Vermont Turkey Hunting Season: Dates, Zones, and Regulations You Need to Know

Vermont is one of the Northeast’s most rewarding states for turkey hunting — and the numbers back that up. Vermont’s turkey population is now estimated to be greater than 45,000 birds, and their distribution far exceeds their historical range, with turkeys occurring in nearly every town. Whether you’re chasing spring gobblers in the Champlain Valley or heading into the woods for a fall archery hunt, knowing the rules before you go is the difference between a legal harvest and a costly mistake.

This guide walks you through everything you need to know about turkey hunting season in Vermont — from season dates and Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) breakdowns to license requirements, legal methods, youth opportunities, and harvest reporting. Always verify dates and regulations with the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department before heading out, as rules can change year to year.

Key Insight: Vermont classifies wild turkey as “Big Game” under state law — the same category as deer and bear — so treat your tags, reporting, and compliance requirements with that level of seriousness.

Spring Turkey Season Dates and Zones in Vermont

Turkey hunting seasons are split between spring and fall, with spring being the most popular due to the breeding season behaviors of turkeys. In Vermont, the spring season is statewide and runs through the entire month of May. The Youth and Novice Weekend typically falls on the last Saturday and Sunday of April (April 26–27), with the regular spring season running May 1–31.

Youth turkey hunting weekend is the Saturday and Sunday prior to opening day of spring turkey season on May 1. Legal shooting hours during this weekend are one half hour before sunrise until 5 p.m. During the regular spring season, hunting hours run from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.

Turkeys are most common in the southwestern foothills, southern Champlain Valley, and low-land portions of the eastern foothills. Prime turkey habitat consists of a mix of agricultural land and forested areas. Areas where working dairy farms abut mature stands of nut-bearing oak and hickory trees are especially productive.

Pro Tip: Wherever you hunt, the key to success is pre-season scouting and securing landowner permission. Vermont’s landscape rewards hunters who put in the legwork before opening day.

The spring season is open statewide across all Wildlife Management Units (WMUs). Vermont divides the state into 21 WMUs — labeled A through Q, with some subdivided (such as D1, D2, E1, E2) — and understanding your specific unit is important for knowing which regulations apply to you. You can find the official WMU map and full turkey regulations at eRegulations.

Vermont’s spring turkey hunters routinely achieve success rates greater than 25%, and more than 35% of successful spring hunters take a second turkey to fill their two-bird bag limit. That’s a strong incentive to plan your hunt carefully and know the rules inside and out.

Fall Turkey Season Dates and Zones in Vermont

Vermont’s fall turkey season is structured differently from spring, with two distinct phases separated by weapon type and zone. Fall seasons are divided into archery only and archery or shotgun, and generally occur in October.

Here’s how the 2025 fall season breaks down by phase and zone:

The archery-only phase runs October 4–24, 2025 in all WMUs statewide. The shotgun or archery phase runs October 25 – November 2, 2025 in WMUs B, D, G, H, I, J, L, M, O, P, and Q. WMUs F, K, and N remain open for shotgun or archery through November 9.

Fall birds behave very differently from their spring counterparts. Fall birds are less vocal and more focused on feeding, presenting different challenges for hunters accustomed to spring calling tactics. Locating feeding areas near agricultural fields and mast-producing trees is a key strategy during this season. If you’re also hunting turkey in neighboring states, check out our guides on turkey hunting season in Maine and turkey hunting season in Indiana for comparison.

Important Note: Vermont does not legally require hunter orange, but the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department strongly recommends wearing it for safety — especially when walking in and out of your hunting site during fall seasons when deer hunters may also be in the woods.

Bag Limits and Sex Restrictions in Vermont

Vermont’s bag limits differ significantly between the spring and fall seasons, and understanding those distinctions keeps you on the right side of the law.

Spring Season Bag Limits:
Spring season has a bag limit of two bearded turkeys. Only bearded turkeys may be legally taken during the spring, which typically means adult toms and occasionally bearded hens. The two-bird limit applies across the entire spring season, including any turkey taken during the Youth or Novice Weekend.

Fall Season Bag Limits:
In the fall season, there is a statewide bag limit of one turkey of either sex. This is a notable difference from spring — fall hunters are not restricted to bearded birds and may take a bird of either sex, but only one per season.

