Wild Animals Doing Damage

V.S.A. tit. 10, ch. 113, subch. 4

in effect

10 V.S.A. § 4826 Taking deer damaging crops

4826. Taking deer damaging crops (a) A person, including an authorized member of the person’s family, an authorized regular on-premises employee, or an agent who holds a Vermont hunting license and who is designated by the person, may take, on land owned or occupied by the person, up to four deer per year that the person can prove were doing damage to the following: (1) a tree that is being grown in a plantation or being cultivated for the purpose of harvesting an annual or perennial crop or producing any marketable item; or (2) a crop-bearing plant; or (3) a crop, except grass. (b) A person by whom, or under whose direction, a deer is wounded or killed, shall report in writing signed by him or her within 12 hours all the facts relative to the act to a game warden. The report shall state the time and place of the wounding or killing. (c) A person who kills a deer shall immediately properly dress the carcass and care for the meat. (d) The game warden shall immediately investigate the case and if satisfied that the deer was taken as provided in this section, shall give the person a certificate of the finding in the matter. The certificate shall entitle the person to the ownership of the carcass, but the person shall not sell or give away the same. However, the head and the antlers, if any, shall be turned over to a warden. In addition, any carcass not needed for home consumption in the household of the certificate-holder shall be turned over to a game warden. (e) When a game warden finds that a deer has been wounded or killed contrary to the provisions of this section, he or she shall dispose of the deer under the direction of the Commissioner, and any monies received therefor shall be paid to the Commissioner. (f)(1) “Person” includes all people who jointly own or lease the land. (2) “Post” means any signage that would lead a reasonable person to believe that hunting is prohibited on the land, except for signs erected pursuant to section 4710 of this title. (g) The Commissioner may issue a permit to a person to take more than four deer under this section if: (1) the land owned by the person is not posted against hunting; (2) the person can prove that the property is sustaining additional and ongoing damage; and (3) the person has taken reasonable measures to prevent the deer from continuing to damage the crop. (h) The Commissioner is authorized to issue an order requiring any person to remove food or bait which has the effect of luring deer into the vicinity of the property sustaining damage. In this subsection, food does not include a crop or crop-bearing plant. Added 1961, No. 119, § 1, eff. May 9, 1961; amended 1967, No. 57, § 2, eff. March 30, 1967; 1973, No. 242 (Adj. Sess.), eff. April 8, 1974; 2005, No. 24, § 1; 2011, No. 54, § 11, eff. May 31, 2011.

10 V.S.A. § 4827 Black bear doing damage

4827. Black bear doing damage (a)(1) Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection and in subsection 4827a(b) of this title, a person, an authorized member of the person’s family, or the person’s authorized regular on-premise employee may, after attempting reasonable nonlethal measures to protect his or her property, take on land owned or occupied by the person a bear that he or she can prove was doing damage to the following: (A) livestock, a pet, or another domestic animal; (B) bees or bee hives; (C) a vehicle, building, shed, or any dwelling; or (D) a crop or crop-bearing plant other than grass. (2)(A) The requirements of subdivision (1) of this subsection shall not apply in exigent circumstances. As used in this subdivision, “exigent circumstances” means the need for immediate protection of a person, livestock, pet, domestic animal, or occupied dwelling. (B) Landowners or lessees subject to bear damage in unharvested cornfields shall be exempt from having to first use nonlethal control measures prior to taking a black bear doing damage under subdivision (a)(1) of this section. (b) A person authorized to take a bear under subsection (a) of this section may designate one individual who holds a resident Vermont hunting license as an agent to take a bear doing damage on his or her behalf. The person may not offer or accept any form of payment to or from the agent under this subsection except as allowed in subsection (e) of this section. (c) A person who wounds or kills a bear pursuant to this section shall immediately report the wounding or killing to a game warden. Within 12 hours of the wounding or killing, the person who performed the act shall submit a written, signed report relating the date, time, place, and reason for the wounding or killing to a game warden. (d) A person who kills a bear under this section shall immediately properly dress the carcass and care for the meat. (e) The game warden shall immediately investigate the case and if satisfied that the bear was taken as provided in this section, the warden shall give the person who owns or occupies the land a certificate of his or her finding in the matter. The certificate shall entitle the person who owns or occupies the land to the ownership of the carcass. However, the person may not sell or give away the carcass except to offer all or a portion of it to an agent designated under subsection (b) of this section as compensation for killing the bear. Any carcass not desired for home consumption in the household of the certificate holder or designated agent shall be turned over to a game warden. (f) [Repealed.] (g) The Commissioner is authorized to issue an order requiring a person to contain food which has the effect of luring a bear onto property owned or occupied by the person. In this subsection, food does not include a crop, a crop bearing plant, or livestock. The order shall include specific measures which would constitute containing the food and the date by which the food shall be contained. Containing food means to prevent a bear from having access to the food. Following issuance of an order under this subsection, a person who fails to contain the food may not shoot a bear causing damage pursuant to this section. However, if the person contains the food and a bear continues to do damage pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, 30 days or more after containment, the person may take the bear pursuant to this section. (h) A person who shoots a bear in violation of subsection (g) of this section or subsection 4827a(b) of this title may be fined up to $2,000.00. A person who does not remove bait or contain food following an order issued under subsection (g) of this section or subsection 4827a(b) may be fined up to $1,000.00. Added 1961, No. 119, § 1, eff. May 9, 1961; amended 2003, No. 99 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. April 27, 2004; 2013, No. 78, § 16.

