7 effective until January 1, 2018; see also section 7 effective January 1, 2018 set
out below.]
§ 7. Bear Management Rule
1.0 Authority
1.1 This rule is adopted pursuant to 10 V.S.A. § 4081(a). In adopting this rule, the Fish and
Wildlife Board is following the policy established by the General Assembly that the protection,
propagation, control, management, and conservation of fish, wildlife and fur-bearing animals
in this State is in the interest of the public welfare and that the safeguarding of this valuable
resource for the people of the State requires a constant and continual vigilance.
1.2 In accordance with 10 V.S.A. § 4082, this rule is designed to maintain the best health,
population and utilization levels of the bear population.
1.3 In accordance with 10 V.S.A. § 4084, this rule establishes season and possession limits for
game; prescribes the manner and means of taking; and establishes territorial limits for the taking
of bears.
2.0 Purpose
The purpose of this regulation is to establish seasons for the taking of bear, to establish legal
methods of taking bears, and to establish limits on the number of bears to be taken annually.
3.0 Definitions:
3.1 "Bait" means as any animal, vegetable, fruit or mineral matter placed with the intention of
attracting wildlife.
3.2 "Baited area" means an area where meat, carrion, honey, or any other substance capable of
luring or attracting bear has been placed or deposited including, but not limited to, bird feeders.
3.3 "Bear Dog Permit" or "Permit" means a permit to take bear with the aid of dogs issued by the
Commissioner to a person who owns dogs wishes to hunt, pursue or take bear with the aid of
said dogs.
3.4 "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department.
2018 Black Bear Season Handbook 233.5 "Control of Dog/Dogs" means control shall be construed as the transportation, loading or unloading of dogs from vehicle(s); handling, catching, restraining or releasing dogs; use of telemetry to locate or track dogs. 3.6 "Department" means the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department. 3.7 "Dog Registration" means a numbered dog license valid for the current calendar year issued to the dog's owner by the town for the purpose of identification of the individual dog and the owner of the dog. 3.8 "Legal means" or "Legal method" means the taking of a bear by muzzleloader, rifle, handgun, or archery equipment. 3.9 "Pack of Dogs" means pack of dogs shall be defined as one to six dogs, acting as a unit during the pursuit of bear. Dogs may be added to the pack during the course of a hunt, up to a total of 6 dogs forming an original pack of dogs. 3.10 "Nonresident Dog Owner" means an individual person who is a nonresident as defined in 10 V.S.A. § 4001(21) whose dog is kenneled in another state other than in Vermont and has a dog license issued by a town not in Vermont valid for the current calendar year. 3.11 "Non-hunting person" means an individual person may accompany the permit holder as long as he or she does not have control of dog/dogs. The non-hunting person does not require having a valid hunting license. 3.12 "Hunting party" means two or more hunters hunting in a group, all using firearms, muzzleloaders, or archery equipment that is engaged in the act of hunting together and who are in contact with at least one other member of the party. 3.13 "Registered Dog" means a dog that has a numbered dog license valid for the current calendar year issued to the dog's owner by the municipality for the purpose of identification of the individual dog and the owner of the dog. 3.14 "Relaying Dogs/Packs" means the removal and replacement of one or more dog or dogs to the trail of a bear to the original pack of dogs consisting of a maximum of a six dog unit, once the pursuit has begun. 3.15 "Resident Dog Owner" means a person who is a Vermont resident as defined in 10 V.S.A. § 4001(20) whose dog is kenneled in Vermont and has a dog license issued by a Vermont municipality valid for the current calendar year. 3.16 "Sub-permittee permit" means a written authorization issued by the Department that allows a person to assist a permit holder in taking a bear with the aid of dogs. 2018 Black Bear Season Handbook 24
