reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 10 - Conservation and Development › Chapter 113 - Game › § 4863. Trapping tags; fees

§ 4863. Trapping tags; fees
The Commissioner may fix a fee not to exceed $1.00 that shall be paid by the trapper to the game warden for each skin required to be tagged and marked by regulations of the Board and such fees shall be transmitted to the Commissioner who shall pay the same into the State Treasury. (Added 1961, No. 119, § 1, eff. May 9, 1961.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 10 - Conservation and Development › Chapter 113 - Game › § 4864. Transporting beaver skins; confiscation

§ 4864. Transporting beaver skins; confiscation
Any beaver skins that may come into this State in the raw state from any other state or country shall have the official stamp, tag, or seal of the state or country in which such skins were taken. All beaver skins not tagged and marked as provided shall be seized and confiscated in the name of the State. (Added 1961, No. 119, § 1, eff. May 9, 1961.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 10 - Conservation and Development › Chapter 113 - Game › § 4902. Wild birds generally; no open season; exception

§ 4902. Wild birds generally; no open season; exception
(a) Wild birds, other than pigeons, shall not be taken, possessed, bought, or sold, at any time, except as provided by this part, rules of the Board, or orders of the Commissioner.
(b) Harm or death of a migratory bird listed as protected in the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, 16 U.S.C. §§ 703-712 as of July 1, 2020, that results from human activity where the intent was not to harm or kill the bird, but where bird harm or death was a direct and foreseeable result of the activity, is prohibited. Nothing in this section shall require the Department to implement a new permitting program. (Added 1961, No. 119, § 1, eff. May 9, 1961; amended 1963, No. 112, § 1; 1967, No. 22, § 1; 1981, No. 85, § 11, eff. May 7, 1981; 1991, No. 230 (Adj. Sess.), § 27; 2019, No. 172 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. Oct. 8, 2020.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 10 - Conservation and Development › Chapter 113 - Game › § 4904. Use of light, snares, traps

§ 4904. Use of light, snares, traps
A person shall not take a bird with the aid of a jack or other light. A person shall not take a wild bird by trapping, netting, or snaring, or possess such a bird so taken, or set, place, or use, where birds may be taken, a net, trap, or snare for taking birds. Such a net, trap, or snare is hereby declared to be a public nuisance and may be summarily abated and destroyed by any person, and game wardens shall seize and destroy such devices. The Commissioner, however, may authorize the taking of birds by nets or traps or other devices under such regulations as he or she may prescribe. (Added 1961, No. 119, § 1, eff. May 9, 1961.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 10 - Conservation and Development › Chapter 113 - Game › § 4905. Birds’ nests and eggs; destroying or robbing

§ 4905. Birds’ nests and eggs; destroying or robbing
A person shall not take or wilfully destroy the nests or eggs of wild birds, other than pigeons, the English sparrow, starling, or purple grackle, except when necessary to protect buildings or when taken as provided in section 4152 of this title. (Added 1961, No. 119, § 1, eff. May 9, 1961; amended 1963, No. 112, § 2; 1967, No. 22, § 2; 1981, No. 85, § 12, eff. May 7, 1981.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 10 - Conservation and Development › Chapter 113 - Game › § 4907. Waterfowl blinds

§ 4907. Waterfowl blinds
(a) A person shall not place a waterfowl blind or cause the same to be placed on or in the waters of the State earlier than the first Saturday of September of any year, and then only if the person’s name and address are permanently and legibly affixed thereto, by waterproof paint or rustproof tag. A person shall remove his or her waterfowl blind, together with its contents and any surrounding debris, located on or in any waters of the State except Lake Champlain on or before May 15 of the following year. A waterfowl blind located on or in Lake Champlain shall be removed on or before February 15 of the following year.
(b) For the purposes of this section, “waterfowl blind” means any manufactured place of concealment or any boat, raft, or similar structure that has been designed to partially or completely conceal a person taking ducks or geese.
(c) Subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to State-owned and -operated blinds on lands owned or controlled by the State. (Added 1971, No. 223 (Adj. Sess.); amended 1987, No. 133 (Adj. Sess.), eff. April 4, 1988.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 10 - Conservation and Development › Chapter 113 - Game › § 4908. Youth turkey hunting weekend

§ 4908. Youth turkey hunting weekend
(a) The Saturday and Sunday prior to opening day of spring turkey season shall be youth turkey hunting weekend.
(b) A person who is age 15 or under on the weekend of the hunt, who has successfully completed a hunter safety course, may take one wild turkey during youth turkey hunting weekend in accordance with the rules of the Board. In order to hunt under this section, a young person shall also hold valid hunting and turkey licenses under section 4255 of this title, hold a youth turkey hunting tag, and be accompanied by an unarmed adult who holds a valid Vermont hunting license and is over 18 years of age. An adult accompanying a youth under this section shall accompany no more than two young people at one time.
(c) No person shall hunt under this section on privately owned land without first obtaining the permission of the owner or occupant.
(d) The scheduled amount of a fine under section 4555 of this title shall be doubled for a violation of this section, and the fine shall be assessed against the licensed adult who is accompanying the youth pursuant to subsection (b) of this section and who has the youth hunter in his or her charge.
(e) For the purposes of this section, “accompany,” “accompanied,” or “accompanying” means direct control and supervision, including the ability to see and communicate with the youth hunter without the aid of artificial devices such as radios or binoculars, except for medically necessary devices such as hearing aids or eyeglasses. While hunting, an individual who holds a valid hunting license under subsection 4254(b) of this title shall accompany no more than two youth hunters at a time. (Added 2001, No. 4, § 2, eff. April 4, 2001; amended 2009, No. 11, § 3, eff. May 7, 2009; 2009, No. 122 (Adj. Sess.), § 2.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 10 - Conservation and Development › Chapter 113 - Game › § 4909. Connecticut River zone

