How Much Does a Vermont Hunting License Cost?

A Vermont hunting license costs $28 for residents and $102 for non-residents, per the Vermont Department of Fish & Wildlife. The base license covers small game and furbearers, but deer, turkey, and bear each require a separate add-on license, and archery or muzzleloader hunters need their own weapon-specific tag on top of that.

Vermont runs its license year on the calendar, expiring December 31 regardless of when you bought it, so every hunter renews on the same fixed schedule. Vermont also stands out for something else: hunter education itself is completely free, whether you take the fully online path or the hybrid course that includes an in-person day.

Between weapon-specific add-ons, a waterfowl stamp, and multiyear license options that can lock in savings, Vermont's total cost depends on how many seasons you plan to hunt. Here's what to know before you buy.

How Much Does a Vermont Hunting License Cost?

Vermont's base license comes in youth, adult, and permanent versions, with a 5-year option available for residents and non-residents alike.

Non-residents who only want to bowhunt deer have a shortcut worth knowing about: a $75 Archery Only-Deer license skips the base hunting license requirement entirely, making it a cheaper path for visitors focused solely on archery season.

Required Stamps and Permits

A base license alone doesn't cover deer, turkey, or bear. Vermont layers separate add-on licenses for each, all requiring a base hunting license first.

Waterfowl hunters 16 and older also need a Federal Duck Stamp on top of Vermont's own stamp, and both are required whether you're hunting personally or taking out a mentee as a mentored hunter.

Youth and Discounted Licenses

Vermont builds several fee breaks into its licensing structure by age and disability status. These include:

• Youth 17 and under: Pay a flat $8 resident or $25 non-resident rate for the Hunting License, well below the standard adult fee.
• Residents 66 and older: Qualify for a $60 Permanent License covering hunting for life, with no annual renewal required.
• Residents with paraplegia or a permanent, severe physical mobility disability: Can apply for a free permanent hunting or combination license.
• Legally blind residents: May qualify for a free permanent license through the Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
• First-time mentored hunters: Can purchase a $10 Mentored Hunting License and hunt alongside a fully licensed adult without completing hunter education first.

What Is a Vermont Hunting License?

A Vermont hunting license is the base document the Department requires before you can legally pursue small game and furbearers in the state, though deer, turkey, and bear all need a separate add-on license layered on top.

Your hunter education card operates on its own schedule entirely apart from your license. Once issued, it's good for life and never needs renewing, while your Vermont hunting license expires every December 31, no matter what month you originally bought it.

Who Needs a Vermont Hunting License?

Vermont requires a hunting license for anyone hunting game species in the state, with youth, mentored, and permanent versions available depending on age and residency.

The Department's hunting license information requirements page breaks down every exception, discount, and documentation requirement in more detail if you want to confirm your specific situation.

What Are the Requirements to Get a Hunting License?

Vermont ties its hunter education mandate to whether you've ever held a license or certification, not to your age or birth year, so it's worth checking your own history before assuming a requirement applies.

Anyone buying a Vermont hunting license for the first time must complete an approved Hunter Education course, unless they can show proof of a hunting license or hunter education certificate from another state or province.

Archery hunters also need a separate bowhunter education course before adding an archery tag.

The VT hunter safety course covers:

• Firearm and bow handling fundamentals
• Vermont game laws and wildlife identification
• Ethical hunting practices and hands-on skill application

Vermont splits its course into two paths.

1. Residents 18 and older can take the Traditional Course fully online with no in-person requirement.
2. Everyone else, including all hunters under 18, must complete the Homework Course online and then attend a required in-person session before certification.

How to Get a Vermont Hunting License

Vermont's process shifts slightly depending on your age and residency.

1. Complete an approved Hunter Education course if you've never held a license, choosing the Traditional Course if you're a resident 18 or older, or the Homework Course plus in-person session otherwise.
2. Choose your license: resident or non-resident Hunting License, the Combination License if you also plan to fish, or a Youth or Permanent version if you qualify.
3. Add an Archery-Deer, Muzzleloader-Deer, Turkey, or Bear license if you're after those species, since each requires the base hunting license first.
4. Add a Vermont Waterfowl Stamp and Federal Duck Stamp if you plan to hunt ducks, geese, or other migratory waterfowl.
5. Register for HIP if you're hunting migratory game birds.
6. Carry your license, add-ons, and hunter education card any time you're in the field.

You can purchase your hunting license directly through Vermont Fish & Wildlife's online system, at a district office, or through an approved license agent statewide.

Why It's Important to Have a License to Hunt

A Vermont hunting license supports far more than legal access to the woods. Your hunting license also supports:

• Legal Compliance: Hunting without a valid license in Vermont can result in fines and loss of hunting privileges.
• Wildlife Conservation Funding: License and stamp revenue funds the Department's ongoing management of deer, bear, and turkey populations statewide.
• Population Management: Vermont's antlerless deer lottery lets biologists target harvest by Wildlife Management Unit where herds run highest.
• Ethical Hunting: Tying every hunt to a license and the right add-on keeps take within legal seasons and protects long-term wildlife health.
• Public Land Access: License revenue helps fund the Fish and Wildlife Trust Fund, which supports habitat conservation across the state.

Season dates and bag limits vary by species and Wildlife Management Unit, so check Vermont's hunting and trapping seasons information before finalizing your plans.

Note: Hunting license costs and requirements vary by state. Vermont's free hunter education program is more generous than what most neighboring states offer.

Ready to Hunt in Vermont? Get Your Hunter Safety Certification and Hunting License

A Vermont hunting license starts at just $28 for residents, and unlike most states in this series, the hunter education requirement itself won't cost you anything. Knowing which course path fits your age and residency, plus the add-on licenses for deer, turkey, or bear, keeps first-time hunters from getting stuck mid-application.

Start your Hunter Education path through Hunter-Ed's Vermont course if you've never held a license, then head to Vermont Fish & Wildlife's online system or a license agent to complete your purchase.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Is the Vermont hunting license fee a one-time payment?

A: No. Hunters much renew a Vermont hunting license every year. Licenses expire December 31 regardless of purchase date, unless you buy a 5-year option. Hunter education, by contrast, is a one-time certification that never needs repeating once you're certified.

Q: Are there discounts for Vermont hunting licenses?

A: Yes. Vermont offers a flat $8 resident rate for youth 17 and under and a $60 Permanent License for residents 66 and older that never needs renewing. Residents with certain permanent disabilities can also qualify for a free permanent hunting or combination license.

Q: Does Vermont charge for hunter education?

A: No. Both of Vermont's hunter education paths, the online-only Traditional Course and the hybrid Homework Course, are completely free, including materials. This makes Vermont's hunter education program more affordable than most other states, where online providers typically charge $25 to $40.

Q: Who needs to complete hunter education in Vermont?

A: Anyone buying a Vermont hunting license for the first time must complete an approved Hunter Education course. Hunters who can show proof of a hunting license or hunter education certificate from another state or province are exempt from the requirement.

Q: Can I complete Vermont's hunter education course entirely online?

A: It depends on your age and residency. Vermont residents 18 and older can complete the Traditional Course fully online, but everyone else, including all hunters under 18, must finish the Homework Course online and then attend a required in-person session.

Q: Can non-residents bowhunt deer in Vermont without a full hunting license?

A: Yes, non-residents can purchase a $75 Archery Only-Deer license that skips the base hunting license requirement entirely. This option suits visitors who only plan to bowhunt deer rather than pursue other species during their trip.