The final number of deer taken in Vermont’s 2025 hunting seasons will not be available for a few more weeks, but the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department says the final tally will be a little over 17,700 deer. Those deer will provide approximately 3.5 million servings of local, nutritious venison.
Hunters took nearly 9,700 bucks, which was up slightly from 2024 (9,356) but very close to the previous three-year average of 9,608. The antlerless deer harvest was a little over 8,000, which was up from the previous three-year average of 7,598.
“Season totals were remarkably average in 2025,” said Nick Fortin, the department’s deer project leader. “Most seasons had total deer harvests that were within 1-2% of the previous three-year average. The only exception was the December muzzleloader season, when consistent snow cover across the state contributed to an increased harvest.”
The primary goal of Vermont’s deer management strategy is to keep the deer herd stable, healthy and in balance with available habitat. “Maintaining an appropriate number of deer on the landscape ensures deer and the habitats that support them remain in good condition and productive,” said Fortin.
The 2025 White-tailed Deer Harvest Report with final numbers will be on Fish and Wildlife’s website in early March. Beginning in late March, the department will be holding informational hearings to share biological information and to listen to any information people wish to share.
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