Vermont Statutes Title 10. Conservation and Development, § 4082. Vermont Fish and Wildlife Regulations

(a) The Board may adopt rules, under 3 V.S.A. chapter 25, to be known as the “Vermont Fish and Wildlife Regulations” for the regulation of fish and wild game and the taking thereof except as otherwise specifically provided by law. The rules shall be designed to maintain the best health, population, and utilization levels of the regulated species and of other necessary or desirable species that are ecologically related to the regulated species. The rules shall be supported by investigation and research conducted by the Department on behalf of the Board.

(c) The Board may set by procedure the annual number of antlerless deer that can be harvested in each Wildlife Management Unit and the annual number of moose that can be harvested in each Wildlife Management Unit without following the procedures for rulemaking contained in 3 V.S.A. chapter 25. The annual numbers of antlerless deer and moose that can be harvested shall be supported by investigation and research conducted by the Department on behalf of the Board. Prior to setting the antlerless deer and moose permit numbers, the Board shall provide a period of not less than 30 days of public notice and shall conduct at least three public informational hearings. The public informational hearings may be conducted simultaneously with the regional antlerless deer meetings required by 10 V.S.A. App. § 2b. The final annual antlerless deer and moose harvest permit numbers shall be enforceable by the Department under its enforcement authority in part 4 of this title. The final annual antlerless deer and moose harvest permit numbers shall be reported to the House Committee on Environment and Energy as part of the annual deer report required under section 4084 of this title. The provisions of 2 V.S.A. § 20(d) (expiration of required reports) shall not apply to the report to be made under this subsection.