Proposed State Rules

By law, public notice of proposed rules must be given by publication in newspapers of record. The purpose of these notices is to give the public a chance to respond to the proposals. The public notices for administrative rules are now also available online at https://secure.vermont.gov/SOS/rules/ . The law requires an agency to hold a public hearing on a proposed rule, if requested to do so in writing by 25 persons or an association having at least 25 members.

To make special arrangements for individuals with disabilities or special needs please call or write the contact person listed below as soon as possible.

To obtain further information concerning any scheduled hearing(s), obtain copies of proposed rule(s) or submit comments regarding proposed rule(s), please call or write the contact person listed below. You may also submit comments in writing to the Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules, State House, Montpelier, Vermont 05602 (802-828-2231).

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NOTE: The two rules below have been promulgated by the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board, who has requested the notices be combined to facilitate savings for the agency. When contacting the agency about these rules please note the title and rule number of the proposed rule(s) you are interested in.

• 10 V.S.A. Appendix § 2, Report, Big Game

Vermont Proposed Rule: 26P014

• 10 V.S.A. Appendix § 2a, Big Game; Tagging

Vermont Proposed Rule: 26P015

AGENCY: Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board

CONCISE SUMMARY: These proposed rule amendments both relate to the specific requirements that all hunters must comply with immediately upon taking a big game animal, regardless of species. Tagging and reporting are both critical elements of identifying and tracking a big game animal taken by a hunter. The amendments to rules 10 V.S.A. Appendix § 2, Report, Big Game; and 10 V.S.A. Appendix § 2a Big Game; Tagging strengthen reporting and tagging rules for big game. They explicitly prohibit false statements in reporting of wild game taken, update citations, and authorize the Fish and Wildlife Commissioner to pay at least $1 per report to reporting stations—with flexibility to increase this long-standing reimbursement to sustain and incentivize station operations. They also clarify tagging requirements by mandating that all big game carcasses are tagged with a tag containing the hunter’s name and applicable tag or permit number, and by specifying rules for game taken on one’s own land and tagging requirements for transporting animal parts. Additionally, the two rules impact the same group of stakeholders: any and all big game hunters in the state of Vermont.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Hannah Smith, Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, 1 National Life Drive, Davis 2 Montpelier, Vermont 05620-3208 Tel: 802-461-8187 Fax: 802-828-1250 E- Mail: hannah.smith@vermont.gov URL: https://vtfishandwildlife.com/about-us/fish-and-wildlife-board/board-rules.

FOR COPIES: John Austin, Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, 1 National Life Drive, Montpelier, Vermont 05620-3208 Tel: 802-371-9895 Fax: 802-828-1250 E-Mail: john.austin@vermont.gov.

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10 App. V.S.A. § 5, Bow and arrow and crossbow standards.

Vermont Proposed Rule: 26P016

AGENCY: Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board

CONCISE SUMMARY: The proposed amendments continue to require the same arrowhead width and cutting edges, but apply the standards to broadheads used with crossbows as well.

FOR COPIES: John Austin, Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, 1 National Life Drive, Montpelier, Vermont 05620-3208 Tel: 802-371-9895 Fax: 802-828-1250 E-Mail: john.austin@vermont.gov.

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10 App. V.S.A. § 12. Leashed tracking dogs.

Vermont Proposed Rule: 26P017

AGENCY: Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board

CONCISE SUMMARY: The proposed rule amendments make two changes to the existing leashed tracking dog rule: it amends the definition of “big game animal” to be consistent with the definition in 10 V.S.A. § 4001, to include all big game animals including moose. This will allow hunters to employ leashed tracking dogs to legally track dead or wounded moose. And the proposed amendment strikes the language limiting tracking to big game seasons and the 24-hour period immediately following. This will allow for the use of tracking dogs to locate animals injured or killed outside the legal hunting seasons.

FOR COPIES: John Austin, Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, 1 National Life Drive, Montpelier, Vermont 05620-3208 Tel: 802-371-9895 Fax: 802-828-1250 E-Mail: john.austin@vermont.gov.