Vermont Fish and Wildlife: Penalties Increase for Wildlife Offenses

11:14AM / Sunday, September 07, 2025Print Story | Email Story

MONTPELIER, Vt. — The penalties for wildlife violations have increased substantially according to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department.

Poachers who illegally shoot deer, bear, moose, or wild turkeys now face higher fines and jail sentences. Maximum fines have doubled from $1,000 to $2,000 with a potential jail sentence of up to 60 days for the first offense. A second offense now brings a maximum fine of $5,000 and potential jail sentence of up to 180 days.

The same penalties also now apply for possessing, transporting, buying or selling big game; violations of threatened or endangered species laws; interference with hunting, fishing or trapping; and illegal commercial importation or possession of wild animals.

"These changes are long overdue," said Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Jason Batchelder. "Vermont's wildlife violation penalties have remained unchanged since 2015."

The changes, which are now in effect, were included in Act. 47 passed by the Vermont legislature in the spring.

iBerkshires.com Text Ads

Save & Earn with Greylock

3.30% APY 6-month certificate. Click to learn more! Insured by NCUA.

www.greylock.org

rk MILES Blding Materials

Are You Ready to Update Your Home? Start With rk MILES. 4 Locations (800)670-7433

www.rkmiles.com

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Fall Trout Stocking in Select Lakes and Streams In Vermont

Staff Reports02:37PM / Sunday, October 11, 2026

SPRINGFIELD, Vt. — The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department continues its new fall trout stocking program this year.

This will mark the third consecutive year that trophy-sized brook trout and rainbow trout averaging 13-14 inches will be stocked into four ponds and one stream in southern Vermont in the fall.

"We're stocking more than 2,000 one-and-a-half-year-old trout between Knapp Ponds #1 and #2 in Cavendish, Lakes Paran and Shaftsbury in Bennington, and East Creek in Rutland," said Lael Will, a fisheries biologist with the department. "This is a great opportunity for anglers to spend time fishing for some really nice stocked trout surrounded by Vermont's amazing fall foliage. And, they can continue right through the winter, catching trout in waters where late season trout fishing was not an option before."

Fish from Bennington, Roxbury and Salisbury fish culture stations will be stocked starting in mid-October to allow for some harvest before the season switches to catch and release only in November.

"Last year anglers shared with us that they loved the fall and winter opportunity created by this late season stocking," said Will. "We're excited to continue these stockings and hopefully hear from more people taking advantage of these new trout fishing opportunities."

View Full Story