News Briefs | May 14

Turkey hunters must report harvest online 

Photo courtesy of Vt. Fish & Wildlife Dept.

It’s spring turkey season through May 31 and the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department reminds hunters that they must report their turkeys on the department’s website.  

“Successful turkey hunters are reminded to not travel to big game checking stations to report their birds or to even get them weighed this spring,” said Mark Scott, the department’s director of wildlife. “The department would like to know the estimated weight of any birds harvested, but accurate weights are not necessary. We want everyone to stay healthy and safe.”

A successful turkey hunter must, by law, report their turkey within 48 hours to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department. In the past, this could be done at a local reporting station. This year, because of COVID-19 precautions, hunters are required to report their turkey electronically through the department’s website vtfishandwildlife.com.

-VT Fish & Wildlife Department

Kids Fishing Derby canceled 

The annual Kids Fishing Derby at the Waterbury Stowe Fish and Game Club in Waterbury Center has been canceled for this year. 

The derby is usually held on the Sunday before Memorial Day weekend.  

Organizer Bill Whitehair said despite the fact that fishing generally can be an easy activity to adhere to current public health guidelines for distancing, a derby is a different situation. “There is really no way to keep ‘socially distant’ with 40 or 50 kids and parents around the pond,” Whitehair said.

Whitehair said the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department donates hundreds of brook trout to events like this around the state each spring. The delivery to the club was canceled but that means more fish will be stocked in local streams such as Ridley Brook and Joiner Brook, Whitehair said. 

The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department website has a searchable stocking schedule posted on its website. Whitehair suggests those missing the derby check the schedule to pick a fishing spot.

“Fishing a brook trout stream - either alone or with quarantined family - can be a good substitute,” he said. 

- Lisa Scagliotti