WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Vt. Hunters Hit Deer Camps, Settle In for Sunrise Hunt

Vt. Hunters Hit Deer Camps, Settle In for Sunrise Hunt

Burlington, Vermont - November 13, 2009

Hunters will be out in full force tomorrow; Saturday marks the start of the deer rifle season in Vermont.

The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department estimates there are 135,000 deer in the state.

The herd size has declined some in the past couple of years although many hunters say they're seeing bigger deer. Most point to an antler restriction that was imposed five years ago, preventing hunters from shooting the youngest bucks.

"For a while there if you shot the spike horn in Vermont you had the trophy and now we're shooting two-and-a-half-year-old deer, three-year-old deer," says Mike Fontaine of M&R Guns & Ammo.

"A lot of people didn't like it in the beginning but they do now because they're seeing the six, the eight, the ten," says Rick Eldred of Sheldon.

Tune in to the Channel 3 News tonight at 6:00 p.m. for a live report from a Vermont deer camp. Keagan Harsha takes a look at some of the issues confronting hunters this season and will also bring you a homemade recipe for venison stew.

Keagan Harsha - WCAX News