Fish & Wildlife Department

Green Mountain National Forest

Hunt and Trap in the Green Mountain National Forest—It's All Yours

As hunters and trappers, it is important to know that 400,000 acres of the Green Mountain National Forest (GMNF) awaits you. Located in central and southern Vermont, the U. S. Forest Service manages this large tract of federal public land for multiple uses including road and trail access, commercial logging, and outdoor recreation such as hunting and trapping. The Forest Service is responsible for wildlife habitat management on national forest land, while fish and wildlife populations, including seasons and harvest limits, are managed by the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department. All State fish and game laws and regulations apply on National Forest lands.

Like much of the Vermont, GMNF is dominated by maturing forest best suited for species such as bear and squirrels. To help re-establish young forest, the Forest Service is implementing a variety of forest management and wildlife habitat treatments throughout the GMNF. Timber harvest is the primary and most cost-effective tool to diversify the age structure and species composition of our forest, while also addressing forest health concerns such as disease and insect prevention.

Over the past several years, GMNF has improved annually about 2500 acres of wildlife habitat. The resulting young forest is providing excellent hunting and trapping opportunities forest-wide and benefiting local economies. Deer, ruffed grouse, rabbits, woodcock and wild turkey populations are thriving and we encourage hunters and trappers to come enjoy the GMNF –“IT’S ALL YOURS”.

For more information, please visit our website at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/gmfl

Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact

The Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact (IWVC) ensures that in participating states, nonresident violators will receive the same treatment as resident violators. IWVC member states reciprocate in the suspension or revocation of licenses and permits resulting from violation of hunting, fishing or trapping laws. If an individual’s license or permit privileges are revoked in one compact member state, they are subject to suspension or revocation in all other member states. For example, if a Vermont resident has their hunting privileges suspended in Minnesota, their privileges may also be suspended in Vermont and in all other compact states. This helps prevent habitual violators from relocating their illegal activities to other member’s states. The IWVC also has established procedures that cause a nonresident violator who fails to comply with the terms of a citation issued in a participating state to face the possibility of the suspension of their wildlife license privileges in their home state until the terms of the citation are met. The goal of the IWVC is to facilitate improved enforcement of hunting, fishing and trapping laws through the cooperation of law enforcement units in member states.