Here’s a quick comparison:

In recent years, more than 6,000 turkeys have been harvested annually across the state, providing hunters with an enduring connection to their environment and over 140,000 servings of all-natural, local, and sustainably harvested turkey meat. Respecting bag limits is a direct contribution to maintaining that healthy population. For a look at how Vermont’s limits compare to other states, see our guide on turkey hunting season in Kentucky.

Common Mistake: Hunters sometimes assume the fall season restricts harvests to bearded birds like spring does. It does not — fall allows either sex, but you are still limited to one bird total for the fall season.

License, Permit, and Tag Requirements in Vermont

Turkey hunting in Vermont requires more than just a basic hunting license. You’ll need a specific combination of licenses and tags before you set foot in the field.

A current hunting or combination license and current turkey license with tag are required to hunt turkey. Both resident and non-resident hunters must meet this requirement. A Vermont hunting license and turkey permit are required for both residents and non-residents.

The turkey permit costs $23 for residents and $38 for non-residents, and it covers both spring and fall seasons.

If you plan to use a bow or crossbow, there’s an additional requirement: a turkey hunter using a bow or crossbow must have a previous or current bow license or a certificate proving completion of a bow hunter education course.

Here’s a summary of what you need:

• Base Hunting License – Required for all hunters (resident or non-resident)
• Turkey License with Tag – Required in addition to base license; $23 resident / $38 non-resident
• Bow License or Bowhunter Education Certificate – Required if hunting with bow or crossbow
• Youth Turkey Hunting Weekend License – Free for qualifying youth (age 15 and under)
• Novice Turkey Hunting Weekend License – Required for novice hunters during the youth/novice weekend

All first-time hunters, bowhunters, and trappers must take a hunter education course before obtaining a license of their respective type. These courses can be taken online or in person. However, there is a minimum age requirement of 12 years for all online-only hunter education courses.

Hunters must promptly attach the appropriate tag to a turkey they have taken. Do not wait until you return to your vehicle — tagging is required immediately upon harvest. You can purchase licenses through the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department or at authorized license agents across the state. To see how Vermont’s licensing structure compares to other states in the region, check out our guides on turkey hunting season in Kansas and turkey hunting season in Iowa.

Legal Hunting Methods and Equipment in Vermont

Vermont is specific about what weapons and methods are legal for turkey hunting. Using the wrong equipment — even accidentally — can result in serious penalties.

Legal means for taking a turkey is defined as taking a turkey by shotgun, crossbow, or archery equipment. Rifles and pistols are not permitted for turkey hunting under any circumstances. You may use only a shotgun, bow, or crossbow to take turkeys. Do not carry or use a rifle while turkey hunting.

Shotgun Requirements:

• Only number 2 through number 8 shot shall be used or possessed while turkey hunting
• Only shotguns that are 10-gauge or smaller are permitted

Archery Equipment Requirements:

• An arrowhead must be at least 7/8th of an inch in width and have two or more cutting edges
• A bow license or bowhunter education certificate is required

Crossbow Requirements:

• A bolt for a crossbow must have a head that measures no less than 7/8 inch at its widest point. A crossbow shall have a minimum pull of 125 pounds, a working mechanical safety, and a stock no less than 23 inches in length.
• Any person wishing to hunt turkey with a crossbow or bow and arrow must hold proof of having held an archery license or a certificate of satisfactory completion of a bowhunter education course from Vermont or another state or province of Canada approved by the Commissioner.
• Unless it is uncocked, a person shall not possess or transport a crossbow in or on a motor vehicle, motorboat, airplane, snowmobile, or other motor-propelled vehicle.

Prohibited Methods:
Use of electronic calls, bait, live decoys, cooperative drives, and dogs in the spring season is prohibited. These restrictions are designed to ensure a fair-chase hunt and protect Vermont’s turkey population from over-harvest.

Pro Tip: Wear blaze orange when walking in and out of your hunting site, and wrap any turkeys you bag in blaze orange. Use only hen calls to avoid potentially attracting another hunter with a gobbler call. Sit with your back against a tree in a spot with a good field of vision, and avoid sitting in the potential line of fire should another hunter mistakenly shoot at your decoy.

Youth and Apprentice Turkey Hunting in Vermont

Vermont has designated three individual youth hunting seasons throughout the year: Youth Turkey Season, Youth Waterfowl Season, and Youth Deer Season. The Youth Turkey Hunting Weekend is one of the state’s most cherished hunting traditions, giving young hunters their first crack at spring gobblers before the regular season opens.

