WMU D2, Vermont

Rolling hills and forested ridges of the Northeast Kingdom in Caledonia and northern Orange counties. Mixed hardwood-conifer forest dominated by maple, beech, birch, and softwood stands, interspersed with river valley agricultural edges along the Wells River, Passumpsic, and smaller tributaries. Elevations range roughly 600 to 2,800 feet. Remote big-woods character with limited road access in the interior, typical of northeastern Vermont. WMU D2 is defined as the eastern portion of Unit D — east of a line from the Hardwick Rte 15/16 junction north along Rte 16 to Westmore, then Rte 5A to Charleston, then Hudson Road to Rte 105 east to Brighton.

low to moderate

Antlerless permit allocations for D2 are set annually by the Fish and Wildlife Board in early summer following public hearings. Permits are available via lottery for use during muzzleloader season and, starting 2026, also valid during the regular November rifle season. Hunters may now hold two antlerless permits simultaneously if they are for different WMUs. Archery and novice/youth seasons may also allow antlerless harvest depending on annual Board decisions. Legal buck definition in D2: at least one antler 3 inches or more in length. Beginning 2026, hunters who have already taken and reported an antlerless deer may purchase a second buck tag for an additional buck with 3+ points on one antler.

DEER: Archery season runs early October through mid-November and resumes after rifle season through mid-December. Novice/youth season precedes rifle. Regular rifle season runs ~Nov 15 for 16 days. Muzzleloader season follows. Antlerless permits required for doe harvest outside of archery general provisions — allocated annually by WMU. BEAR: Black bear season runs Sept 1 through Nov 14 (early season) and Nov 15-23 concurrent with rifle deer. One bear per year. No baiting permitted; up to 6 dogs allowed with bear-dog permit. Bears present throughout D2 and the broader Northeast Kingdom. TURKEY: Spring season statewide May 1-31 with youth/novice weekend late April. Fall season October through early November, either sex. Shotgun, bow, and crossbow legal; rifles prohibited. Turkey populations rebounded strongly; good numbers in forest-field edges of Caledonia valleys. MOOSE: Moose are present in WMU D2 and the Northeast Kingdom but the Vermont lottery moose hunt is restricted to WMU E. In 2026, 65 either-sex and 20 antlerless moose permits were allocated for WMU E only. D2 hunters will encounter moose but cannot target them without a WMU E permit. Population is impacted by winter ticks, keeping permit numbers conservative.

Remote big-woods whitetail hunting with genuine trophy potential in unpressured interior forest. Strong black bear population across the Northeast Kingdom. Good spring and fall turkey hunting in mixed habitat edges. Moose present throughout the unit, though the dedicated lottery hunt is restricted to WMU E — sightings are common and add to the experience. Low hunter density relative to southern Vermont WMUs. Excellent archery season in early October hardwood ridges.