September 1st marks the start of Early Black Bear Season in Vermont, followed by many other hunting seasons throughout the fall. Hunting is allowed on all GMC owned and managed lands, including along the Long Trail and Appalachian Trail corridors in Vermont. Please be safe when you are hiking and be respectful of all trail users. The Green Mountain Club strongly encourages hikers to:
- Wear blaze orange clothing, visible from both the front and back.
- Avoid wearing brown or white, the colors of a deer.
- Be especially careful while hiking in valleys and near roads and trailheads.
- Avoid hiking during dawn and dusk due to low visibility.
- Please leave dogs at home. If you do bring a furry friend, dress your dog with bright bandanas or a blaze orange vest.
- Wave and talk to make your presence known to hunters.
- Stick to well-populated trails where hunters are likely to avoid.
This is a wonderful time of year to go hiking in Vermont. It’s also a good time to refresh your safety awareness with regard to hunting season and general preparedness. A prepared hiker is a happy hiker! Have fun out there!
Check out Vermont Fish and Wildlife for more information about where, when, and how hunting is permitted in Vermont.
Where should I hike during hunting season?
Stick to the guidelines above. For some general recommendations, try:
Prospect Rock via the Long Trail, Johnson – MODERATE
Wiessner Woods, Stowe – EASY (hunting is prohibited)
Camel’s Hump Summit via Burrows Trail Loop, Huntington – MODERATELY DIFFICULT
Thundering Falls, Killington — ACCESSIBLE
Bromley Mountain, Winhall — MODERATE
Please note that with the exception of Wiessner Woods, hunting is permitted on these lands.
Share the trail and be safe out there, hikers!