10 V.S.A. § 4827a Feeding bear; prohibition

4827a. Feeding bear; prohibition (a) A person shall not knowingly feed a bear and shall not knowingly give, place, expose, deposit, distribute, or scatter any bait, food, or other edible material in a manner intended to lure a bear to feed except: (1) under a license or permit issued under section 4152 of this title by the Commissioner for bona fide scientific research, mitigation of wildlife damage, nuisance problems, or wildlife population reduction program; (2) by planting, cultivating, or harvesting of crops directly associated with bona fide agricultural practices, including planted wildlife food plots; or (3) by distribution of feed material for livestock directly associated with bona fide agricultural practices. (b) A person who has intentionally placed bait, food, or other edible material, including placing food within a bird feeder, to lure wildlife, as that term is defined to include birds and other animals under subdivision 4001(15) of this title, onto the property within the past 30 days shall be prohibited from taking a bear doing damage under the authority set forth in section 4827 of this title. The Commissioner or his or her designee may issue an order requiring a person to remove or contain the bait, food, or edible material if the placing of bait or food results in the feeding of a bear. (c) As used in this section, “bait, food, or other edible material” means fruit, grain, salt, grease, garbage, or other materials intended to feed or lure wildlife. Added 2013, No. 78, § 17.

10 V.S.A. § 4828 Taking of rabbit or fur-bearing animals by landowner; selectboard; certificate; penalty

4828. Taking of rabbit or fur-bearing animals by landowner; selectboard; certificate; penalty (a)(1) The provisions of law or rules of the Board relating to the taking of rabbits or fur-bearing animals shall not apply to: (A) an owner, the owner’s employee, tenant, or caretaker of property protecting the property from damage by rabbits or fur-bearing animals; or (B) a member of the selectboard of a town protecting public highways or bridges from such damage or submersion with the permission of the owner of lands affected. (2) A person who for compensation sets a trap for rabbits or fur-bearing animals on the property of another in defense of that property shall possess a valid trapping license. (3) if required by rule of the Board, an owner; the owner’s employee, tenant, or caretaker; a member of the selectboard; or a person who sets a trap for compensation who desires to possess during the closed season the skins of any fur-bearing animals taken in defense of property, highways, or bridges shall notify the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s representative within 84 hours after taking the animal, and shall hold the pelts for inspection by such authorized representatives. (b) Before disposing of pelts taken under this section, if required by rule of the Board, the property owner; the owner’s employee, tenant, or caretaker; a member of the selectboard; or a person who sets a trap for compensation shall secure from the Commissioner or a designee a certificate describing the pelts, and showing that the pelts were legally taken during a closed season and in defense of property, highways, or bridges. In the event of storage, sale, or transfer, the certificates shall accompany the pelts. Added 1961, No. 119, § 1, eff. May 9, 1961; amended 1983, No. 213 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; 1995, No. 93 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. March 28, 1996; 2017, No. 170 (Adj. Sess.), § 11, eff. Jan. 1, 2020.

10 V.S.A. § 4830 Regulations

4830. Regulations The State Fish and Wildlife Board shall adopt rules and regulations relating to application for reimbursement, examination by State fish and wildlife wardens of damage, and reimbursement therefor. Added 1969, No. 195 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; amended 1983, No. 158 (Adj. Sess.), eff. April 13, 1984.

10 V.S.A. § 4831 Reimbursement

4831. Reimbursement Reimbursement under this subchapter shall be made by the State Treasurer, on the voucher of the Commissioner of Fish and Wildlife, from money received by the State Treasurer under the provisions of this part. Added 1969, No. 195 (Adj. Sess.), § 3.

10 V.S.A. § 4832 Appeal

4832. Appeal A person who is denied reimbursement under this subchapter or who is dissatisfied with the amount of the reimbursement granted may appeal to the Superior Court of the county in which he or she resides. Added 1969, No. 195 (Adj. Sess.), § 4; amended 1971, No. 185 (Adj. Sess.), § 25, eff. March 29, 1972; 1973, No. 193 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. April 9, 1974.

10 V.S.A. § 4833 Coyote Control Program

4833. Coyote Control Program The Commissioner shall develop a Coyote Control Program for implementation in those areas of the State where he or she has determined that predation by coyotes is posing a threat to domesticated animals, deer, and other wildlife. In no event shall the Program use poison. Added 1985, No. 132 (Adj. Sess.).

Source: Vermont General Assembly (legislature.vermont.gov)URL: https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/chapter/10/113Fetched: 10/21/2026