Vermont hunting license

How much is a Vermont hunting license?

A resident Vermont hunting license costs $28 and a nonresident one costs $102, as listed by Vermont Fish and Wildlife for the current license year. That base license covers both small game and big game. Bowhunters, muzzleloader hunters and turkey hunters buy an add-on on top: residents pay $23 for each one.

If you also fish, the hunting and fishing Combination is $47 for residents and $143 for nonresidents. Hunters who plan to stay in the sport can buy a 5-year hunting license instead of renewing every year: $134 for residents and $504 for nonresidents.

The price table below lays out the base licenses, youth options, add-ons and lifetime prices. Buying online adds no service fee, according to the department, so the online price matches the listed fee. Prices change from time to time, so confirm the current figure on the Vermont license fee page before you check out.

Do you need hunter education for a Vermont hunting license?

Yes, and Vermont has no birth-year cutoff: every buyer must show a hunter safety certificate or a previous hunting license from any state or province. That means a 60-year-old who has never been licensed anywhere still needs the course, while a hunter licensed elsewhere years ago can show that old license instead.

Archery is handled separately. To buy an archery license you need bowhunter education, not just the general hunter safety course.

Vermont residents 18 and older can certify fully online. Everyone else, including nonresidents and younger students, takes an in-person course. Class listings are on the Vermont hunter education page.

Not ready to take the class yet? The Mentored Hunting License costs $10 for residents or nonresidents who have never taken hunter education or held a license. You must stay within 15 feet of a licensed adult age 21 or older, it can be used for only two calendar years, and it cannot be used for moose permits.

Where do you buy a hunting license in Vermont?

Most hunters buy online at vtfwdsales.com, where the department charges no online service fee. Authorized license agents around the state also sell licenses in person, and the Fish and Wildlife office in Montpelier sells them directly. Lifetime and disability licenses go through the Montpelier office, not the online store or agents.

Have your hunter-ed card number or an old license from any state or province handy, because the system asks for proof before it will issue your first license. If a question comes up, the licensing line is (802) 828-1190, and the department posts a license buying FAQ online.

1. Complete hunter education (or bowhunter education for archery), find a prior hunting license, or choose the $10 Mentored Hunting License.
2. Go to vtfwdsales.com, visit a license agent or contact the Montpelier office.
3. Pick the hunting license or the Combination, then add archery deer, muzzleloader deer or turkey if you need them.
4. Pay, keep your license with you, and parents of minors sign the paper license.

Buy a Vermont hunting license on the official site

How do deer, turkey, bear and moose tags work in Vermont?

The base license covers big game in general, but archery deer, muzzleloader deer and turkey each need their own add-on. Antlerless deer during rifle and muzzleloader seasons require a separate lottery permit, and moose can only be hunted with a permit won in the moose lottery.

After a kill, deer, bear and turkey must be reported within 48 hours. You can report at a big game reporting station, or online, but online deer reporting applies only to archery and muzzleloader deer. Details are on the department's big game reporting page.

The moose lottery opens in April. For 2026, applications closed June 17, 2026 and the drawing took place July 15, 2026. The antlerless deer permit lottery runs on its own schedule each year, so check the lottery page if you want a doe permit for muzzleloader or rifle season.

What do young hunters pay in Vermont?

Hunters under 18 can buy a Youth Hunting license for $8 as a resident or $25 as a nonresident. The Youth Combination, which adds fishing, is $12 for residents and $30 for nonresidents.

The cheaper price does not skip the education rule. Young hunters still need a hunter safety certificate or a previous license, or they can start with the Mentored Hunting License. Anyone under 16 needs a parent or guardian to sign for the license, and minors must carry a signed paper copy while hunting, not just a phone screen.

Lifetime licenses are cheapest when bought young. A resident lifetime hunting license is $224 for a child under 1 and $448 for ages 1 to 15, which is far less than the adult price.

How much is a nonresident Vermont hunting license?

The nonresident license is $102, and it covers small and big game. Add-ons cost more than for residents: archery deer is $38, turkey is $38 and muzzleloader deer is $40. Bowhunters who only want archery deer can skip the base license and buy the Archery Deer Only license for $75.

If you only want grouse, rabbits or other small game, the nonresident Small Game license is $50. It does not cover big game or trapping. Vermont does not sell a 1-day, 3-day or 7-day hunting license, so these annual products are your options. Some visitors also hunt nearby states on the same trip; see the New Hampshire hunting license and New York hunting license guides.

Nonresidents face the same proof rule as residents: bring a hunter safety card or a prior license from your home state. The online-only course is limited to Vermont residents 18 and older, so plan an in-person class if you still need certification.

Other Vermont license rules to know

A few Vermont rules are different from what many hunters expect, especially visitors from states with a fall-to-fall license year or a blaze orange law. Here are the points that matter most when you buy, carry and use a license here. For other states, see our guide to the hunting license by state.

• License year: annual licenses follow the calendar year. They are valid from January 1, or the day you buy, and expire December 31. Next year's licenses usually go on sale in mid-December.
• Hunter orange: Vermont law does not require it, but the department recommends at least an orange hat and vest.
• Landowners: resident landowners, their spouse and minor children can hunt their own land in season without a license, except for seasons that need special tags (moose, antlerless muzzleloader and waterfowl). Nonresident landowners get this only if their land is not posted.
• Seniors: residents 66 and older can buy a permanent license for a one-time $60, which includes archery, muzzleloader and turkey tags and renews free each year.
• Military and veterans: residents on active military duty get a free license, and resident veterans who are 60% or more service-disabled qualify for a free permanent license.
• Lifetime: resident lifetime hunting licenses are $868 for ages 16 to 24 and $728 for ages 25 to 64. Apply by mail to the Montpelier office.