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The Vermont Statutes Online



Title

10

:
Conservation and Development






Chapter

113

:
GAME






Subchapter

002
:
DEER










 

§

4742a. Youth deer hunting weekend

(a) The Saturday

and Sunday prior to opening day of the regular deer season established by Board

rule shall be youth deer hunting weekend.

(b) A person who

is 15 years of age or under on the weekend of the hunt, who has successfully

completed a hunter safety course, may take one wild deer during youth deer

hunting weekend in accordance with the rules of the Board. In order to hunt

under this section, a young person shall also hold a valid hunting license

under section 4255 of this title, hold a youth deer hunting tag, and be

accompanied by an unarmed adult who holds a valid Vermont hunting license and

who is over 18 years of age. An adult accompanying a youth under this section

shall accompany no more than two young people at one time.

(c) Each year,

the Board shall determine whether antlerless deer may be taken under this

section in any deer management unit or units. A determination under this

subsection shall be made by rule, shall be based on the game management study

conducted pursuant to section 4081 of this title, and, notwithstanding

subsection (g) of that section, may allow taking of antlerless deer.

(d) No person

shall hunt under this section on privately owned land without first obtaining

the permission of the owner or occupant.

(e) Before the

first youth deer hunting weekend and after each fall hunting season, the

Department shall collect information on youth deer hunting weekend during the

regional public hearings held pursuant to subsection 4081(f) of this title.

Information relative to the public's knowledge and concerns about the deer herd

shall be gathered. The Board shall administer youth deer hunting weekend, by

deer management unit, based on public input and scientific information.

(f) The

scheduled amount of a fine under section 4555 of this title shall be doubled

for a violation of this section, and the fine shall be assessed against the

licensed adult who is accompanying the youth pursuant to subsection (b) of this

section and who has the youth hunter in his or her charge.

(g) As used in

this section, "accompany," "accompanied," or

"accompanying" means direct control and supervision, including the

ability to see and communicate with the youth hunter without the aid of

artificial devices such as radios or binoculars, except for medically necessary

devices such as hearing aids or eyeglasses. While hunting, an individual who

holds a valid hunting license under subsection 4254(b) of this title shall

accompany no more than two youth hunters at a time. (Added 2001, No. 4, § 1,

eff. April 4, 2001; amended 2009, No. 11, § 2; 2009, No. 122 (Adj. Sess.), § 1;

2013, No. 116 (Adj. Sess.), § 7, eff. Jan. 1, 2015.)