3.17 "Sub-Permittee" means any person designated or recognized by the permit holder to assist or take a bear with the aid of dogs. 3.18 "Tag" means a document issued by the Department authorizing the taking of a bear. 3.19 "Unregistered Dog" means a dog that does not have a valid numbered dog license as described in 3.13. 4.0 Seasons and Shooting Hours 4.1 Early and Late Season a) Early Season: September 1 through the day before the first day of the Regular Deer Season. b) Late Season: The first day of the Regular Deer Season through the second Sunday of the Regular Deer Season. 4.2 Shooting hours: One half hour before sunrise until one half hour after sunset. 5.0 Tags and Bag Limit 5.1 To take a bear during the Early Season, a person must, in addition to a having a valid Big Game Hunting license, obtain an Early Season Tag issued separately by the Department. 5.2 To take a bear during the Late Season, a person must have a valid Vermont Hunting license issued with a Late Season tag. 5.3 A person shall not take more than one bear per calendar year, not to include animals taken pursuant to 10 V.S.A. § 4827. 6.0 The taking of bear with the aid of dogs 6.1 Licenses and Permits Any person hunting, pursuing, harvesting, or in any manner involved in the taking of a bear with the use of dogs must hold a valid Vermont Hunting License and valid bear dog permit, and valid bear tag or be a bona fide sub-permittee of a valid bear dog permit holder. The permit shall: a) Be carried at all times by the permittee while taking bear and exhibited to a game warden upon demand. b) Specify the particular dog(s) to be included in the permit, including the town dog license number(s). 6.2 A person shall not take a bear into his/her actual possession except by killing the bear by lawful means by the use of firearm, muzzleloader, or archery equipment. 2018 Black Bear Season Handbook 25
6.3 Dogs and Packs a) A person shall not take black bear with the aid of dogs unless the person is in control of the dog or dogs. b) A person may only take a bear with the aid of a dog that is listed on the permittee's valid bear dog permit. c) A person taking bear with the aid of dogs shall attach a metal identification name plate with the person's name, address and telephone number to the dog's collar. d) A person shall not take black bear with the aid of more than six dogs acting as a unit to pursue bear. The person shall not pursue black bear by relaying dogs/packs, unregistered dog/dogs, or dog/dogs not listed on the person's bear dog permit e) Two or more permit holders may hunt together and combine dog(s) listed on each permit holder's permit. The combined permit holders shall not take black bear with the aid of more than six dogs combined forming a unit of a single pack of dogs. The combined permit holders shall not pursue black bear by relaying dogs/packs, or dogs not listed on their bear dog permits. 6.4 A Vermont resident shall not list a dog(s) owned by a nonresident on any resident bear dog permit application. A nonresident shall list a dog(s) owned only by a nonresident of the same state as the nonresident applicant. 6.5 Sub-Permittees and Parties a. The sub-permittee may have control of the dog(s) while assisting the permit holder. The sub- permittee must have a valid Vermont Hunting License. b. The sub-permittee must be given a sub-permittee permit by the permit holder and must carry it on their person during the hunt. The permit holder must collect the sub-permittee's permit at the end of the sub-permittee's involvement in the hunt of that particular day. c. Permittees and sub-permittees may pursue bear as members of a party so long as one member of the party possesses a valid unused bear tag. d. The sub-permittee may take a bear with the aid of dogs only while accompanying a permittee. e. The Permit holder may automatically receive six sub-permittee permits with an issued bear dog permit. The Permit holder may request additional sub-permittee permits in writing to the Commissioner as needed. 7.0 Prohibitions 7.1 No person shall take bear by using bait or in a baited area. 2018 Black Bear Season Handbook 26
7.2 A person shall not advertise, barter, exchange goods or services, expose or otherwise sell the
use of a dog or dogs for the purpose of taking any black bear.
8.0 Biological Collection
8.1 Any person who harvests a bear shall collect a premolar tooth and submit the tooth to a game
warden, official Fish and Wildlife Department Reporting Station, or to a person designated by
the Commissioner to receive the biological collection, within 48 hours of taking the bear.
8.2 Unless otherwise specified by statute, the failure to collect and submit a bear tooth shall not
result in license suspension points and shall be considered a minor violation subject to a civil
fine. (Added 1972, Fish and Game Board Reg. No. 845, eff. _______ ; amended 1982, Fish and
Game Board Reg. No. 935, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1982; 2007, Fish and Game Board Reg. No. 935, § 1,
eff. June 1, 2007; 2012, Fish and Wildlife Board Reg. eff. January 1, 2013; 2017, Fish and Wildlife
Board Reg. eff. January 1, 2017.)
• [Section 7 effective January 1, 2018; see also section 7 effective until January 1, 2018 set
out above.]