§ 4909. Connecticut River zone
A person holding a New Hampshire hunting license that allows taking of migratory waterfowl may take migratory waterfowl and coots from the Connecticut River zone, as defined by the Board, provided the State of New Hampshire grants the same right to a person holding a Vermont hunting license which allows taking of migratory waterfowl in the Connecticut River. (Added 2001, No. 79 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. April 10, 2002.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 10 - Conservation and Development › Chapter 113 - Game › § 4910. Enforcement discretion

§ 4910. Enforcement discretion
For purposes of migratory bird protection in this title, the Commissioner has authority to exercise enforcement discretion, including refraining from taking any enforcement action for the incidental take of migratory birds. Enforcement, if any, shall focus on activities that have at least local population level impacts on migratory birds. (Added 2019, No. 172 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. Oct. 8, 2020.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 10 - Conservation and Development › Chapter 113 - Game › § 4921. Definitions

§ 4921. Definitions
As used in this subchapter:
(1) “Covered wild animal” means an animal that is a big game animal, game quadruped, game bird, fur-bearing animal, or crow.
(2) “Process” or “processed” means the act of slaughtering or butchering a covered wild animal for its edible meat or usable parts.
(3) “Unfit for consumption or use” means a part of the covered wild animal or the covered wild animal itself is decayed, rotting, diseased, or infected. (Added 2021, No. 110 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. May 11, 2022.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 10 - Conservation and Development › Chapter 113 - Game › § 4922. Retrieval of covered wild animals

§ 4922. Retrieval of covered wild animals
A person shall not intentionally or knowingly kill a covered wild animal and intentionally or knowingly fail to make a reasonable effort to retrieve the covered wild animal and use the covered wild animal as provided under this subchapter. (Added 2021, No. 110 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. May 11, 2022.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 10 - Conservation and Development › Chapter 113 - Game › § 4923. Use of covered wild animal

§ 4923. Use of covered wild animal
(a) A person who retrieves a lawfully taken covered wild animal, or a person to whom the lawfully taken covered wild animal is transferred, shall retain the animal in the person’s possession until it is processed as food; processed for its fur, hide, or feathers; or used for taxidermy. The inedible or unusable parts or portions of a covered wild animal produced from processing of the covered wild animal shall be disposed of pursuant to the requirements of this subchapter.
(b) The requirements of subsection (a) of this section shall not apply:
(1) when a covered wild animal is unfit for consumption or use; or
(2) to coyote taken by a lawful means other than trapping provided that the coyote is retrieved and disposed of pursuant to the requirements of this subchapter. (Added 2021, No. 110 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. May 11, 2022.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 10 - Conservation and Development › Chapter 113 - Game › § 4924. Exceptions

§ 4924. Exceptions
The requirements of sections 4922 and 4923 of this title shall not apply:
(1) when the failure to retrieve, the failure to salvage, or the failure to retain the covered wild animal is beyond the control of the person due to:
(A) theft of the covered wild animal by another person;
(B) unavoidable loss in the field to a wild animal;
(C) lack of legal access to property where a wounded or dead covered wild animal is located, including when signage on the property would lead a reasonable person to believe that hunting is prohibited on the land; or
(D) other circumstances that prevent salvage, retrieval, or retention;
(2) in order to defend a person or property, including defense of property authorized under this part or rules adopted under this part;
(3) when the covered wild animal is sick or diseased;
(4) to a State, federal, or municipal law enforcement officer or employee when the law enforcement officer or employee is acting within the course of the officer’s or employee’s employment; or
(5) when following generally accepted hunting or trapping practices for retrieval of a covered wild animal when a practice is:
(A) set forth under this part or rules adopted under this part; or
(B) approved as a best practice by the Commissioner of Fish and Wildlife. (Added 2021, No. 110 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. May 11, 2022.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 10 - Conservation and Development › Chapter 113 - Game › § 4925. Disposal

§ 4925. Disposal
A person shall not place, leave, dump, or abandon the carcass or parts of a covered wild animal:
(1) along or upon a public right-of-way or highway;
(2) upon a private property posted in accordance with section 4710 or 5201 of this title without permission of the owner or the owner’s agent; or
(3) where prohibited by State or municipal law. (Added 2021, No. 110 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. May 11, 2022.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 10 - Conservation and Development › Chapter 115 - Hunting Dogs › § 5001. Hunting dogs; field training

