Hunting Bear With Dogs in Vermont This Fall? Nonresidents Face a Later Start
November 6, 2026
Bear hunting season in Vermont 2026 opens September 1, but not everyone gets to start that day. Nonresidents using dogs wait two weeks, and every hunter, resident or not, is capped at one bear per calendar year.
This article gives you the dates, tag rules, dog permit requirements, bait ban, and reporting deadlines in the order you will need them. Vermont Fish & Wildlife publishes the controlling rules, so treat its season dates and annual bear guide as the final word on any detail.
One pending change is worth knowing about. The Fish and Wildlife Board has advanced a proposal to extend the fall bear season into December and allow two bear tags per year, so watch for the final rule before you plan beyond the dates below.
Bear Hunting Season Dates in Vermont 2026
Vermont runs two bear seasons, and the dates are the same statewide. According to the Vermont Fish & Wildlife seasons page, the schedule for 2026 is below.
| Season | Dates (Inclusive) |
|---|---|
| Early Season | September 1 to November 13, 2026 |
| Late Season | November 14 to 22, 2026 |
| Resident With Dogs (By Permit) | September 1 to November 22, 2026 |
| Nonresident With Dogs (By Permit) | September 15 to November 22, 2026 |
The late season runs alongside the first nine days of the regular November deer season. If you hunt bear and deer in the same window, wear the right colors and carry the right tags for each.
Pro Tip: The state’s 2026 season dates PDF is the quickest place to confirm every date before you buy tags.
Bear Season by Weapon and Method in Vermont: Archery, Muzzleloader and Firearm
Vermont does not split its bear season by weapon the way it does for deer. The early and late seasons are open to legal firearms, archery equipment, and muzzleloaders, and dogs are allowed by permit.
The one weapon-specific wrinkle is paperwork. Vermont Fish & Wildlife notes that a bear hunter using a bow or crossbow must hold a prior or current bowhunter education credential in addition to a hunting license, as reported by the Bennington Banner.
- Early season: legal firearms, archery, muzzleloader, or permitted dogs
- Late season: same methods, with the shorter November window
- No bait in either season
Spring Bear Season in Vermont
Vermont has no spring bear season. Vermontpublic.org ran a correction on this point, noting that the state has an early fall bear season, not a spring one.
If you want a spring hunt in New England, turkey is your option here. Our Vermont turkey hunting season guide covers the April youth weekend and May season.
Bear Hunting Zones, Units and Management Areas in Vermont
Vermont does not divide bear hunting into zones or bag-limited units. The seasons and the one-bear limit apply statewide, and the state’s eRegulations summary says bears live all over Vermont except the Champlain Islands.
Density varies by region. According to Vermont Fish & Wildlife’s black bear page, the state has roughly one bear for every three square miles, most commonly in the Green Mountains and Northeast Kingdom.
Wildlife Management Units matter more for deer and moose than for bear. You can use the WMU map to plan access and find public land, but it does not change your bear season.
Bear Hunting License, Tag and Permit Requirements in Vermont
Two documents cover most bear hunters: a Vermont hunting license and a bear tag. The early season needs a separate early bear tag, while the late season tag comes with your general hunting license.
The state’s bear hunting regulations on eRegulations describe the late season tag as good from the first day of the regular November deer season through the second Sunday. Check the current fee schedule on the 2026 license fee page before you buy, since I am not quoting prices I cannot tie to an official 2026 table.
If you hunt with dogs, the requirements stack up. You need a Vermont Big Game Hunting License, only department-registered dogs, and a valid bear tag, plus the bear dog permit covered below.
Pro Tip: Buy the early bear tag before September 1 even if you plan to hunt deer first. You cannot add it after you are already in the woods.
Bear Permit Draws and Lotteries in Vermont
Vermont does not use a draw or lottery for black bear. Anyone with a license and the proper tag can hunt, which sets bear apart from moose, where permits are awarded by lottery.
The only permit that functions like an application is the bear dog permit. Resident and nonresident bear dog permit applications are available from Vermont Fish & Wildlife, and it issues them to dog owners rather than by random selection.
Nonresident Bear Hunting in Vermont
Nonresidents can hunt Vermont bear with a nonresident hunting license and the appropriate bear tag. The big restriction applies to dogs: nonresident bear hound hunters may not hunt in Vermont until September 15, per the state’s bear hunting rules.
Nonresidents using dogs then hunt through November 22, the same end date as residents. Nonresidents hunting without dogs follow the regular early and late season dates.
Vermont’s proposed bear rule also contemplates a process allowing a nonresident bear dog owner to take bear in Vermont, so expect the dog permit paperwork to be the slowest part of planning a trip. If you are crossing from New Hampshire, compare rules with our New Hampshire deer season article to avoid mixing up tag systems.
Bear Bag Limit and Harvest Quota in Vermont
The bag limit is one bear per calendar year, and it covers both seasons combined. If you tag a bear on opening day in September, your bear hunting is done until January 1.
Vermont sets no harvest quota that closes the season early. The bag limit holds regardless of how many bears hunters have taken statewide.
The limit may change. After rejecting two bear baiting proposals, the board voted unanimously to advance a Fish and Wildlife Department recommendation to allow two bear tags per year, according to Vermont Public. Until a final rule takes effect, plan around one bear.
Baiting Rules for Bear Hunting in Vermont
Baiting bears is illegal in Vermont. Hunters may not use bait or a baited area to take a bear, and it is also illegal to feed bears even when you are not hunting.
The proposed bear management rule on the state’s site goes further, barring any person from knowingly placing bait to attract black bear for the purposes of hunting. That language reflects the department’s position.
