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The Vermont Statutes Online
Title
10APPENDIX
:
Vermont Fish and Wildlife Regulations
Chapter
001
:
GAME
[effective until January 1, 2016]
[Section 22 effective until January 1,
2016; see also section 22 effective January 1, 2016 set out below.]
§
22. Turkey Seasons
1.0 Authority
1.1 This rule is
adopted pursuant to 10 V.S.A. § 4081(a). In adopting this rule, the fish and
wildlife board is following the policy established by the general assembly that
the protection, propagation, control, management, and conservation of fish,
wildlife and fur-bearing animals in this state is in the interest of the public
welfare and that the safeguarding of this valuable resource for the people of
the state requires a constant and continual vigilance.
1.2 In
accordance with 10 V.S.A. § 4082, this rule is designed to maintain the best
health, population and utilization levels of the turkey flock.
1.3 In accordance
with 10 V.S.A. § 4084, this rule establishes daily, season and possession
limits for game, territorial limits; to prescribe the manner and means of
taking; to establish territorial limits for the taking of turkeys; and to
establish restrictions on taking based upon sex, maturity or other physical
distinction.
2.0 Purpose The
purpose of this regulation is to establish seasons for the taking of turkeys,
to establish open Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) for the taking of turkeys,
to establish methods of taking turkeys and to establish limits on the number of
turkeys to be taken.
3.0 Definitions
3.1
"Commissioner" means the commissioner of the Vermont fish and
wildlife department.
3.2
"Department" means the means the Vermont fish and wildlife department.
3.3 "Legal
means" means the taking of a moose by muzzleloader, rifle, pistol, or
archery equipment in conformance with Section 13 of this rule.
3.4
"Permit" means a document issued by the department authorizing the
taking of a moose.
3.5
"Wildlife Management Unit" (WMU) means one of 24 geographical areas
in Vermont for which big game regulations may vary.
4.0 Spring Season
4.1 Dates: May
1, through May 31, inclusive.
4.2 Shooting
hours: One-half hour before sunrise to twelve noon.
4.3 Legal turkey:
Only wild turkeys with beards.
4.4 Bag Limit:
Two bearded wild turkeys per person per season.
4.5 Open WMUs:
Open statewide
5.0 Fall Season.
5.1 Dates and
Open WMU's.
(a) Bow and
Arrow only:
i. Dates: From
the 1st Saturday in October to the beginning of the shotgun/bow and arrow
season.
ii. Open WMUs:
Open Statewide
(b) Shotgun/Bow
& Arrow Season
i. Dates: Nine
consecutive days beginning 21 days prior to the regular deer season, inclusive.
ii. Open WMUs:
B, D, G, H, I, J, L, M, O, P, and Q and their respective subunits:.
(c) Shotgun/Bow
& Arrow Season
i. Dates: For 16
consecutive days beginning 21 days prior to the regular deer season, inclusive.
ii. Open WMUs:
subunits: WMUs F, K, and N and their respective subunits:.
5.2 Shooting
hours: One-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.
5.3 Legal
Turkey: Any wild turkey.
5.4 Bag limit:
One turkey per person.
6.0 Legal Method
of Taking:
6.1 Only a
shotgun or bow and arrow may be used.
6.2 Only number
2 through number 8 shot shall be used or possessed.
6.3 An arrowhead
must be at least 7/8th of an inch in width and have two or more cutting edges.
6.4 Rifles and
handguns shall not be used or carried by any person while hunting turkeys.
6.5 No person
shall use dogs in the spring, nor electronic calling devices, bait, live
decoys, or participate in cooperative drives during either season.
7.0 Youth Turkey
Hunting Weekend
7.1 Legal
Turkey: Only bearded turkeys may be taken.
7.2 Bag limit:
One bearded turkey per youth. A youth may also hunt during the spring season
and take two bearded turkeys during that season. (Added 1982, Fish and Game Board Reg. No.
938, §§ 1-3, eff. Jan. 1, 1983; amended 1983, No. 158 (Adj. Sess.), eff. April
13, 1984; 1985, Fish and Wildlife Board Reg. No. 956, eff. March 7, 1985; 1985,
Fish and Wildlife Board Reg. No. 957, eff. July 5, 1985; 1987, Fish and
Wildlife Board Reg. No. 957, eff. Jan. 1, 1987; 1988, Fish and Wildlife Board
Reg. No. 974, eff. April 12, 1988; 1990, Fish and Wildlife Board Reg. No. 981,
eff. April 27, 1990; 1992, Fish and Wildlife Board Reg. No. 981, eff. November
14, 1992; 1993, Fish and Wildlife Board Reg. No. 996, eff. April 22, 1993;
1993, Fish and Wildlife Board Reg. No. in subsec. (E) 1007, eff. Feb. 13, 1994;
1998, Fish and Wildlife Board Reg. No. 1007, eff. April 3, 1998; 1999, Fish and
Wildlife Board Reg. No. 1007, eff. Feb. 17, 1999; 2002, Fish and Wildlife Board
Reg. No. 1007, eff. Aug. 3, 2002; 2003, Fish and Wildlife Board Reg. No. 1007a,
eff. Feb. 12, 2003, 2003, Fish and Wildlife Board Reg. No. 1007, eff. March 5,
2004, 2010, Fish and Wildlife Board Reg. eff. July 9, 2010.)
[effective January 1, 2016]
[Section 22 effective January 1, 2016; see
also section 22 effective until January 1, 2016 set out above.]
§
22. Turkey Seasons
1.0 Authority
1.1 This rule is
adopted pursuant to 10 V.S.A. § 4081(a). In adopting this rule, the fish and
wildlife board is following the policy established by the general assembly that
the protection, propagation, control, management, and conservation of fish,
wildlife and fur-bearing animals in this state is in the interest of the public
welfare and that the safeguarding of this valuable resource for the people of
the state requires a constant and continual vigilance.