§ 5001. Hunting dogs; field training
(a) While accompanying the dog, a person may train a hunting dog to hunt and pursue:
(1) bear during the period from June 1 to September 15 and then only from sunrise to sunset;
(2) rabbits and game birds during the period from June 1 to the last Saturday in September and then only from sunrise to sunset;
(3) raccoon during the period from June 1 through any time of day or night on the day before the opening day of raccoon hunting season; and
(4) bobcat and fox during the period June 1 to March 15, except during regular deer season as prescribed in section 4741 of this title.
(b) The Commissioner may permit a person to train and condition a hunting dog between the second Monday in March and June 1. The Board may adopt rules as it considers necessary to control the training and conditioning of hunting dogs.
(c) A person training a hunting dog under this section may possess a handgun while training the hunting dog, provided that the person shall not take game by any method while training the hunting dog. As used in this section, “handgun” means a pistol or revolver that will expel a projectile by the action of an explosive. (Added 1961, No. 119, § 1, eff. May 9, 1961; amended 1965, No. 48, eff. May 7, 1965; 1973, No. 178 (Adj. Sess.), § 6; 1977, No. 137 (Adj. Sess.); 1983, No. 158 (Adj. Sess.), eff. April 13, 1984; 1991, No. 230 (Adj. Sess.), § 28; 2013, No. 78, § 19; 2013, No. 116 (Adj. Sess.), § 15, eff. May 5, 2014.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 10 - Conservation and Development › Chapter 115 - Hunting Dogs › § 5002. Hunting dogs; field trials; fee

§ 5002. Hunting dogs; field trials; fee
The Commissioner may issue permits to organized groups to hold field trials for hunting dogs. Persons seeking a permit shall submit an application to the Commissioner as prescribed by the Commissioner and shall pay a fee of $50.00. (Added 1961, No. 119, § 1, eff. May 9, 1961; amended 1983, No. 157 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. April 13, 1984; 1997, No. 155 (Adj. Sess.), § 48, eff. Jan. 1, 1999.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 10 - Conservation and Development › Chapter 115 - Hunting Dogs › § 5003. Retrieving dogs; field trials

§ 5003. Retrieving dogs; field trials
The Commissioner may issue a license to any responsible person or field trial group to hold a field trial for retrieving dogs, or bird dogs, with game birds that have been propagated or legally acquired and released on the day of the trial on premises owned or controlled by the individual or group conducting the same, and shot for such purposes during daylight hours. Such trials shall be held under the supervision of the Department of Fish and Wildlife. (Added 1961, No. 119, § 1, eff. May 9, 1961; amended 1983, No. 158 (Adj. Sess.), eff. April 13, 1984.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 10 - Conservation and Development › Chapter 115 - Hunting Dogs › § 5004. Retriever field trials; fee

§ 5004. Retriever field trials; fee
The Commissioner may issue permits which shall authorize a holder or authorized designee to take all of the birds released by the holder of the permit or designee on the day the trial is in progress. Persons seeking a permit shall submit an application to the Commissioner as prescribed by the Commissioner, and shall pay a fee of $50.00. (Added 1961, No. 119, § 1, eff. May 9, 1961; amended 1983, No. 157 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. April 13, 1984; 1997, No. 155 (Adj. Sess.), § 49, eff. Jan. 1, 1999.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 10 - Conservation and Development › Chapter 115 - Hunting Dogs › § 5006. Exemption; hunting license

§ 5006. Exemption; hunting license
Any person who participates in a trial under the provisions of sections 5002-5004 of this title shall not be required to have a hunting license. (Added 1961, No. 119, § 1, eff. May 9, 1961; amended 1983, No. 157 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. April 13, 1984.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 10 - Conservation and Development › Chapter 115 - Hunting Dogs › § 5007. Hunting black bear with dogs

§ 5007. Hunting black bear with dogs
(a) No person shall pursue black bear with the aid of dogs, either for training or taking purposes, without a permit issued by the Commissioner. The number of permits issued to nonresidents in any given year shall not exceed 10 percent of the number of permits issued to residents in the preceding year. The Commissioner shall establish a process for determining which nonresidents are to receive a permit if there are more nonresident applicants than nonresident permits. A nonresident may train dogs to hunt bear only while training season is in effect in the nonresident’s home state and subject to the laws and regulations of this State.
(b) Permits will be issued to residents for a fee of $50.00.
(c) Application fees for nonresidents shall be $10.00 with a permit fee of $200.00 for successful applicants. (Added 1989, No. 184 (Adj. Sess.); amended 1997, No. 155 (Adj. Sess.), § 50, eff. Jan. 1, 1999.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 10 - Conservation and Development › Chapter 115 - Hunting Dogs › § 5008. Hunting coyote with aid of dogs; permit

§ 5008. Hunting coyote with aid of dogs; permit
(a) No person shall pursue coyote with the aid of dogs, either for training or taking purposes, without a permit issued by the Commissioner.
(1) The Commissioner may deny any permit at the Commissioner’s discretion. The Commissioner shall not issue more than 100 permits annually.
(2) The number of permits that the Commissioner issues to nonresidents in any given year shall not exceed 10 percent of the number of permits issued to residents in the preceding year. The Commissioner shall establish a process and standards for determining which nonresidents are to receive a permit, including who will receive a permit if there are more nonresident applicants than nonresident permits.
(3) A nonresident may train dogs to pursue coyote only while the training season is in effect in the nonresident’s home state and subject to the requirements of this part and rules adopted under this part.
(b)(1) The Commissioner shall issue permits under this section to a resident for a fee of $50.00.
(2) The application fee for a nonresident permit issued under this section shall be $10.00, and the fee for a nonresident permit issued under this section shall be $200.00 for a successful applicant. (Added 2021, No. 165 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, contingent effective date.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 10 - Conservation and Development › Chapter 115 - Hunting Dogs › § 5009. Pursuing coyote with aid of dogs; landowner permission

