Nick Fortin: Inside Vermont’s Deer Management Program, Herd Health, and Changes.

In this episode we sit down with Nick Fortin, the Deer and Moose Management Program Lead for the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, to break down what’s going on with Vermont’s deer herd. We dive into the 2025 deer season, take a close look at the season changes for 2026, and talk about how decisions are actually made when it comes to Vermont’s deer management. Nick walks through the data, harvest numbers, surveys, and biological information the department uses to guide regulations and herd objectives. We also discuss the impact of doe harvest, the role habitat quality and forest management play in the health of the herd, and some of the challenges Vermont’s deer face moving forward. The conversation also shifts to Vermont’s moose population, where we talk about current numbers, overall herd health, and the issues affecting moose across the state. If you’re a Vermont deer hunter and want to better understand how seasons are set, what the data actually says, and where the herd stands today, this episode takes a deep dive into the science and management behind it.