WMU E1, Vermont

Heavily forested boreal and mixed hardwood landscape in the northernmost Northeast Kingdom, Essex County. Terrain is rolling to moderately rugged with extensive spruce-fir and northern hardwood forest, numerous ponds, bogs, and wetlands. Elevations range roughly 800–2,500 ft. The Connecticut River forms the eastern boundary. Remote character with limited road access and large unbroken forest tracts typical of the upper Connecticut River watershed.

Low

Antlerless deer permits available by lottery; specific E1 allocation determined annually by the Fish and Wildlife Board after public hearings. Starting 2026, antlerless permits are valid during the rifle season for the first time since the 1980s — hunters may hold two antlerless permits in two different WMUs. Legal buck in E1 requires at least one antler 3 inches or more in length (spike-horn legal). Archery season now runs continuously Oct 1–Dec 15 including through rifle season. WMU E is one of the lower-density deer units in Vermont due to harsh winters and limited agriculture; permit numbers reflect conservative management.

DEER: Archery Oct 1–Dec 15 (continuous through rifle season starting 2026); expanded archery Sept 15–30 in designated areas; Oct muzzleloader Oct 29–Nov 1 (antlerless); youth/novice Nov 7–8; regular rifle Nov 14–29; Dec muzzleloader Nov 30–Dec 13. Spike-horn legal. Deer density is moderate-low; agricultural edge habitat along river bottoms holds the best populations. BEAR: Early season Sept 1–Nov 14 (nonresident hound hunters start Sept 15); late season Nov 15–23. Vermont has one of the densest black bear populations in New England; the Northeast Kingdom is prime bear country with abundant mast forest and berry habitat. Fair-chase hunting with or without dogs. TURKEY: Spring season May 1–31, shooting hours one-half hour before sunrise to noon, two bearded turkeys per season. Fall turkey season also available. Turkey populations are lower in the dense boreal north but present along river valley openings and hardwood ridges. MOOSE: WMU E is Vermont's only active moose hunting unit. For 2026 the board approved 65 either-sex and 20 antlerless permits — lottery only, once-in-a-lifetime style. Applications due mid-June, draw in July. Hunt dates in late September–October. VTFWD manages moose density conservatively to reduce winter tick impact on herd health.

Vermont's only active moose hunting unit — the WMU-E lottery is the sole moose permit opportunity in the state. Extremely low hunting pressure due to remote access and sparse human population. Large unbroken forest blocks ideal for black bear and ruffed grouse. Fair-chase bear hunting with either archery or firearms. Prime early-season archery deer hunting in mixed hardwood edges along the Connecticut River corridor. Moose sightings are common even for non-permit holders.