§ 5009. Pursuing coyote with aid of dogs; landowner permission
(a) A person shall not release a dog onto land posted in accordance with section 5201 of this title for the purpose of pursuing coyote with the aid of dogs unless the dog owner or handler of the hunting dog has obtained a courtesy permission card from the landowner or landowner’s agent allowing the pursuit of coyote with the aid of dogs on the land.
(b) A person shall not release onto land a dog for the purpose of pursuing coyote with the aid of dogs if in the previous 365 days a dog had been previously found on the land, and the dog owner, a handler of the dog, or a person participating in the hunt has been personally informed by law enforcement that hunting dogs are not permitted on the property.
(c)(1) For a first offense, a person who violates this section shall have committed a minor fish and wildlife violation and shall be assessed a five-point violation under subdivision 4502(b)(1) of this title.
(2) For a second or subsequent violation of this section, a person shall be assessed a 10-point violation under subdivision 4502(b)(2) of this title and shall be fined under section 4515 of this title. (Added 2021, No. 165 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, contingent effective date.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 10 - Conservation and Development › Chapter 117 - Transportation › § 5101. Fish and wildlife; restrictions

§ 5101. Fish and wildlife; restrictions
(a) A person shall not:
(1) Transport fish or wildlife taken by another except in the presence of the person who took that fish or wildlife.
(2) Transport fish or wildlife during the closed season for the taking of that fish or wildlife.
(3) Transport in one day more than the number or limit of fish or wildlife that may legally be taken in a day. However, a person traveling on land between a temporary abode and the person’s domicile may transport in one day the number or limit of fish and wildlife that may legally be taken in two days. While on the waters of the State, a person may, in no case, transport more than the limit of fish that may be taken in one day unless the fish is frozen, processed, and packaged for storage.
(b) Quadrupeds lawfully taken in the protection of property may be transported at any time subject to the provisions of this chapter.
(c) Deer and bear may be transported during the first 20 days following the open season therefor, subject to the provisions of this chapter.
(d) Fish that have been sold at wholesale or retail may be transported at any time by any person. (Added 1961, No. 119, § 1, eff. May 9, 1961; amended 1973, No. 178 (Adj. Sess.), § 7; 1989, No. 177 (Adj. Sess.).)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 10 - Conservation and Development › Chapter 117 - Transportation › § 5102. Common carrier

§ 5102. Common carrier
A person while engaged in the business of a common carrier shall not transport as owner fish or game, or receive for transportation or transport fish or game protected by law unless accompanied by the owner thereof and tagged or marked as provided by law, except as otherwise provided. (Added 1961, No. 119, § 1, eff. May 9, 1961.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 10 - Conservation and Development › Chapter 117 - Transportation › § 5103. Marking for transportation

§ 5103. Marking for transportation
Fish, wildlife, and fur-bearing animals, or a package containing the same, if placed in the custody of a common carrier, shall have affixed thereto a tag plainly marked with the name of the consignor and consignee, the kind and number of such game and fur-bearing animals and the kind and weight of such fish, the name of the station whence the shipment is made, and its destination, except as otherwise provided. (Added 1961, No. 119, § 1, eff. May 9, 1961.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 10 - Conservation and Development › Chapter 117 - Transportation › § 5104. Carcass of deer; fish and game imported from without United States or raised on propagation farms

§ 5104. Carcass of deer; fish and game imported from without United States or raised on propagation farms
(a) The carcass of a deer taken by a resident or by a person as provided in sections 5201 and 5202 of this title, when open to view, may be transported during the time specified in section 5101 of this title by a common carrier without being tagged as provided in section 5102 of this title when accompanied by the owner thereof or, if so tagged, may be transported unaccompanied by the owner thereof.
(b) Fish and wildlife imported from without the United States, or raised on propagation farms as provided in this part, when so tagged, may be transported unaccompanied by the owner thereof in any number and quantity. Fish and wildlife for propagation purposes and the head, hide, feet, and fur of quadrupeds and the plumage and skins of game birds legally taken and possessed may be transported without being so tagged when accompanied by the owner thereof. (Added 1961, No. 119, § 1, eff. May 9, 1961.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 10 - Conservation and Development › Chapter 117 - Transportation › § 5105. Conditions precedent to acceptance for transportation

§ 5105. Conditions precedent to acceptance for transportation
A person required to have a license, as provided in section 4251 of this title, who takes fish or wild animals under such a license, if he or she places such fish or wild animals in the custody of a person acting as a common carrier, shall exhibit to such person such license and thereupon such person shall permit the transportation of such fish and wild animals as follows but not otherwise: a resident combination or hunting license, of as many wild animals as the holder may lawfully take in one season; a resident combination or fishing license, of as much fish as the holder thereof may lawfully take in two days; a nonresident combination license, of as much fish and as many wild animals as the holder thereof may lawfully take in one legal day; a nonresident fishing license, of as much fish as the holder thereof may lawfully take in one legal day; a nonresident hunting license, of as many wild animals as the holder thereof may lawfully take in one legal day. (Added 1961, No. 119, § 1, eff. May 9, 1961.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 10 - Conservation and Development › Chapter 117 - Transportation › § 5106. Duties of carriers

