Vermont’s Deer Wintering Area Mapping is Updated, Improved
Vermont’s deer wintering areas are crucial to the survival of deer, especially during extended cold weather and deep snow. Knowing the location of these areas is essential in planning for their conservation and management.

“The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department is pleased to announce that it has updated and improved the mapping of deer winter areas for the entire state using sophisticated Geographic Information System (GIS) technology and aerial photography,” said Everett Marshall, the department’s database biologist.

Deer wintering areas make up nearly nine percent of Vermont and provide critical habitat for the survival of white-tailed deer, which are near the northern edge of their range. Deer have adapted to deep snow and cold conditions by seeking areas of dense softwood cover, such as hemlock, balsam fir, red spruce, and white pine. The tree canopy in these areas limits snow depths, making movement easier and providing protection from cold winds.

Vermont’s original deer wintering area mapping was completed in the 1970s and early 1980s and was based on aerial photography and field visits by state wildlife biologists. The deer wintering areas were drawn on topographic maps and based on small scale aerial photos.

The enhanced scale of the aerial photos and GIS’ ability to overlay mapped data have greatly improved the quality and accuracy of the mapping. For instance, the maps no longer include non-forested habitats and address the effects of residential development. (more...)

View the maps through ANR's online atlas...

Use of Felt-Soled Waders and Boots Prohibited
With the opening of Vermont’s trout fishing season coming on April 9, the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department has issued a reminder that using felt-soled waders or boots in Vermont waters is prohibited this year. 

The Vermont legislature enacted the new law to help curb the spread of aquatic invasive species such as whirling disease of fish and didymo, a microscopic algae more commonly known as “rock snot.” 
Originally native to the most northern reaches of Europe, Asia, and North America, didymo has recently been found in many new locations throughout the U.S., Canada and around the world. In some of these new environments, didymo has formed nuisance blooms and dense mats several inches thick that carpet stream bottoms. 

“In some cases, didymo can change aquatic insect communities and native algae populations in streams,” said Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department fisheries biologist Shawn Good. “The abundance of certain types of trout food like mayflies, caddisflies and stoneflies has been shown, in some instances, to decline dramatically where didymo blooms are found.” (more...)

Vermont Deer Hunters Had Successful 2010 Seasons
Biologists for the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department have completed analyzing final harvest results from the 2010 deer hunting seasons and are qualifying last year’s hunting seasons as a success.

During Vermont’s four seasons last year (archery, youth, rifle and muzzleloader), hunters harvested a total of 15,523 deer. That number is well within the department’s 2010-20 Big Game Management Plan that set the annual harvest objective between 14,000 and 18,000.

“Our 2010 deer harvest increased by two percent from the 2009 totals,” said Mark E. Scott, Director of Wildlife for the department. “In all four seasons combined, our hunters brought home nearly one million pounds of wild venison, totaling almost 4 million meals.”

A review of the 2010 hunting seasons and prospects for the 2011 seasons were the main topics of discussions at a series of public hearings held around the state in late March. If you were unable to attend one of these hearings, a webcast of the Middlebury hearing is available at the link below.

Read the 2010 White-tailed Deer Harvest Report…

View the Middlebury deer hearing…