§ 7. Bear Management Rule
1.0 Authority
1.1 This rule is adopted pursuant to 10 V.S.A. § 4081(a). In adopting this rule, the Fish and
Wildlife Board is following the policy established by the General Assembly that the protection,
propagation, control, management, and conservation of fish, wildlife and fur-bearing animals
in this State is in the interest of the public welfare and that the safeguarding of this valuable
resource for the people of the State requires a constant and continual vigilance.
1.2 In accordance with 10 V.S.A. § 4082, this rule is designed to maintain the best health,
population and utilization levels of the black bear population.
1.3 In accordance with 10 V.S.A. § 4084, this rule establishes season and possession limits for
black bear, and prescribes the manner and means of taking black bears.
2.0 Purpose
The purpose of this regulation is to establish seasons for the taking of black bear, to establish
legal means or methods of taking black bears, and to establish limits on the number of black
bears to be taken annually.
3.0 Definitions:
3.1 "Accompany" for the purposes of hunting bear with dogs means that:
2018 Black Bear Season Handbook 27a. A Sub-permittee engaged in the control, handling, transporting or intercepting of Department registered dogs while hunting with dogs, shall be under the express direction of the permit holder, and b. A Sub-permittee who harvests a black bear shall be under the direct control and supervision of the bear dog permit holder, including the ability to see and communicate with each other without the aid of artificial devices such as radios or binoculars, except for medically necessary devices such as hearing aids or eyeglasses. 3.2 "Bait" means as any animal, vegetable, fruit, mineral matter, honey, or any other substance capable of luring or attracting black bear or any other wildlife. 3.3 "Baited area" means an area where any animal, vegetable, fruit, mineral matter, honey, or any other substance capable of luring or attracting black bear or any wildlife, has been placed or deposited including, but not limited to, bird feeders. 3.4 "Bear Dog Permit" or "Permit" means a permit issued by the Commissioner to a person who wishes to hunt, pursue or take black bear with the aid of dogs. 3.5 "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department. 3.6 "Control of Dog/Dogs" means the transportation, loading or unloading of dogs from vehicle(s); the handling, catching, restraining or releasing dogs; and the use of telemetry/GPS to locate or track dogs. 3.7 "Department" means the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department. 3.8 "Department Registered Dog" means a dog bearing a numbered identification dog-tag (Department Registration Dog-Tag) approved or issued by the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, with the permit holder's bear dog permit number and a number one through six. 3.9 "Hunting with Dogs" for the purposes of this rule means that one or more dog(s) with Department Registered Dog-Tags are on the ground whether in pursuit of a black bear or not. 3.10 "Legal means" or "Legal method" means the taking of a black bear by muzzleloader, rifle, handgun, archery equipment, or crossbow when authorized. 3.11 "Pack of Dogs" means one to six dogs, acting as a unit during the pursuit of black bear. 3.12 "Sub-Permittee" means any person with a valid Vermont hunting license designated by the bear dog permit holder to assist or take a bear with the aid of dogs, in accordance with written authorization issued by the Department. 3.13 "Relaying Dogs/Packs" means the removal and replacement of one or more dog or dogs to the trail of a bear to the original pack of dogs once the pursuit has begun. If the hunting or 2018 Black Bear Season Handbook 28
pursuit of a black bear commences with fewer than six dogs in the original Pack of Dogs, the addition of a dog or dogs shall not be considered relaying, provided that no more than the same six dogs are part of a single Pack of Dogs during the hunting, pursuing or taking of a black bear. 3.14 "Bear Tag" means a document issued by the Department authorizing the taking of a black bear in the current season. 3.15 "Unregistered Dog" means a dog that does not have a valid numbered dog license as described in 3.8. 4.0 Seasons and Shooting Hours 4.1 Early and Late Season a) Early Season: For Vermont Residents: September 1 through the day before the first day of the Regular Deer Season. For Non-Vermont Residents without the use of dogs: September 1 through the day before the first day of the Regular Deer Season. For Non-resident Bear Dog Permit Holders: The early black bear season shall be open to Non-Resident bear dog permit holders on September 15 and not before. b) Late Season: For Vermont Residents and Nonresidents: The first day of the Regular Deer Season through the second Sunday of the Regular Deer Season. 