§ 5106. Duties of carriers
(a) A person acting as a common carrier so receiving fish or wild animals for shipment shall indorse in ink on the back of the license under which same is to be shipped the name of the station from which the shipment is made, the destination, and the number of each kind of wild animal or the weight of each kind of fish. Such fish and wild animals shall have affixed thereto a tag plainly marked with the license number of the shipper thereof, and the kind and number of such game and the kind and weight of such fish.
(b) Such game and animals shall be open to view.
(c) If the license that is presented with consignment of fish or wild animals for transportation has an endorsement thereon showing that the number of such game or the weight of such fish, which may be lawfully taken by a nonresident in one legal day, or by a resident in two legal days, as the case may be, has already been shipped on such license, the person to whom the consignment is offered shall not accept it. (Added 1961, No. 119, § 1, eff. May 9, 1961.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 10 - Conservation and Development › Chapter 119 - Private Preserves, Propagation Farms, Private Ponds, Refuges, and Shooting Grounds › § 5201. Notices; posting

§ 5201. Notices; posting
(a)(1) An owner, or a person having the exclusive right to take game upon land or the waters thereon, who desires to protect his or her land or private pond or propagation farm over which he or she has exclusive control may maintain notices stating that:
(A) the shooting, trapping, or taking of game or wild animals is prohibited or is by permission only;
(B) fishing or the taking of fish is prohibited or is by permission only;
(C) fishing, hunting, trapping, or taking of game is prohibited or is by permission only.
(2) “Permission only signs” authorized under this section shall contain the owner’s name and a method by which to contact the property owner or a person authorized to provide permission to hunt, fish, or trap on the property.
(b) Notices prohibiting the taking of game shall be erected upon or near the boundaries of lands to be affected with notices at each corner and not over 400 feet apart along the boundaries thereof. Legible signs must be maintained at all times and shall be dated each year. These signs shall be of a standard size and design as the Commissioner shall specify.
(c) The owner or person posting the lands shall record this posting annually in the town clerk’s office of the town in which the land is located. The recording form shall be furnished by the Commissioner and shall be filled out in triplicate, one copy to be retained by the town clerk, one copy to the Commissioner, and one copy to be retained by the person having the right to post the lands. The forms shall contain the information as to the approximate number of acres posted, location in town, date of posting, and signature of person so posting the lands. The town clerk shall file the record, and it shall be open to public inspection. The town clerk shall retain a fee of $5.00 for this recording.
(d) Land posted as provided in subsection (b) of this section shall be enclosed land for the purposes herein. (Added 1961, No. 119, § 1, eff. May 9, 1961; amended 1967, No. 302 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. March 20, 1968; 1979, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 11; 2013, No. 78, § 20; 2015, No. 145 (Adj. Sess.), § 16.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 10 - Conservation and Development › Chapter 119 - Private Preserves, Propagation Farms, Private Ponds, Refuges, and Shooting Grounds › § 5202. Private ponds, stocking

§ 5202. Private ponds, stocking
The Commissioner may, at his or her discretion, stock a private pond that allows some charitable or nonprofit organizations to use the area at no charge. In that case, the owner may prohibit the taking of fish or game by the general public under section 5201 of this title. (Added 1961, No. 119, § 1, eff. May 9, 1961; amended 1989, No. 223 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 1991, No. 14; 2015, No. 145 (Adj. Sess.), § 17.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 10 - Conservation and Development › Chapter 119 - Private Preserves, Propagation Farms, Private Ponds, Refuges, and Shooting Grounds › § 5204. Poaching; private preserves

§ 5204. Poaching; private preserves
(a) A person who, without the written consent of the owner or person having the exclusive right to take fish or wild animals, takes fish, game, or other animals or carries or possesses a firearm, bow and arrow, or wild animal trap in private preserve as posted under section 5201 of this title or mutilates or defaces the notice called for in subsection 5201(b) of this title shall be fined not less than $25.00 nor more than $100.00.
(b) The owner or person in control of such private preserve may recover the actual damages sustained by him or her in a civil action on this statute. (Added 1961, No. 119, § 1, eff. May 9, 1961; amended 1967, No. 302 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. March 20, 1968; 1969, No. 16, § 3, eff. March 11, 1969.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 10 - Conservation and Development › Chapter 119 - Private Preserves, Propagation Farms, Private Ponds, Refuges, and Shooting Grounds › § 5205. Injuring notice

§ 5205. Injuring notice
A person shall not damage or remove a notice maintained under the provisions of section 5201 of this title. (Added 1961, No. 119, § 1, eff. May 9, 1961.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 10 - Conservation and Development › Chapter 119 - Private Preserves, Propagation Farms, Private Ponds, Refuges, and Shooting Grounds › § 5206. Maintaining notice one year