Youth Turkey Hunting Weekend:

Youth turkey hunting weekend is the Saturday and Sunday prior to opening day of spring turkey season on May 1. Any resident or nonresident youth, 15 years of age or younger on the weekend of the hunt, who has successfully completed a hunter education course may obtain a free youth turkey hunting tag.

A qualified youth must also purchase a Vermont hunting license and turkey license at a license agent by either showing proof of satisfactorily completing the hunter education course or proof of having held a valid hunting license previously. The youth hunter’s parent or guardian must sign the hunting license application in the presence of the license agent.

Key rules for youth hunters:

• Must be age 15 or younger on the date of the hunt
• Bag limit: one bearded turkey per youth during the weekend. A youth may also hunt during the spring season and take two bearded turkeys during that season.
• The youth hunter must be accompanied by an unarmed adult over 18 years of age who holds a valid Vermont hunting license. The adult may accompany no more than two youth hunters at any given time. The adult must have direct control and supervision, including the ability to see and communicate with the youth hunter without the aid of artificial devices such as radios or binoculars.
• Landowner permission is required in order to hunt on private land with a youth turkey tag.

Novice (Apprentice) Turkey Hunting Weekend:

The Novice Turkey Hunting Weekend is concurrent with the Youth Turkey Hunting Weekend. A novice is defined as a person who obtained their first hunting license within the past 12 months and is 16 years of age or older.

The bag limit is one bearded turkey per novice. To participate, a qualified person must have a valid Vermont hunting and turkey license and a novice turkey hunting weekend license and follow the requirements of youth turkey hunting weekend.

The novice must be accompanied by an unarmed adult who holds a valid Vermont hunting license and who is 18 years of age or older. An adult accompanying a novice shall accompany no more than two novice hunters at one time.

Key Insight: Both youth and novice hunters can carry their weekend harvest into the regular spring season. Taking one bird on the youth/novice weekend does not eliminate your spring season opportunity — it counts toward your overall spring bag limit of two bearded turkeys.

If you’re introducing a new hunter to turkey hunting in neighboring states, see our guides on turkey hunting season in Georgia and turkey hunting season in Illinois for comparison on youth programs.

Harvest Reporting Requirements in Vermont

Vermont takes harvest reporting seriously, and failing to comply can result in penalties even if your hunt was otherwise fully legal. The reporting requirement applies to all turkey hunters — resident and non-resident alike.

A person taking turkey shall within 48 hours report the taking and exhibit the carcass to the nearest game warden, official Fish & Wildlife Department Reporting Station, or to a person designated by the commissioner to receive the reports. Turkey may also be reported online.

Your reporting options include:

• Online: Report through the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department’s online turkey harvest reporting portal
• In person: Exhibit the carcass at the nearest game warden or official Fish & Wildlife Reporting Station
• Designated agent: Report to any person designated by the commissioner to receive reports

There is one additional rule that out-of-state hunters must be especially aware of: no turkey carcass shall be transported out of state without first being reported. If you’re a non-resident planning to bring your bird home, you must complete your harvest report before crossing the Vermont state line.

Hunters must promptly attach the appropriate tag to a turkey they have taken — this is required immediately at the point of harvest, not when you return to camp or your vehicle.

Important Note: The 48-hour reporting window is firm. Don’t wait until the end of your trip to report — submit your harvest as soon as possible after the hunt to stay fully compliant with Vermont law.

Vermont’s reporting system also helps wildlife managers track annual harvest numbers and make informed decisions about future season structures. In recent years, more than 6,000 turkeys have been harvested annually across the state — data that’s only possible because of hunter compliance with reporting requirements. Your report directly supports the conservation of the resource you hunt.

For hunters who also pursue waterfowl, note that you must register with the HIP (Harvest Information Program) to get your Vermont HIP number and always carry your hunting license and HIP number whenever you hunt. This is separate from turkey harvest reporting but equally important for waterfowl hunters. Check out our guides on goose hunting in other states such as Ohio and Maryland if you plan to pursue geese during the same trip.

Before every season, confirm the latest dates, zone boundaries, and any regulatory changes directly with the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department. Regulations can be updated annually, and staying current is part of being a responsible hunter in the Green Mountain State. You can also explore turkey hunting regulations in other states like Idaho and Florida to broaden your hunting plans.