4.2 Shooting hours: One half hour before sunrise until one half hour after sunset. 5.0 Tags and Bag Limit 5.1 To take a black bear during the Early Season, a person must, in addition to a having a valid Vermont Big Game Hunting license, possess an Early Season Bear Tag issued separately by the Department. 5.2 To take a black bear during the Late Season, a person must have a valid Vermont Big Game Hunting license. 5.3 A person shall not harvest more than one black bear per calendar year, not to include animals taken pursuant to 10 V.S.A. § 4827. 6.0 The taking of bear with the aid of dogs 6.1 Licenses and Permits Any person hunting, pursuing, harvesting, or in any manner involved in the taking of a black bear with the use of dogs must hold a valid Vermont Big Game Hunting License, use only Department Registered Dogs and possess a valid bear tag. In addition, the person hunting, pursuing, harvesting, or in any manner involved in the taking of a black bear with the use of dogs must hold a valid bear dog permit or accompany a bear dog permit holder. 2018 Black Bear Season Handbook 29
The permit shall be carried at all times by the permittee while hunting with dogs or taking black bear and exhibited to a game warden, landowner, or law enforcement officer upon demand. 6.2 A person shall not take a black bear into his/her actual possession except by killing the bear by legal means or methods. a) A person taking black bear with the use of a bow and arrow or crossbow shall, upon demand of a game warden or other law enforcement personnel, show proof of having a prior archery license, or of having passed a bow hunter education course in Vermont, another state or a province of Canada approved by the Commissioner. 6.3 Dogs and Packs a) A person shall not take black bear with the aid of dogs unless the person is in control of the dog or dogs. b) No person shall take a black bear with the aid of any Unregistered Dog. No person shall have an Unregistered Dog in his or her possession while hunting, pursuing or taking a black bear. c) A person hunting with dogs, pursuing, and taking black bear with the aid of dogs shall attach a Department Registration Dog-Tag and a metal identification name plate with the person's name, address and telephone number to the dog's collar. d) A person taking a black bear with the aid of dogs shall only take a black bear with a Pack of Dogs as defined in this rule. No person shall pursue, hunt, or take black bear by Relaying Dogs/Packs. e) Two or more permit holders may hunt together and combine Department Registered dog(s) to form a Pack of Dogs. The combined bear dog permit holders shall not take black bear with the aid of more than six dogs combined forming a single pack of dogs. Once hunting with dogs commences, dogs not on the hunt shall be restrained in the dog box or inside the vehicle. The combined bear dog permit holders shall not possess any Unregistered Dogs while hunting, pursuing or taking black bear. 7.0 Prohibitions 7.1 No person shall place bait to attract black bear for the purposes of allowing a bear dog to catch/strike the scent of a black bear. No person take bear by using bait or a baited area. 7.2 A person shall not advertise, barter, exchange goods or services, or otherwise sell the use of a dog or dogs for the purpose of taking any black bear. 7.3 While hunting with dogs, no person shall have in their possession an Unregistered Dog while possessing Department Registered dogs. 2018 Black Bear Season Handbook 30
7.4 It shall be a violation for a Vermont resident to apply for a bear dog permit for the purpose of allowing a nonresident bear dog owner to hunt bear in Vermont with the aid of dogs. 7.5 No person shall hunt black bear with a bow and arrow or crossbow if the arrow or bolt has an arrowhead that measures less than seven-eighths of an inch at its widest point or that has less than two sharp cutting edges. 8.0 Reporting 8.1 The black bear carcass shall be field dressed prior to reporting. 8.2 Upon request of a Game Warden, the person harvesting the bear and the permit holder shall show and return to the kill site with a Game Warden. 8.3 All bear harvests shall be reported to a game warden, official Fish and Wildlife Department Reporting Station, or a person designated by the Commissioner within 48 hours. The person who harvested the bear and the bear dog permit holder must both be present to legally report the harvest. If the bear dog permit holder harvested the bear, only he or she must be present when reporting the harvest. 8.4 It shall be unlawful to provide false information when reporting a black bear taken with the aid of dogs. 8.5 The fine, points and any other penalty for any violation of this subsection 8 shall be assessed to the violator and in addition, to the permit holder if the violator is not the permit holder. 