WMU K, Vermont

Southwestern Vermont — Bennington County. Dominated by the Taconic Mountains to the west and the southern Green Mountain foothills to the east, with elevations ranging from roughly 600 ft in the valley floors to over 3,500 ft on prominent ridges. Habitat is a mix of northern hardwood forest (sugar maple, yellow birch, beech), mixed conifer-hardwood stands, and a patchwork of agricultural valleys and riparian corridors. Deer density is moderate; bear numbers are strong owing to extensive mast-producing hardwood forests and low hunting pressure in the steeper terrain.

low to moderate

Antlerless deer permits for WMU K are allocated annually by the Fish and Wildlife Board based on population data; WMU K typically receives limited antlerless permits reflecting conservative management in forested hill country. The 2025 cycle saw statewide reductions in antlerless allocations. Applications open in summer via lottery; unallocated permits may be available over the counter afterward. Legal buck in WMU K requires at least two antler points of 1+ inch (2-point rule).

DEER: Archery season opens early October statewide; rifle season runs approximately mid-November for 16 days; muzzleloader season follows in December. Antlerless permits required for doe harvest outside of archery season in most cases. 2-point buck rule in WMU K. BEAR: Statewide season; WMU K is open for bear with dogs (bear-dog permit required, max 6 dogs) or fair-chase archery/rifle. No baiting permitted in Vermont. One bear per season. Split seasons with archery overlap. Bear harvest opportunity runs from early September through mid-November. TURKEY: Spring season statewide May 1-31 (bearded birds only); Youth/Novice weekend late April. Fall turkey in WMU K runs archery Oct. 1 through early November, with shotgun/archery window extending to approximately Nov. 8-9 — a longer fall window than most WMUs. One turkey of either sex in fall. MOOSE: No moose permits allocated for WMU K or any southern Vermont WMU. Moose permits are restricted to WMU E (Northeast Kingdom) only; occasional moose may be sighted in WMU K but hunting is not available.

Rugged Taconic and Green Mountain terrain with low hunter pressure in the back country. Strong black bear population — one of the better WMUs in southern Vermont for bear. Green Mountain National Forest provides large contiguous public land blocks. Fall turkey season extends through early November (WMU K gets the longer fall turkey window, closing Nov. 9/Nov. 8 depending on year). Excellent mix of ridge hunting and agricultural-edge deer hunting in valley bottoms.