Rifle season opens Saturday

MILTON As rifle season opens across Vermont, hunters and non-hunters alike are being reminded of the twin priorities of safety and stewardship, while the states wildlife agency is also highlighting how hunting helps feed neighbors in need

. That message came into sharper focus during a recent conversation with Nicole Meier, coordinator of the Vermont Hunter Education Program at the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department . Meier outlined how the agency works year-round to equip new hunters with the knowledge and ethics required to safely and legally participate in hunting, while also supporting conservation and community outreach . Education and safety first Meier said the Hunter Education Program certifies approximately 3,000 hunters annually through about 150 in-person certification courses, assisted by some 300 to 350 volunteer instructors statewide . The program also supports about 900 children at the Green Mountain conservation camps each year . Those volunteer instructors are really the reason that we can host something like 150 in-person courses per year and certify around 3,000 Vermonters teach them how to be lawful, ethical and safe in the outdoors, she said . In recent years, the program has added an online-only certification path (for Vermont residents age 18 and older) for hunter and bow hunter education to accommodate changing needs and the realities after the COVID-19 pandemic . Pre-COVID we did not offer any online-only pathways we began offering an online-only pathway for hunter, bow hunter and trapper education certifications, Meier said . In the months leading up to rifle season the program is at its busiest: from late February through spring the volunteer instructors and staff run certification classes, Learn to Hunt Turkey seminars, and courses that cover sighting in firearms, turkey calling, safe field processing

of game, and other practical skills

. Meier stressed the foundational four rules of firearm safety that all students must master: She added that while Vermont has seen a dramatic decline in hunting-related shooting incidents since hunter education was mandated in 1975, complacency remains a riskespecially among older, experienced hunters . We have seen a precipitous decline in hunting-related shooting incidents since hunter education was mandated in Vermont in 1975, she said. Now we are averaging something like two hunting-related shooting incidents each year

. Respect for landowners and outdoor co-users Meier also reminded hunters to obtain landowner permission before entering private property, even where land is unposted. I myself always ask the land-owner permission, even if the property is not posted

. Its a nice way to create a relationship with a neighbor, she said

. For non-hunters recreating in the woodssuch as hikers, dog walkers or mountain-bikersMeier offered key safety tips: wear blaze orange (a color she notes is roughly seven times more visible than any other in the woods), keep dogs on leash or clearly marked with blaze orange, and be aware that hunting activity is taking place during rifle season . I highly suggest everyone recreating in the outdoors to be wearing blaze orange, a blaze orange hat, a blaze orange vest or on their dog a blaze orange vest or collar, Meier said . Beyond personal safety, Meier said the Hunter Education Program instills the values of ethical, lawful and community-minded hunting: respect for landowners, non-hunters, other hunters, wildlife and habitat . We teach ethics as it relates to land-owners, as it relates to the resource, Meier said. Whether it be wildlife or the land that were on with non-hunters and other hunters

. She also reminds hunters of their role in conservation funding: every hunting and fishing license contributes to wildlife habitat restoration and management in Vermont. Hunters and anglers have a really important role directly fund conservation every day . Hunting and fishing license sales go directly into wildlife habitat restoration. Finally, Meier encourages hunters to mentor new participants in the sport to carry the tradition and its values forward: Hunt safe, have fun and pass it on to someone else . If you can take someone new to hunting, I highly recommend it . Wild game meat helps those facing food insecurity In addition to safety and stewardship, the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department supports a lesser-known but impactful program: wild-game meat donation for Vermonters facing food insecurity . Under the initiative often called Venison for Vermonters, game wardens process road-kill deer or illegally taken game and deliver the meat to food shelves and community food programs . Since 2020, the program has donated more than 3,000 pounds of wild-game meat across the state. An average-sized deer can serve roughly 120 meals . The program illustrates another way that huntinga regulated, permit-based activitycan translate into community benefits beyond recreation. With recent federal changes to food-assistance programs and broader concerns around food security, the effort is timely . Key takeaways for the season As Vermonts 2025 rifle season begins, hunters and outdoor-recreation enthusiasts should keep in mind the following: Complete a certified Hunter or Bow Hunter education course before participating; the Vermont program remains free as required by

statute

. Always follow the four rules of firearms safety, wear blaze orange, obtain landowner permission, and respect other users of the outdoors . Recognize that hunting isnt just a sport but also a vehicle for conservation and community supportincluding helping feed Vermonters in need . If youre a seasoned hunter, consider mentoring a newcomer and sharing not only your skills but also the ethics of safe, respectful hunting. As Meier observed: Hunt safe, have fun and pass it on to someone else . With education, respect and community awareness, Vermonts hunters can lead the way in maintaining safety, tradition and stewardship in the outdoors.