§ 5206. Maintaining notice one year
A person shall not maintain a notice prohibiting fishing for more than one year after such waters were last stocked. (Added 1961, No. 119, § 1, eff. May 9, 1961.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 10 - Conservation and Development › Chapter 119 - Private Preserves, Propagation Farms, Private Ponds, Refuges, and Shooting Grounds › § 5207. Propagation farms

§ 5207. Propagation farms
(a) The Commissioner may issue a license to propagate fish and wild animals and shall make and publish regulations governing such industry. The application for such a breeder’s license shall be in writing, addressed to the Commissioner, shall be signed by the applicant, and shall describe the land or waters owned or leased by such breeder to be used for such purpose and shall contain such other facts as may be required by the Commissioner. When it appears that the application is made in good faith, the Commissioner may issue such a license, which shall continue in force for one year, upon the payment of a fee of $50.00 for a new application and $10.00 for a renewal of an application. Fees collected under this section shall be deposited into the Fish and Wildlife Fund.
(b) All health testing of cultured trout shall be provided to commercial trout farms through an aquaculture inspection program conducted jointly by the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets and the Department of Fish and Wildlife as provided by 6 V.S.A. § 1154a and part 4 of this title. (Added 1961, No. 119, § 1, eff. May 9, 1961; amended 1991, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 1993, No. 202 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 2003, No. 42, § 2, eff. May 27, 2003.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 10 - Conservation and Development › Chapter 119 - Private Preserves, Propagation Farms, Private Ponds, Refuges, and Shooting Grounds › § 5209. Special penalty

§ 5209. Special penalty
A breeder selling game procured from lands other than lands covered by a license under section 5207 of this title, or who violates a provision of this part or a regulation issued under the provisions of sections 5207 and 5208 of this title, shall be fined not more than $100.00 and in addition thereto shall be punished as provided for such particular violation. (Added 1961, No. 119, § 1, eff. May 9, 1961; amended 1991, No. 13, § 6.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 10 - Conservation and Development › Chapter 119 - Private Preserves, Propagation Farms, Private Ponds, Refuges, and Shooting Grounds › § 5210. Private ponds

§ 5210. Private ponds
A person owning a natural pond of not more than 20 acres or an artificial pond entirely upon his or her premises, stocked at his or her own expense with fish artificially hatched or reared, may take fish from such pond at any time for the purpose of propagation or consumption as food on his or her premises, provided that the sources of water supply for such pond are entirely upon his or her premises or that fish do not have access to such pond from waters not under his or her control or from waters stocked at the expense of the State. (Added 1961, No. 119, § 1, eff. May 9, 1961.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 10 - Conservation and Development › Chapter 119 - Private Preserves, Propagation Farms, Private Ponds, Refuges, and Shooting Grounds › § 5211. Poaching; propagation farms; injury; penalties

§ 5211. Poaching; propagation farms; injury; penalties
A person shall not, without permission, enter upon the premises of a propagation farm and take fish, or wild animals, or upon a pond as defined in section 5210 of this title and take fish, or foul the waters of such farm or pond with a substance injurious to the life or growth of fish or break or destroy a dam, reservoir, or embankment, or divert the water, or wilfully damage such farm or pond. Such person shall be liable to the owner of such premises for damages in a civil action on this section. (Added 1961, No. 119, § 1, eff. May 9, 1961.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 10 - Conservation and Development › Chapter 119 - Private Preserves, Propagation Farms, Private Ponds, Refuges, and Shooting Grounds › § 5213. Mansfield State Forest; game refuge

§ 5213. Mansfield State Forest; game refuge
(a) A person shall not hunt, trap, take, or kill wild animals on that part of the Mansfield State Forest bounded by the Smugglers’ Notch road on the east, the road to the summit of Mt. Mansfield on the south and west, the summit of Mt. Mansfield on the west, and the present boundary of the State Forest on the north.
(b) The Commissioner may include in such game refuge private lands within the bounds mentioned in subsection (a) of this section as a part of such game refuge.
(c) The boundaries of such game refuge shall be marked by a suitable sign every one-half mile at conspicuous places along the roads and by cloth notices nailed on trees every 40 rods along the northerly boundary. (Added 1961, No. 119, § 1, eff. May 9, 1961.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 10 - Conservation and Development › Chapter 119 - Private Preserves, Propagation Farms, Private Ponds, Refuges, and Shooting Grounds › § 5214. Vermin destruction

§ 5214. Vermin destruction
Permits for the control and destruction of vermin upon a game refuge may be granted by the Commissioner to such person and at such times as he or she shall deem advisable. (Added 1961, No. 119, § 1, eff. May 9, 1961.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 10 - Conservation and Development › Chapter 119 - Private Preserves, Propagation Farms, Private Ponds, Refuges, and Shooting Grounds › § 5215. Game refuges; how created; regulations

