The Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules on July 10 approved a package of Fish & Wildlife amendments to Vermont’s deer management rule that change allowable take and season structure.

The board’s adopted rule establishes expanded archery zones, moves youth weekend to the weekend before the regular season, reinstates an antler‑point restriction in WMU D‑1, allows previously issued antlerless permits to be used during the regular (rifle) season, removes an archery closure during the regular season, permits hunters to hold two antlerless permits in different wildlife‑management units, and allows a conditional second buck under specified conditions. The department also proposed a five‑day extension of the December muzzleloader season in the final rule.

Hannah Smith, general counsel for the Department of Fish and Wildlife, and project staff summarized public comment. Nick Fortin, who worked on the public comment review, said the largest focus of public concern was allowing antlerless harvest during the regular season, a change not used in Vermont since the 1980s. Fortin said many commenters worried about safety, landowner posting and cultural change among hunters, but department staff noted that other states allow antlerless take during firearm seasons and that the department controls total antlerless harvest each year through the permit issuance process.

Fortin said the board voted 8–6 in favor of the substantive changes at the board level. The department emphasized that allowing a conditional second buck is limited by conditions — hunters must harvest and report an antlerless deer first — and that the board controls the number of permits issued annually to avoid overharvest.

The committee approved the rule package (listed as rule 25 P 14) by voice vote. Several committee members raised safety and land‑access concerns during discussion; the department reiterated that hunter‑education requirements and reporting systems are part of the framework to monitor harvest and safety outcomes.