Bear Hunting Season in Vermont: Dates, Tags, and Regulations You Need to Know

Vermont is one of the best states in the Northeast for black bear hunting, and for good reason. Vermont has one of the densest black bear populations in the country, approximately one bear for every three square miles, most commonly found in the Green Mountains and Northeast Kingdom. That kind of density translates into real opportunities for hunters willing to put in the work.

Whether you are heading out for the early archery season or planning to tag a bear during the November deer season, understanding Vermont’s bear hunting regulations before you go is essential. This guide walks you through everything you need — from season dates and license requirements to legal weapons, bag limits, and the best zones to hunt.

Bear Species You Can Hunt in Vermont

Vermont is home to a single huntable bear species: the American black bear (Ursus americanus). Vermont does not have grizzly bears. The state only has black bears. Grizzly bears are native to the western United States and are not found anywhere in New England.

Black bears in Vermont are highly adaptable animals that thrive across the state’s mixed hardwood forests, mountain ridges, and agricultural edges. Most adult female bears in Vermont weigh between 120 to 180 lbs. Cub sizes can vary widely by their first fall depending on food availability throughout the year, the fitness of the sow, and the number of cubs in a litter. Larger cubs can weigh over 50 lbs. and may appear almost as large as the sow, while smaller cubs can be as little as 20 lbs.

This size overlap between large cubs and adult bears is an important identification challenge. Be diligent to observe bears of this size class to determine if they are alone before harvesting. Be patient — family groups may not always be within sight of each other, but members will be nearby. Take time to observe a bear to determine it is alone before harvesting.

Important Note: Vermont’s official 2026 hunting regulations explicitly remind hunters: “Do Not Shoot Bears Accompanied by Cubs.” Always take time to observe any bear before pulling the trigger to confirm it is not a sow with cubs nearby.

Bear Hunting Season Dates in Vermont

Vermont has two bear hunting seasons. Each season has its own tag requirements, and understanding the split structure is key to planning your hunt effectively.

Early Season: The early season runs for Vermont residents from September 1 through the day before the first day of the Regular Deer Season. For non-Vermont residents without the use of dogs, the same dates apply: September 1 through the day before the first day of the Regular Deer Season. Based on the standard Vermont deer season calendar, this means the early season typically runs from September 1 through approximately November 14.

Late Season: The late season, for both Vermont residents and nonresidents, runs from the first day of the Regular Deer Season through the second Sunday of the Regular Deer Season. This typically corresponds to a window from approximately November 15 through November 23, running concurrently with the regular November deer season.

Shooting Hours: Shooting hours are from one half hour before sunrise until one half hour after sunset. Always verify the exact sunrise and sunset times for your specific hunting date using Vermont Fish & Wildlife’s official sunrise/sunset table.

Pro Tip: Some of the best bear hunting occurs in September and October when you can stalk bears by finding concentrated food sources near prime bear habitat. Plan your early season hunts around natural food availability for the highest odds of success.

One important restriction for nonresidents: nonresident bear hound hunters may not hunt in Vermont until September 15. If you are a nonresident planning to use dogs, build this two-week delay into your schedule.

Bear Hunting Licenses and Tags in Vermont

Vermont uses a two-tag system for bear hunting, and the tag you need depends on which season you are hunting. Getting this right before you head afield is non-negotiable.

Early Season Tag: To take a black bear during the early season, a person must, in addition to having a valid Vermont Big Game Hunting license, possess an Early Season Bear Tag issued separately by the Department. This tag must be purchased as an add-on — it does not come with your base license.

Late Season Tag: Your hunting license comes with a “late season bear tag” good from the first day of the regular November deer season through the second Sunday of the regular November deer season. No additional purchase is required to hunt bear during the late season if you already hold a valid Vermont Big Game Hunting License.

Tag Costs: The bear tag costs just $5 for residents and $15 for non-residents, in addition to the base license. (Note: these figures are sourced from a January 2026 source; always confirm current fee schedules at vtfishandwildlife.com before purchasing.)

Archery and Crossbow Hunters: Bear hunters using a bow or crossbow must possess either a prior or current bow license or a certificate proving completion of a bow hunter education course. Make sure this documentation is in hand before your archery bear hunt begins.

Dog Hunting 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 have purchased a valid bear tag. In addition, that person must hold a valid bear dog permit or accompany a bear dog permit holder.

Key Insight: Combination fishing and hunting licenses include the late-season bear tag automatically. Combination licenses include fishing as well as a late-season bear tag and a November regular season legal buck tag. If you plan to fish and hunt in Vermont, a combination license can be a cost-effective option.

