2025 Season
Fishing Regulations
Fishing
Lake Champlain Walleye Open Year-Round; Size Limit Raised to 18 Inches
Effective April 1, 2025
Lake Champlain walleye fishing is open year-round for the first time in 2025, eliminating the previous April 1 – May 14 seasonal closure. The minimum size limit was changed from 15 inches to 18 inches to protect spawning-age fish. Vermont Fish and Wildlife made these changes based on multi-year population monitoring showing robust walleye numbers in the lake and feedback from anglers seeking spring fishing opportunities.
Key Changes:
• Lake Champlain walleye: year-round season (previous Apr 1 – May 14 closure eliminated)
• Walleye minimum size limit raised from 15 inches to 18 inches
• Size limit increase protects additional cohorts of spawning-age fish
• Year-round opening provides spring fishing opportunity previously prohibited
• Daily bag limit unchanged for Lake Champlain walleye
• New York regulations for shared Lake Champlain waters may differ; verify before fishing
Source: Official Vermont Agency ↗
Hunting Regulations
Hunting
VT Adds Late Muzzleloader Season Dec 27–29; Youth Season Expanded
Effective October 11, 2025
Vermont Fish and Wildlife added a new 3-day late muzzleloader deer season (December 27–29) statewide for 2025–26, providing an additional hunting opportunity after the regular firearms season closes. The youth deer season (October 11–12) has been expanded to also include small game and waterfowl hunting. The statewide moose permit quota was held flat at 55 permits, significantly down from the 98 permits issued in 2015, reflecting continued winter tick monitoring.
Key Changes:
• New 3-day late muzzleloader season: Dec 27–29, 2025 statewide
• Youth deer season (Oct 11–12) expanded to include small game and waterfowl
• 2025 moose permit quota held flat at 55 permits statewide
• Moose quota reflects ongoing winter tick-related calf mortality monitoring
• Moose permits down from 98 in 2015, part of multi-year quota reduction trend
• All other deer season dates unchanged for 2025–26
Source: Official Vermont Agency ↗