Vermont bear season 2026: dates and free maps
Season dates
Early season: Tuesday, September 1 to Friday, November 13, 2026
Needs the early-season bear tag. Hunting with dogs by permit: residents from Sept. 1, nonresidents from Sept. 15, to Nov. 22.
Source: Vermont Fish & Wildlife
Late season: Saturday, November 14 to Sunday, November 22, 2026
Source: Vermont Fish & Wildlife
Checked on the agency's site November 6, 2026. Licenses, units, bag limits and shooting hours differ, and dates can vary by unit: the regulations are what count, so read them before you go.
Legal shooting hours for big game in Vermont, generally: 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset.
Bear country is big timber and steep ground, usually with no signal. Download the maps for your spot ahead of time and Cartahaven shows your GPS position on them offline, so you can stay on public ground, find your stand or bait site and get back out after dark.
Free public land maps in Vermont
Before you go
Cartahaven is not affiliated with or endorsed by Vermont Fish & Wildlife. Season dates come from the agency pages linked above.