September 1st marks the start of Early Black Bear Season in Vermont, followed by many other hunting seasons throughout the fall. Hunting is allowed on all GMC owned and managed lands, including along the Long Trail and Appalachian Trail corridors in Vermont. Please be safe when you are hiking and be respectful of all trail users. The Green Mountain Club strongly encourages hikers to:
- Wear blaze orange clothing, visible from both the front and back.
- Avoid wearing brown or white, the colors of a deer.
- Be especially careful while hiking in valleys and near roads and trailheads.
- Avoid hiking during dawn and dusk due to low visibility.
- Please leave dogs at home. If you do bring a furry friend, dress your dog with bright bandanas or a blaze orange vest.
- Wave and talk to make your presence known to hunters.
- Stick to well-populated trails where hunters are likely to avoid.
This is a wonderful time of year to go hiking in Vermont. It’s also a good time to refresh your safety awareness with regard to hunting season and general preparedness. A prepared hiker is a happy hiker! Have fun out there!
Check out Vermont Fish and Wildlife for more information about where, when, and how hunting is permitted in Vermont.
Where should I hike during hunting season?
Stick to the guidelines above. For some general recommendations, try:
Prospect Rock via the Long Trail, Johnson – MODERATE
Wiessner Woods, Stowe – EASY (hunting is prohibited)
Camel’s Hump Summit via Burrows Trail Loop, Huntington – MODERATELY DIFFICULT
Thundering Falls, Killington — ACCESSIBLE
Bromley Mountain, Winhall — MODERATE
Please note that with the exception of Wiessner Woods, hunting is permitted on these lands. For detailed descriptions and directions, click here.
Share the trail and be safe out there, hikers!
I am super excited about hunting season this year. I actually had plans to go to Vermont to hunt this year. looking for some good spots to go to.
Hi, I am planning to hike Jay Peak Mountain through the Long Trail ( road 245 I believe) on Octobre the 9th. Do I need a permit if I bring around 10 Friends? If Yes how much does the permit cost, and I do I proceed to get the permit. I am à Québec résident. Also I dont think that your Trail closes during the Hunting season but woukd like a confirmation. Best regards
Hi Carole! The trail is not closed during hunting season but there are precautions we recommend that people take (see blog post above). You can find information on group hiking and which overnight sites large groups can fit at on our website: https://www.greenmountainclub.org/groups/ For any other questions about group hiking, please email [email protected]. Enjoy your hike!
11 people is too high a number for VT trails. They are extremely fragile, subject to erosion, and, in alpine zones, narrow and delicate. 8 is a maximum. If you have more friends, I suggest splitting up the group to hike about 1/2 mile apart and arrange meeting places.
Perfect review.. Thanks for the perfect article.
I am super excited for going on hunting this month. I think I should make a plan for Vermont this year. Thanks for this awesome post.
While the recommended precautions make sense, I urge hikers not to be afraid of hiking during hunting season. Statistics show that walking an hour in the woods was 10 times safer than an hour of riding in a car 20 years ago. Today hunters must take a safety course, so the woods are safer than ever. So enjoy them!
A useful article!
Thank you so much
Very Informative article thank you so much.
Thanks for sharing