For planning other Vermont hunting seasons alongside your bear hunt, check out this guide to turkey hunting season in Vermont for additional season dates and license details.

Legal Methods and Weapons for Bear Hunting in Vermont

Vermont law defines exactly which methods and weapons are permitted for taking black bear. “Legal means” or “legal method” means the taking of a black bear by muzzleloader, rifle, handgun, archery equipment, or crossbow. Each weapon type comes with its own considerations for Vermont’s forested terrain.

• Rifle: A reliable rifle in the .30 caliber range is ideal for the varying terrain and distances in Vermont. The state’s dense forests often limit shot distances, so a hard-hitting caliber with good penetration is a sound choice.
• Archery/Crossbow: For archery hunters, bear-specific broadheads and a strong understanding of shot placement are essential. Crossbows are treated as archery equipment and are legal during archery seasons without a special permit.
• Muzzleloader: Muzzleloaders are a legal method for bear and can be used throughout the open season.
• Handgun: Handguns are permitted as a legal method under Vermont’s bear hunting statutes.

What Is NOT Allowed:

• Hunting bears over bait is prohibited.
• Bears may not be taken alive. Bears may not be trapped.
• A “baited area” is defined as an area where any animal, vegetable, fruit, mineral matter, honey, or any other substance capable of luring or attracting bear has been placed or deposited. It is illegal to shoot a bear that is visiting a bird feeder.
• It is illegal to feed bears, even when not hunting for them.

Using Dogs: Bear dogs may be used with a permit, but no commercial guiding is allowed with bear dogs. Dogs must be department-registered, and the pack is limited to six dogs at a time. No person shall take a black bear with the aid of any unregistered dog. No person shall have an unregistered dog in their possession while hunting, pursuing, or taking a black bear.

Common Mistake: Many hunters assume that placing food near a known bear area to “pattern” the animal is legal as long as they do not hunt directly over it. In Vermont, any area where attractants have been placed qualifies as a “baited area,” and hunting nearby is prohibited regardless of intent.

If you hunt in neighboring states and want to compare regulations, you may find it helpful to review hunting laws in Virginia or hunting laws in Tennessee for context on how bear hunting rules differ across the region.

Bag Limits and Harvest Reporting Requirements in Vermont

Vermont enforces a strict one-bear annual limit and requires timely post-harvest reporting. Failing to comply with these rules can result in serious legal consequences.

Bag Limit: A person shall not harvest more than one black bear per calendar year. This limit applies regardless of which season or method you use. The one-bear-per-year rule is a cornerstone of Vermont’s bear management program.

Immediate Tagging: Bear must be tagged immediately when taken. The tag must be placed on the carcass open to view and remain there until the carcass is cut up for consumption.

48-Hour Reporting Requirement: A person taking bear shall within 48 hours report the taking and exhibit the carcass to the nearest game warden, official Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department Reporting Station, or to a person designated by the commissioner to receive the reports. Vermont Fish & Wildlife urges hunters to report quickly to cool the meat and prevent spoilage.

Field Dressing: The hunter must field dress the bear before taking it to a reporting station. It is also legal to skin the bear and cut it up in order to carry it out of the woods.

Premolar Tooth Submission: A person who takes a bear shall collect a premolar tooth from the bear and submit it to a game warden, official Vermont Fish & Wildlife Reporting Station, or to a person designated by the commissioner to receive it within 30 days of taking the bear. The tooth provides important data on the age structure and size of the bear population. This is now a legal mandate, not just a request.

Transportation Rules: A tagged bear may be transported only during the open season and for 20 days thereafter. If you are transporting a bear out of state, you must report it beforehand.

Dog Hunts: Any bear taken with the use of dogs must be accompanied by the bear dog permit holder at the time of reporting.

Pro Tip: When you submit your premolar tooth at a check station, ask the check station operator for a tooth envelope so you can remove the tooth and seal it in the envelope and deposit it in the green tooth bucket at any check station. Remember to clearly print your name and Conservation ID Number on the envelope.

Bear Hunting Zones and Units in Vermont

Vermont manages its wildlife through a system of Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) that divide the state into geographic zones. Wildlife management units were established in 1979 to regulate deer harvest on a geographical basis where deer densities mirrored the effects of habitat quality and winter severity. Since that time, WMUs have been applied to the management of moose, wild turkey, rabbit, and hare populations on a regional basis.

There are 21 different Vermont WMUs designated by letters and numbers. Each WMU has its own set of regulations and bag limits. The units run alphabetically from A through Q, with some subdivided further (such as D1, D2, E1, E2, and others).

