How to Look Up Your Vermont Hunter Safety Card
Vermont Fish & Wildlife lets hunters search its database and print a new orange hunter safety card the moment the system finds a match.
The state requires every first-time hunter, bowhunter, and trapper to complete the matching course before buying that type of license. There's no minimum age for the in-person class. A hunter who already holds a license or a hunter education card from another state or province can show that proof instead.
This resource tells you how to find your orange hunter card through the state's database, what to do when the search finds nothing, and which documents to carry.
How to Look Up Your Vermont Hunter Safety Card
Vermont pairs its lookup and its reprint in one short form that needs only three personal details.
- Open the reprint form: Open the card reprint form on the state's Agency of Natural Resources site.
- Enter your details: Type your first name, last name, and birthdate (mm/dd/yyyy), since all three fields are required.
- Print the new card: The system looks up your record and creates a card for you to print.
Note: Vermont residents 18 and older who certified online received their certificate by email, so check your inbox before you search.
What to Do When the Reprint Form Comes Up Empty
The form produces a card only when it matches your record, so an empty result sends you to the Hunter Education Program. If that happens, choose a contact method from the options below:
- Call the program: Staff at (802) 828-1193 say they'll gladly find your record for you.
- Send an email: Write to [email protected] with your name, birthdate, and course details.
- Write to the office: Address a letter to the Vermont Hunter Education Program, 1 National Life Drive, Dewey Building, Montpelier, VT 05620-3208.
Confirm your card before you buy a license, since Vermont requires first-time hunters to show completion of the matching course. Mention the year you certified and the instructor or class location if you remember them, because those details help staff narrow a search.
Replacing a Lost Vermont Orange Hunter Ed Card
The orange card is your physical proof of hunter safety certification.
Vermont gives you three ways to get another copy:
- Reprint it yourself: The online form builds a new card you can print at home.
- Phone the program: Staff search the records for you whenever the form can't.
- Check your email: Online-certified residents received their certificate by email, so a saved copy may already be waiting.
Vermont's database covers Vermont courses, so ask the issuing state for any card earned elsewhere. Hunters who aren't sure which state issued their card can start with the Vermont form, since a no-match result costs nothing but a minute.
Remember: If you plan to hunt out of state, confirm that the other state accepts online hunter education, because acceptance of online-only certification varies.
What Should Vermont Hunters Have Before Heading Out?
A hunter education certificate opens the door to a first Vermont license, and the license, plus any lottery permit for moose or antlerless deer, completes the set of what you need in the field.
Documents You Need to Hunt in Vermont | |
| What You Need | Where to Get It |
| Orange Hunter Ed Card | Vermont online course options |
| Hunting License | Vermont license options |
| Tags and Permits | Vermont permit lotteries |
Vermont licenses are sold online through the state's sales site or through license agents, so your Vermont hunting license is a short step once your hunter safety card is sorted. Young hunters who aren't ready for certification can hunt with a licensed adult for up to two years under a mentor license as they get into hunting.
Find Your Vermont Hunter Safety Card Before the Season Begins
Vermont's reprint form handles most lost-card cases in a single step. A call to Montpelier covers anything it misses. Keep the printed hunter safety card with your license paperwork so it's ready at the counter.
Ready to earn your first card? Vermont residents 18 and older can finish online through the Hunter-Ed course for Vermont, while younger students add an in-person session.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Is there a fee to look up or replace my Vermont hunter safety card?
A: Vermont Fish & Wildlife lists no charge on its card reprint page, which creates the new card for you to print. Call (802) 828-1193 if you want that confirmed before you start.
Q: What if my record can't be found?
A: If Vermont's reprint form can't find your hunter education record, the Department asks you to call (802) 828-1193 so staff can search for it themselves. Email to [email protected] reaches the same program.
Q: Can Vermont hunter education be completed entirely online?
A: Vermont residents 18 and older can complete hunter and bowhunter education entirely online. Nonresidents and Vermont residents under 18 must attend an in-person course.
Q: Can a Vermont child hunt before taking hunter education?
A: A Vermont child who isn't ready for hunter education can hunt with a fully licensed adult for up to two years under a mentor license. The licensing office at 802-828-1190 can explain the details.
Q: Do Vermont bowhunters need a separate course?
A: Vermont requires anyone who hunts with a bow and arrow to complete both hunter education and bowhunter education. First-time bowhunters must finish the bowhunter course before buying that type of license.
Q: Will other states accept a Vermont hunter education card?
A: All states, Canadian provinces, and many other countries recognize Vermont's in-person hunter and bowhunter certification. Hunters who certified online should confirm that the state they plan to visit accepts online hunter education.
Q: Who must complete hunter education in Vermont?
A: Vermont requires all first-time hunters, bowhunters, and trappers to complete the matching course before getting a license of that type. Proof of a hunting license or hunter education completion from another state or province also satisfies the requirement.