Hunters pushed the other way this year. The Fish and Wildlife Board voted 11 to 1 in May to reject two proposals for a baited bear season, so the ban stands.
Common Mistake: Hunting over a spot where someone else dumped corn or food scraps still counts as hunting over a baited area. Scout the ground before you sit.
Hunting Bears with Hounds in Vermont
Hound hunting is legal in Vermont, but it carries the most rules of any method. Anyone hunting, pursuing, harvesting, or involved in taking a bear with dogs must hold a valid Big Game Hunting License, use only registered dogs, and have a bear tag.
Key points from the state’s guide and proposed rule:
- No more than six dogs may be used in a single pack.
- The bear dog permit holder must accompany any bear taken with dogs at reporting.
- The license and permit are also required for training dogs to pursue bear.
- Commercial guiding with bear dogs is not allowed.
Resident dog season starts September 1, and nonresident dog season starts September 15. The department’s bear season guide lays out the dog permit application.
Legal Weapons and Methods for Bear Hunting in Vermont
Legal methods include rifles and handguns that meet Vermont’s big game rules, muzzleloaders, bows, and crossbows. Dogs are legal by permit, and bait is not.
| Method | Status in Vermont |
|---|---|
| Firearms | Legal during early and late seasons |
| Muzzleloader | Legal during early and late seasons |
| Bow or crossbow | Legal, with bowhunter education credential |
| Dogs | Legal by permit, six dogs maximum |
| Bait or baited area | Prohibited |
Check the equipment rules in the current Vermont hunting guide for caliber and arrow requirements, since the details are set by department regulation.
Legal Bears and Protected Bears in Vermont
Vermont has one bear species, the black bear, and any black bear is legal during the seasons. The state’s eRegulations quick reference includes a reminder not to shoot bears accompanied by cubs.
That is an ethical request from the department. Even so, treat sows with cubs as off limits, because you cannot tell a cub’s age from a distance and the population depends on females.
A new rule also bars selling bear paws or internal organs. Vermont Fish & Wildlife highlighted the law in its season announcement and urges hunters to read the 2026 Black Bear Hunting Guide.
Youth and Special Bear Hunts in Vermont
Vermont does not run a separate youth bear season or special bear hunt. Young hunters follow the same early and late bear dates as adults, with the license and tag requirements that apply to their age.
For youth-focused hunting, the state’s youth opportunities are built around deer and turkey. The April youth and novice turkey weekend is the standard starting point, and our turkey season article covers it.
Where to Hunt Bear in Vermont: Public and Private Land
You can hunt bear on public and private land across the state, with a few access rules to respect. Landowner permission matters on private ground, and posted land requires written permission.
For public land, Vermont Fish & Wildlife advises that successful bear hunting means finding concentrated natural food sources in or near prime bear habitat. Early season foods include late-ripening berries, black cherries, and standing corn.
Wildlife Management Areas and state forest land in the Green Mountains and Northeast Kingdom are strong starting points because bear density is highest there. Look for beech stands and apple trees later in the fall.
Best Time to Hunt Bear in Vermont
Early September gives you the most predictable bear behavior, because bears feed heavily on berries, cherries, and corn before denning. Cooler mornings and evenings in late September and October keep bears active in daylight.
By the late season, many bears are denning or moving less. Hunters who tag a bear in the late season are often hunting alongside deer hunters, which means more pressure in the woods.
- September: berry and corn patterns, most bear movement
- October: beech nuts and apples, good scouting window
- November: late season, fewer active bears, heavier hunter traffic
Vermont’s black bear page is the best place for feeding and habitat tips from the department’s biologists.
Bear Hunting Hours, Sunday Hunting and Blaze Orange in Vermont
Hunting hours run one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset, according to the department’s bear guide. Sunday hunting is allowed in Vermont, so the full week is open to you.
Blaze orange is not mandatory for hunting in Vermont, but the department’s bear safety tips strongly encourage it, especially in November when deer hunters share the woods. Positively identify your target and know what is behind it before you shoot.
Important Note: Late season bear overlaps the regular November deer season. Wear orange even though the law does not require it.
Tagging, Check-In and Reporting a Bear in Vermont
Tag the bear immediately when you take it. Field dress it before you report it, and report it to a game warden, an official Fish & Wildlife reporting station, or a person the commissioner designates.
The Bennington Banner, citing Vermont Fish & Wildlife, says the bear must be reported within 48 hours, though the department urges quick reporting to cool the meat. It is legal to skin and quarter a bear to carry it out.
- Tag the bear at the kill site.
- Field dress the carcass.
- Report it within 48 hours.
- Collect a premolar tooth and submit it at reporting or within 30 days.
The tooth gives biologists data on the age structure of the bear population. If you hunted with dogs, the bear dog permit holder must be present when the bear is reported, per the eRegulations bear section.
Bear Hunting Season in Vermont 2026: Frequently Asked Questions
When Does Bear Season Start in Vermont in 2026?
Early season opens September 1, 2026, and runs through November 13. The late season runs November 14 to 22.
How Many Bears Can You Take in Vermont?
One per calendar year under current rules. A proposal to allow two tags per year has advanced but is not in effect.
Is Baiting Legal for Bear in Vermont?
No. Baiting and hunting over a baited area are prohibited.
When Can Nonresidents Hunt Bear With Dogs?
Nonresident dog hunters start September 15 and can hunt through November 22.
Do You Have to Report a Bear You Harvest?
Yes. Report within 48 hours and submit a premolar tooth within 30 days.
If you also hunt other game in the state, our Vermont rabbit season and Vermont goose season guides cover the dates and rules you will need after bear season ends.