Unlike deer, bear hunting in Vermont is generally statewide rather than restricted to specific WMUs for season dates. However, Vermont has an abundant bear population, and bears can be found all over the state except the Champlain Islands. This means Unit A, which covers Grand Isle County and the Champlain Islands, is effectively off the table for bear hunting.

In terms of where bears are most concentrated, the data is clear. Black bears are distributed statewide, but higher concentrations are found in the Green Mountains and Northeast Kingdom. Public land opportunities abound in the Green Mountain National Forest and state wildlife management areas.

Vermont offers substantial public land access for hunters. The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department owns more than 100 Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) throughout the state, totaling over 133,000 acres. Each area is open to the public and offers a unique diversity of native plants and animals. Many hunters, anglers, and trappers favor these areas, as all Vermont WMAs are open to regulated hunting, trapping, and fishing.

Region	Bear Density	Key Public Lands	Notes
Green Mountains	High	Green Mountain National Forest, multiple WMAs	Core bear habitat; mixed hardwood and beech stands
Northeast Kingdom	High	Victory Basin WMA, extensive state forest	Remote terrain; strong early season opportunities
Southern/Central Vermont	Moderate–High	State WMAs, private agricultural land	Forest-ag edge habitat; good food sources in fall
Champlain Valley/Islands (Unit A)	None	N/A	Bears not present in Champlain Islands

You can access the official WMU map and boundary descriptions at Vermont Fish & Wildlife’s WMU page. Knowing your exact unit before you hunt is essential, as antlerless deer regulations and other species rules vary by unit and could affect your overall hunting plan.

For hunters who pursue bear and big game across multiple states, comparing zone structures can be useful. See how other states handle management areas in guides like hunting laws in Montana or hunting laws in Idaho.

Tips for a Successful Bear Hunt in Vermont

Vermont’s bear season rewards hunters who scout thoroughly, understand bear behavior, and adapt their strategy as the season progresses. Here are the most practical tips to improve your odds.

Follow the Food Sources

Successful bear hunting usually means successfully finding concentrated natural food sources in or near prime bear habitat. Early in the season, preferred foods include late-ripening berries, black cherries, and standing corn. As the season progresses, wild apples, beechnuts, and acorns become more important.

Bears often forage along power lines, old fields, and forested areas where food sources like berries, apples, and standing corn are abundant. Bears use remote ridges, oak stands, and berry thickets throughout the fall as they feed heavily in preparation for winter.

Scout for Sign

It is crucial to locate and recognize bear sign, such as tracks, scat, and claw marks, during the scouting phase. Beech trees with claw marks on the bark are a reliable indicator that bears are working the area. Fresh diggings, overturned rocks, and torn-apart logs also signal recent activity.

Time Your Hunt Around First and Last Light

Quiet still-hunting or sitting near known food sources during the first and last light of the day is often most productive. Bears are most active during low-light periods, especially as hunting pressure increases through the season.

Manage Your Scent

Use scent control and pay close attention to wind direction, as bears rely heavily on their sense of smell. A bear that catches your wind at 200 yards will be gone before you ever see it. Always approach your hunting area from downwind and avoid contaminating food sources with human odor.

Be Patient with Shot Selection

Vermont’s bear population includes sows with cubs, and the regulations are clear about protecting family groups. Select a shooting location that offers views of the surrounding area to increase the chance of observing potential cubs. When in doubt, don’t shoot.

Key Insight: With healthy bear populations and a landscape of mixed hardwood forests and rugged hills, Vermont offers both accessibility and solitude. Success depends on understanding tag rules, seasonal behaviors, and the best ways to scout and hunt in this diverse terrain.

Handle Your Harvest Properly

After successfully harvesting a bear, follow specific post-hunt procedures to ensure the meat is properly handled and processed. Begin by field dressing the bear as soon as possible to prevent spoilage and promote cooling. Once the bear is dressed, transport it to a reporting station where you will need to provide details about the harvest, including the location and time of the kill.

Stay Current on Regulations

Vermont’s hunting regulations can change from year to year. Always verify season dates, bag limits, and license requirements directly with the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department before your hunt. The official eRegulations Vermont bear hunting page also provides a regularly updated digest of the current rules.

If you hunt multiple species across New England and the Midwest, these state-specific guides can help you stay organized: hunting laws in Minnesota, hunting laws in Ohio, and hunting laws in Indiana.

Vermont’s black bear season is one of the longest and most accessible in the Northeast. With the right licenses in hand, a solid understanding of the regulations, and a willingness to put boots on the ground in prime habitat, you have every opportunity to tag a bear in the Green Mountain State.