§ 5215. Game refuges; how created; regulations
(a) For a specified period of years, the Commissioner may prohibit or regulate the taking of wild animals upon public lands set aside with the approval of the Governor or upon private lands set aside with the consent of the owner thereof for game refuges. At least 30 days before such a prohibition or regulation takes effect, he or she shall file a copy of the same in the office of the town clerk of the town in which such lands lie. Notices reading “State Game Refuge; hunting is unlawful” shall be placed at conspicuous places on the boundaries of refuges.
(b) Upon receipt of a fee of $50.00, the Commissioner may issue a permit to a person, organization, or group for the purpose of rehabilitating sick or injured wild animals. For the purposes of this subsection, rehabilitation means treating the sick or injured wild animal back to a sufficient state of health so that the animal may be returned to the wild. The Commissioner shall adopt rules to implement this subsection. (Added 1961, No. 119, § 1, eff. May 9, 1961; amended 1985, No. 209 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. June 2, 1986; 1997, No. 155 (Adj. Sess.), § 51, eff. Jan. 1, 1999.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 10 - Conservation and Development › Chapter 119 - Private Preserves, Propagation Farms, Private Ponds, Refuges, and Shooting Grounds › § 5216. Migratory bird reservations; consent of State; jurisdiction

§ 5216. Migratory bird reservations; consent of State; jurisdiction
Consent of the State of Vermont is given to the acquisition by the United States by purchase, gift, devise, or lease of such land or water, or of land and water in Vermont, as the United States may deem necessary for the establishment of migratory bird reservations in accordance with the act of Congress, approved February 18, 1929, entitled, “Act to more effectively meet the obligations of the United States under the migratory bird treaty with Great Britain by lessening the dangers threatening migratory game birds from drainage and other causes by the acquisition of areas of land and of water to furnish perpetuity reservations for the adequate protection of such birds; and authorizing appropriations for the establishment of such areas, their maintenance and improvement and for other purposes,” reserving, however, to the State of Vermont full and complete jurisdiction and authority over all such areas not incompatible with the administration, maintenance, protection, and control thereof by the United States under the terms of the act of Congress. (Added 1961, No. 119, § 1, eff. May 9, 1961.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 10 - Conservation and Development › Chapter 119 - Private Preserves, Propagation Farms, Private Ponds, Refuges, and Shooting Grounds › § 5217. Permits to operate regulated shooting ground

§ 5217. Permits to operate regulated shooting ground
Upon receipt of a fee of $100.00, the Commissioner of Fish and Wildlife may issue a shooting grounds permit to operate a shooting ground upon which to propagate and release small game under regulations approved by the Commissioner and upon which to release small game when regularly propagated or purchased for shooting and other purposes. (Added 1961, No. 251, § 1; amended 1963, No. 131, § 1; 1983, No. 245 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 1997, No. 72 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 1997, No. 155 (Adj. Sess.), § 52, eff. Jan. 1, 1999.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 10 - Conservation and Development › Chapter 119 - Private Preserves, Propagation Farms, Private Ponds, Refuges, and Shooting Grounds › § 5218. Boundaries

§ 5218. Boundaries
The boundary of the licensed premises shall be posted with printed notices not more than 100 yards apart and containing such words as the Commissioner may prescribe. (Added 1961, No. 251, § 2; amended 1985, No. 209 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. June 2, 1986.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 10 - Conservation and Development › Chapter 119 - Private Preserves, Propagation Farms, Private Ponds, Refuges, and Shooting Grounds › § 5219. Shooting regulations on regulated grounds

§ 5219. Shooting regulations on regulated grounds
Such permit shall entitle the holder or holders thereof, and their guests, to kill or take, by shooting or falconry, the small game propagated or purchased and released on the premises. (Added 1961, No. 251, § 3; amended 1983, No. 245 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; 1995, No. 104 (Adj. Sess.), § 3; 1997, No. 72 (Adj. Sess.), § 2.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 10 - Conservation and Development › Chapter 119 - Private Preserves, Propagation Farms, Private Ponds, Refuges, and Shooting Grounds › § 5220. Small game released

§ 5220. Small game released
All small game released on said regulated shooting grounds shall be fully able to care for themselves in a wild state. (Added 1961, No. 251, § 4; amended 1983, No. 245 (Adj. Sess.), § 6; 1997, No. 72 (Adj. Sess.), § 3.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 10 - Conservation and Development › Chapter 119 - Private Preserves, Propagation Farms, Private Ponds, Refuges, and Shooting Grounds › § 5221. Period of taking released animals

§ 5221. Period of taking released animals
Such propagated or released small game may be taken without regard to sex, age, or bag limits. The period for taking small game on regulated shooting grounds shall be fixed by the Commissioner. (Added 1961, No. 251, § 5; amended 1983, No. 245 (Adj. Sess.), § 3; 1997, No. 72 (Adj. Sess.), § 4.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 10 - Conservation and Development › Chapter 119 - Private Preserves, Propagation Farms, Private Ponds, Refuges, and Shooting Grounds › § 5222. Other game

§ 5222. Other game
All species of game, other than those specified or approved by the Commissioner for propagation and release found on the premises governed by such permit, may be taken on such premises only under the general provisions of the law governing the taking and possession of the same. (Added 1961, No. 251, § 6.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 10 - Conservation and Development › Chapter 119 - Private Preserves, Propagation Farms, Private Ponds, Refuges, and Shooting Grounds › § 5223. Hunting license