1.2 In
accordance with 10 V.S.A. § 4082, this rule is designed to maintain the best
health, population and utilization levels of the turkey flock.
1.3 In accordance
with 10 V.S.A. § 4084, this rule establishes daily, season and possession
limits for game, territorial limits; to prescribe the manner and means of
taking; to establish territorial limits for the taking of turkeys; and to
establish restrictions on taking based upon sex, maturity or other physical
distinction.
2.0 Purpose The
purpose of this regulation is to establish seasons for the taking of turkeys,
to establish open Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) for the taking of turkeys,
to establish methods of taking turkeys and to establish limits on the number of
turkeys to be taken.
3.0 Definitions
3.1
"Commissioner" means the commissioner of the Vermont fish and
wildlife department.
3.2
"Crossbow" means a device consisting of a bow mounted to a rigid stock
for discharging bolts or arrows and having a mechanical means to hold and
release the drawn string, which must be fired from the shoulder. A bolt means a
short projectile for a crossbow that resembles an arrow and has a head that
measures no less than 7/ 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.
3.3
"Department" means the Vermont fish and wildlife department.
3.4 "Legal
means" means the taking of a turkey by shotgun, crossbow, or archery
equipment in conformance with Section 6 of this rule.
3.5
"Permit" means a document issued by the department authorizing the
taking of a turkey.
3.6
"Wildlife Management Unit" (WMU) means one of 21 geographical areas
in Vermont for which big game regulations may vary.
4.0 Spring Season
4.1 Dates: May
1, through May 31, inclusive.
4.2 Shooting
hours: One-half hour before sunrise to twelve noon.
4.3 Legal
turkey: Only wild turkeys with beard(s).
4.4 Bag Limit:
Two bearded wild turkeys per person per season.
4.5 Open WMUs:
Open statewide
5.0 Fall Season.
5.1 Dates and
Open WMU's.
(a) Bow and
Arrow, and crossbow only:
i. Dates: From
the 1st Saturday in October to the beginning of the shotgun/bow and arrow/crossbow
season.
ii. Open WMUs:
Open Statewide
(b) Shotgun/Bow
& Arrow/Crossbow Season
i. Dates: Nine
consecutive days beginning 21 days prior to the regular deer season, inclusive.
ii. Open WMUs:
B, D, G, H, I, J, L, M, O, P, and Q and their respective subunits:.
(c) Shotgun/Bow
& Arrow/Crossbow Season
i. Dates: For 16
consecutive days beginning 21 days prior to the regular deer season, inclusive.
ii. Open WMUs:
subunits: WMUs F, K, and N and their respective subunits:.
5.2 Shooting
hours: One-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.
5.3 Legal
Turkey: Any wild turkey.
5.4 Bag limit:
One turkey per person.
6.0 Legal Method
of Taking:
6.1 Only a
shotgun, crossbow, or bow and arrow may be used. A cross bow may only be used
by a hunter who is 50 years or older or has a permit in accordance with 10
V.S.A. § 4711.
6.2 Only number
2 through number 8 shot shall be used or possessed.
6.3 An arrowhead
must be at least 7/8th of an inch in width and have two or more cutting edges.
6.4 Rifles shall
not be used or carried by any person while hunting turkeys. A person taking a
turkey with a crossbow or bow and arrow may carry a handgun in accordance with
10 V.S.A. § 4252(b), however, that person may not use the handgun to take
turkey.
6.5 No person
shall use dogs in the spring, nor electronic calling devices, bait, live
decoys, or participate in cooperative drives during either season.
6.6 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
which is approved by the Commissioner.
6.7 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
except as permitted in accordance with 10 V.S.A. § 4705.
7.0 Youth Turkey
Hunting Weekend
7.1 Legal
Turkey: Only bearded turkeys may be taken.
7.2 Bag limit:
One bearded turkey per youth. A youth may also hunt during the spring season
and take two bearded turkeys during that season.
7.3 Season: One
half hour before sunrise until noon.
(Added 1982, Fish and Game Board Reg. No. 938, §§ 1-3, eff. Jan. 1, 1983;
amended 1983, No. 158 (Adj. Sess.), eff. April 13, 1984; 1985, Fish and
Wildlife Board Reg. No. 956, eff. March 7, 1985; 1985, Fish and Wildlife Board
Reg. No. 957, eff. July 5, 1985; 1987, Fish and Wildlife Board Reg. No. 957,
eff. Jan. 1, 1987; 1988, Fish and Wildlife Board Reg. No. 974, eff. April 12,
1988; 1990, Fish and Wildlife Board Reg. No. 981, eff. April 27, 1990; 1992,
Fish and Wildlife Board Reg. No. 981, eff. November 14, 1992; 1993, Fish and
Wildlife Board Reg. No. 996, eff. April 22, 1993; 1993, Fish and Wildlife Board
Reg. No. in subsec. (E) 1007, eff. Feb. 13, 1994; 1998, Fish and Wildlife Board
Reg. No. 1007, eff. April 3, 1998; 1999, Fish and Wildlife Board Reg. No. 1007,
eff. Feb. 17, 1999; 2002, Fish and Wildlife Board Reg. No. 1007, eff. Aug. 3,
2002; 2003, Fish and Wildlife Board Reg. No. 1007a, eff. Feb. 12, 2003, 2003,
Fish and Wildlife Board Reg. No. 1007, eff. March 5, 2004, 2010, Fish and
Wildlife Board Reg. eff. July 9, 2010; 2015, Fish and Wildlife Board Reg. eff.
Jan. 1, 2016.)