9.0 Biological Collection 9.1 Any person who harvests a bear shall collect a premolar tooth and submit the tooth to a game warden, official Fish and Wildlife Department Reporting Station, or to a person designated by the Commissioner to receive the biological collection, within 48 hours of taking the bear. 9.2 Unless otherwise specified by statute, the failure to collect and submit a bear tooth shall not result in license suspension points and shall be considered a minor violation subject to a civil fine. (Added 1972, Fish and Game Board Reg. No. 845, eff. _______ ; amended 1982, Fish and Game Board Reg. No. 935, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1982; 2007, Fish and Game Board Reg. No. 935, § 1, eff. June 1, 2007; 2012, Fish and Wildlife Board Reg. eff. January 1, 2013; 2017, Fish and Wildlife Board Reg. eff. January 1, 2018.) 2018 Black Bear Season Handbook 31
RESEARCH PROJECT STUDY BEARS
Hunters in the towns of Readsboro, bear wearing a collar is mistakenly
Searsburg, Woodford, Stamford, Pownal, harvested, it is crucial that the collar be
and Whitingham are urged to use special turned in to the Fish & Wildlife
caution to avoid shooting bears wearing Department (802-289-0613) so data can be
radio collars or yellow plastic ear tags. These retrieved from it. If a bear is harvested and
marked bears are an important part of the has ear tags, then the numbers on the ear
Deerfield Wind Project Study. It is not tags should also be reported.
illegal to take a collared bear; however, if a
Green Mountain National Forest Bear Study FAQs
2018 Black Bear Season Handbook 32BEAR HUNTING SAFETY TIPS Although wearing fluorescent orange in the woods. Use caution in identifying clothing is not mandatory for hunting in your target as anyone hunting deer during Vermont, hunters and others are urged to archery season, waterfowl, or turkeys will wear a fluorescent orange vest and hat while normally wear camouflage clothing. DON’T SHOOT SOWS WITH CUBS Bears are normally solitary animals and any department recommends not shooting sows groups of bears seen in the autumn are most accompanied by cubs or a bear that is part of likely females and their young. The a group of bears. 2018 Black Bear Season Handbook 33
SALE OR PURCHASE OF GAME
BIG GAME: The only time it is legal to buy regulated by federal law and international
or sell big game or the meat of big game treaty. If you plan to sell bear hide or parts
within the state is during the open season outside of the United States, you must obtain
and for 20 days after the season ends. The an export permit (for a fee) from the Federal
meat of big game animals is not to be bought Wildlife Permit Office, U.S. Fish & Wildlife
or sold to be transported out of the state. It is Service, Office of Management Authority,
illegal to buy or sell wild turkey at any time. 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203,
1-800-358-2104. These products must be
Other than the meat mentioned above, a shipped through one of eleven designated
person may buy or sell at any time: ports (Boston is the nearest), or through
another port under special permit (for a fee)
The head, hide, and hoofs of legally
from the same office. You do not need export
taken deer or moose; or
permits and declarations to sell to domestic
The head, hide, paws, and internal or foreign buyers within Vermont or the rest
organs of a legally taken black bear. of the United States, or to sell through
brokers who possess the necessary permits.
BEAR PARTS: International trade in hides,
claws, skulls, or teeth of black bear is
2018 Black Bear Season Handbook 34WHERE CAN I HUNT IN VERMONT?
Vermont has more than 800,000 acres of State Forests and Wildlife Management Areas.
federal and state public land open to This is only a partial listing. If you have any
hunting: National Wildlife Refuges, the questions, please call the ANR district office in
Green Mountain National Forest, and all your area.
state forests. State Parks are open to
hunting outside the operating season. Please note that all State motor vehicle laws
apply and all state hunting regulations apply
Perhaps the crown jewel of hunting in to State Forest lands and Wildlife
Vermont is the state’s system of 93 Wildlife Management Areas.
Management Areas, or WMAs. All WMAs
are open to hunting, trapping, fishing and The following activities are prohibited:
other wildlife related outdoor activities.
1. Use of off-road, all terrain vehicles.
Lands managed by the Vermont Department 2. Permanent tree stands and ground blinds.
of Forests, Parks and Recreation and the 3. Cutting standing timber or vegetation
Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department are alive or dead without a permit.
open to regulated hunting throughout the 4. Abandoning any personal property.
year. The only exceptions to this are the State 5. Restricting or blocking use of any road,
Parks which are closed to hunting during the trail, or gate.
parks operating season. 6. Causing damage to any road or trail.