§ 5223. Hunting license
(a) Every person hunting on such regulated shooting grounds shall:
(1) be the holder of a resident or nonresident hunter’s license for the current year; or
(2) be the holder of a one-day shooting ground license issued by the owner of the shooting ground on forms prescribed by the Commissioner of Fish and Wildlife. Such shooting ground license shall be valid only on the shooting ground where issued and only for taking the small game designated by the Commissioner in the permit for that shooting ground.
(b) The fee for a one-day regulated shooting ground license shall be $5.00. At the end of each calendar quarter, the owner of a shooting ground shall forward to the Commissioner of Fish and Wildlife all revenues from one-day license sales and such records of sales as may be required by the Commissioner. (Added 1961, No. 251, § 7; amended 1983, No. 245 (Adj. Sess.), § 4; 1997, No. 72 (Adj. Sess.), § 5.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 10 - Conservation and Development › Chapter 119 - Private Preserves, Propagation Farms, Private Ponds, Refuges, and Shooting Grounds › § 5225. Purpose

§ 5225. Purpose
The purpose of sections 5217-5225 of this title is to permit the orderly operation of regulated shooting grounds and to provide an additional option for sportsmen and sportswomen. Licensees shall furnish to the Commissioner whatever pertinent information he or she may request. (Added 1961, No. 251, § 9; amended 1963, No. 131, § 2; 1983, No. 245 (Adj. Sess.), § 5.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 10 - Conservation and Development › Chapter 119 - Private Preserves, Propagation Farms, Private Ponds, Refuges, and Shooting Grounds › § 5226. Bomoseen State Game Refuge

§ 5226. Bomoseen State Game Refuge
(a) A person shall not hunt, trap, take, or kill wild animals on the Bomoseen State Game Refuge.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 5215 of this title, the boundaries of the Refuge shall be conspicuously marked by paint or notices, or both, so as to give reasonable notice. The notices shall read “State Game Refuge: Hunting, Trapping, or Shooting Prohibited.”
(c) A person who enters this refuge to hunt, trap, take, or kill wild animals or carries or possesses a firearm, bow and arrow, or animal trap or who mutilates or defaces the notices marking the boundaries of the refuge shall be fined not less than $25.00 nor more than $100.00.
(d) This section shall not restrict the possession or use of firearms by a game warden or other law enforcement officer in the performance of his or her duties. (Added 1985, No. 209 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. June 2, 1986.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 10 - Conservation and Development › Chapter 119 - Private Preserves, Propagation Farms, Private Ponds, Refuges, and Shooting Grounds › § 5227. Sport shooting ranges; municipal and State authority

§ 5227. Sport shooting ranges; municipal and State authority
(a) “Sport shooting range” or “range” means an area designed and operated for the use of archery, rifles, shotguns, pistols, skeet, trap, black powder, or any other similar sport shooting.
(b) The owner or operator of a sport shooting range, and a person lawfully using the range, who is in substantial compliance with any noise use condition of any issued municipal or State land use permit otherwise required by law shall not be subject to any civil liability for damages or any injunctive relief resulting from noise or noise pollution, notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary.
(c) If no municipal or State land use permit is otherwise required by law, then the owner or operator of the range and any person lawfully using the range shall not be subject to any civil liability for damages or any injunctive relief relating to noise or noise pollution.
(d) Nothing in this section shall prohibit or limit the authority of a municipality or the State to enforce any condition of a lawfully issued and otherwise required permit.
(e)(1) In the event that the owner, operator, or user of a range is not afforded the protection set forth in subsection (b) or (c) of this section, this subsection shall apply. A nuisance claim against a range may only be brought by an owner of property abutting the range. The range shall have a rebuttable presumption that the range does not constitute any form of nuisance if the range meets the following conditions:
(A) the range was established prior to the acquisition of the property owned by the person bringing the nuisance claim; and
(B) the frequency of the shooting or other alleged nuisance activity at the range has not significantly increased since acquisition of the property owned by the person bringing the nuisance claim.
(2) The presumption that the range does not constitute a nuisance may be rebutted only by an abutting property owner showing that the activity has a noxious and significant interference with the use and enjoyment of the abutting property.
(f) Prior to use of a sport shooting range after dark for purposes of training conducted by a federal, state, county, or municipal law enforcement agency, the sport shooting range shall notify those homeowners and businesses with property abutting the range that have requested such notice from the range.
(g) If any subsection of this section is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect the other subsections of this section that can be given effect without the invalid subsection, and for this purpose, the subsections of this section are severable. (Added 1991, No. 20; amended 2001, No. 61, § 71, eff. June 16, 2001; 2005, No. 173 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. May 22, 2006.)
2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 10 - Conservation and Development › Chapter 119 - Private Preserves, Propagation Farms, Private Ponds, Refuges, and Shooting Grounds › § 5227a. Sport shooting range alternative dispute resolution

§ 5227a. Sport shooting range alternative dispute resolution
Upon request of a homeowner or business that owns property abutting a sport shooting range, a range shall, at least once, attempt to resolve through mediation an issue or dispute that the homeowner or business has concerning operation of the range. The parties to such mediation may agree upon the use of a mediator to assist in the resolution of the agreed upon issue or dispute, and the parties shall share the cost of the mediator. If the parties to the mediation are unable to resolve the relevant issue or dispute through mediation, the parties may agree to submit the issue or dispute to binding arbitration pursuant to 12 V.S.A. chapter 192 and shall share the cost of the arbitration. (Added 2005, No. 173 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. May 22, 2006.)