7. Commercial activities without a permit.
Listed below are some of the more common
guidelines and policies pertaining to use of
Vermont Dept. of Forests, Green Mountain National
Wildlife Management Areas
Parks & Recreation Forest
Missisquoi National Wildlife Silvio O. Conte National Fish
The Nature Conservancy
Refuge & Wildlife Refuge
Hammond Cove Shooting West Mountain Shooting
Walter Cabell Shooting Range
Range Range
Vermont Shooting Ranges
Connecticut Valley District Taconic District
DISTRICT AGENCY OF 100 Mineral Street, Suite 304 271 North Main Street, Suite 215
NATURAL RESOURCES Springfield, VT 05156-3168 Rutland, VT 05701-2423
OFFICES F&W: 802-289-0603 F&W: 802-786-0040
FP&R: 802-289-0603 FP&R: 802-786-0060
Central Valley District Champlain Valley District Northeast Kingdom District
5 Perry Street, Suite 40 111 West Street 374 Emerson Falls Road, Suite 4
Barre, VT 05641-4266 Essex Jct., VT 05452-4695 St. Johnsbury, VT 05819
F&W: 802-476-0199 F&W: 802-878-1564 F&W: 802-751-0100
FP&R: 802-476-0170 FP&R: 802-879-6565 FP&R: 802-751-0110
2018 Black Bear Season Handbook 35HUNTERS, TICKS AND LYME DISEASE
Lyme disease has started to become more • Wash hands and bite area with soap and
prevalent in Vermont during the last 10 water
years, particularly in the southern parts of • Put clothing in dryer for 10 minutes on
the state. Ticks that cause Lyme disease are high
still active in the fall in Vermont so hunters
that spend time in tall grass, weed, and Watch
brushes, along with successful hunters • Watch for symptoms of tickborne
handling a deer, should follow a few simple diseases, such as fever, muscle aches,
tick-repelling precautions. fatigue, and joint pain
• Most Vermonters with Lyme disease
Treat your clothing and gear with permethrin develop a rash, but 30% do not
before you hunt, making sure to follow the • If you develop any of these symptoms,
product instructions. Tuck your pants into contact your health care provider
your socks or boots to keep ticks from
crawling up your legs. After returning from What is Lyme Disease?
the hunt, check all over your body for ticks
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that
including your hair, and shower immediately.
features a skin rash, swollen joints, and flu-
Tickborne illnesses are most frequently like symptoms. The number of reported
transmitted between early spring and late cases in Vermont has steadily increased
fall since ticks are most active during warm since 2005. Lyme disease cases have been
months. Be tick smart and follow these four reported from every county, although most
recommendations to decrease your risk of cases occur in the southern and western
infection. regions of the state.
Protect How is Lyme Disease Transmitted?
• Use an EPA-approved tick repellent on
You get the disease from the bite of an
skin
infected black-legged tick, also known as a
• Apply permethrin to clothing
deer tick. The deer tick is smaller than the
• Wear light-colored pants and long
common dog tick and lives in wooded areas
sleeves
and adjacent grasslands. They feed on small
Check and large animals like mice, shrews, birds,
• Perform daily checks on yourself, your raccoons, opossums, deer, and occasionally
children and pets humans.
• Shower soon after spending time
A tick bite is not painful. The tick is so small that
outdoors its presence often goes unnoticed. In most cases
the tick simply bites, draws blood for its
Remove
nourishment and drops off.
• Use tweezers to grab tick close to skin
• Pull tick straight up, do not twist
2018 Black Bear Season Handbook 36If the tick happens to be infected with the • Erythema migrans (EM)
spirochete bacterium (causative agent for Lyme
EM is a characteristic skin rash associated with
disease), it may transmit the spirochetes during
Lyme disease. It occurs in up to 80% of people.
the feeding process.
The EM rash usually appears as an expanding
rash at or near the site of the tick bite. The rash
In most cases, an infected tick must be attached
usually appears within 7 to 14 days. The center
for at least 36 hours in order to transmit Lyme
of the rash may clear as it spreads, giving it the
disease. It is important to realize that a tick bite
appearance of a bull’s-eye. The rash may be
does not always result in Lyme Disease. Prompt
warm, but it is usually not painful or itchy.
removal of ticks can prevent infection.
What is the Treatment for Lyme Disease?
How Do I Remove a Tick?
Appropriate treatment of Lyme disease with
The best way to remove ticks is to use small
antibiotics almost always results in a full cure.
tweezers. Do not squeeze the tick’s body. Grasp
While early treatment is best, most people
it where the mouth parts enter the skin and tug
diagnosed later in the course of illness can also
gently, but firmly, until it releases its hold on
be successfully treated.
your skin. Wipe the bite area thoroughly with
antiseptic.
How Do I Avoid Lyme Disease?
Save the tick in a jar labeled with the date, the
While there is no sure way to completely
body location of the bite, and the place where
eliminate the chance of contracting Lyme
you think you acquired the tick. Your doctor
disease, there are several preventative measures
may find this information and the tick specimen
you can take:
helpful in diagnosis, in case a rash or other
symptoms of Lyme disease subsequently • Wear long pants ticked into boots or socks
appear. and wear long-sleeved shirts buttoned at the
cuff.
What are the Symptoms of Lyme Disease?
• Use tick repellents containing 0.5%
permethrin or mosquito repellents
The symptoms of Lyme disease can vary because
containing 30% DEET.
different parts of the body may be affected. The
• Checking your clothing, skin, and pets for
skin, joints, nerves, or heart may be involved.
ticks and remove them promptly.
Early symptoms of Lyme disease typically
appear within 3 to 30 days after a tick bite and What is the Risk from Lyme Disease?
include one or more of the following:
Be aware of Lyme disease, but don’t be so
• Fatigue concerned that you stop enjoying the outdoors.
• Chills and fever The risk of developing the illness is minimal in
• Muscle and joint pain most of Vermont and even if infection occurs,
• Headache the disease can be diagnosed and treated with
• Swollen lymph nodes antibiotics.
Preventing Ticks
Ticks in Vermont Among Hunters
Factsheet
2018 Black Bear Season Handbook 37HOW TO BUTCHER A BEAR
Tools or fillets are the muscles that run along
the spine from the bottom of the rib cage
6- to 8-inch hunting knife to just before the hind legs. Reserve these
Cutting board if you want bear steaks or simply cube
into roughly 2½ by 2½ inch pieces like
Bone-saw, heavy duty
you will be doing to the rest of the bear
Hacksaw or electric saw
meat.
Large refrigerator or freezer
Large, cleanable table Peel the meat from the ribs. Insert the
9- to 12-foot upright/free-standing structure knife just under the rib meat on the
(optional) outside of the animal’s rib cage making a
12- to 20-foot chain (optional) generous incision. Run your knife along
flesh and the rib bones as you pull the
Hook (optional)
meat back, peeling off the rib meat.
Directions
Remove the meat from the front and back
legs. Holding out the limb, use your knife
Skin your bear so that you are left with a
to cut the meat, sinew, and tendons away
headless and paw-less carcass covered in
from shoulder and hip joints and then
layers of white fat. Lay the bear carcass
saw off each limb at the exposed joint.
out on your large table or suspend the
Cut meat away from each leg and cube.
bear from its hind legs about 3 feet from
the ground using your chain, hook, and
Strip and cube the remaining meat from
upright.
the carcass. The remaining meat will
mostly be around the shoulders.
Cut off the layers of fat with your
hunting knife. Bears have two types of
Place cubes of meat in an airtight
fat: the outer layer is jelly-like while the
container or in plastic tags. Place in your
layer closer to the muscle is firmer, like
refrigerator or freezer, or grind with
beef tallow. Use carefully executed cuts
spices and other meat (traditionally
to shave off the fat in chunks, getting as
pork) to make ground meat for
close to the red bear meat as possible.
hamburgers or sausage.
Discard the fat or reserve the pieces to
render into bear lard or grease.
Courtesy of “2014 Black Bear Recipe Guide”, New
Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife
Remove the fillets. To do this, saw the https://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/pdf/bear_recipeguid
sternum down the middle then split the e.pdf
rib cage into two halves. The tenderloins
2018 Black Bear Season Handbook 38You can also read
