Jessica Savage pauses to admire the view on Vermont's Long Trail

Outdoor recreation is a time-honored tradition in the state of Vermont. Among Vermonters, at least 74% of us are participating in some form of outdoor recreation each year. Nationally, participation in outdoor recreation continues to climb as well, with nearly 50% of Americans ages 6 and older participating in some form of outdoor recreation in 2012. For those living on the east coast, Vermont is a premier destination for outdoor rec. enthusiasts. That is evidenced by the impact outdoor recreation has on Vermont's economy, with a full 12% of our gross state product directly tied to outdoor recreation on an annual basis.

This is wonderful news! Whether running, paddling, skiing or hunting, outdoor recreation is healthy for our bodies and minds, supports our economy and is one of the best ways for people of all walks of life to build a connection to the natural world. While we have 52 wonderful state parks to serve the recreation needs of residents and visitors alike, there is a new trend emerging in Vermont: dispersed recreation. People are increasingly recreating off the beaten path, and rather than limiting themselves to parks, they are branching out into backcountry skiing, mountain biking, trail running, climbing and many other activities that take them away from developed campgrounds and into the surrounding wildlands. Given the importance of recreation to the culture and economic health of Vermont, the Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation recently created a new position designed to focus solely on recreation. That role has recently been filled by Jessica Savage, who has over a decade of experience working in recreation management.

According to Ms. Savage, "my two main goals are to increase public access to state lands, and to strengthen our partnerships with related organizations who are working to support outdoor recreation in Vermont. What we're really talking about is dispersed recreation, so really increasing attention to hiking, mountain biking, that type of non-state park recreation that is happening in the backcountry."

When asked how, during the course of the 18-month limited service position, she aimed to accomplish the goals above, Jessica explained, "One of the major goals for me is to make sure that we're gathering data that is useful and that helps us make good decisions. I'm working with our regional staff so that we are gathering the right kind of information, so that we can be making proactive, really coordinated decisions."

"I'm also working closely with recreation management groups like the Green Mountain Club (GMC), the Vermont Mountain Biking Association (VMBA), the Climbing Resource Access Group (CRAG), the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers (VAST), any group that is advocating for recreation or access to recreation in Vermont," Savage continued. "I'm re-examining a lot of our cooperative agreements with these groups, and adding new ones. We tend to see that with these cooperative agreements in place, the public will benefit from better recreation management when these groups are involved. They know their sport, and when they share their knowledge, the people benefit. For example, a member of CRAG recently wrote a climbing guide and many of the sites were on state land. Some of them we knew about, and some of them we didn't. That kind of insight helps us to be proactive, and it helps me to do a better job and get ahead of those trends so that we're really managing well and increasing access in response to increasing interest from segments of the public."

I asked Jessica to talk a little about trends that she is seeing in Vermont. Read more.

Partnering to Protect Deer in Vermont

By Adam Murkowski, F&W Deer Biologist

Hunting Staff Picks

Photo Credit: Christopher Saunders

By: Alyson Atondo, Intern, Agency of Natural Resources

Hunting is a traditional activity that is important to many Vermonters. Our state may be small but it boasts big numbers. A study taken by the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife revealed that last year 62% of Vermonters participated in hunting, fishing, or a combination of the two. Vermonters ranked second in the country, with only Alaska scoring higher.

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Chris Saunders is a member of the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department where he works in Outreach. He is an avid hunter but prefers fowl.   Saunders describes below, in his own words, why hunting is just as important to him as the landscape is around him.   "There are far more productive places to hunt than the square mile or so of spruce-fir, old beaver ponds and mixed hardwood behind my house. Hell, there are a more deer, more ducks, more geese and more grouse in just about any other of Calais's thirty-eight square of miles. However, hunting for me is as much about place as it is about bagging game or even seeing wildlife. It's about belonging to the landscape and knowing my outside home and its inhabitants as well as I do the inside of our blue saltbox with beige trim. The catch is that we only own a handful of acres. My hunting is almost entirely dependent on the generosity of my neighbors. So in no small way, hunting forces me closer to my human community too."

Tom Jones is part of the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department where he serves as a fish health biologist. Jones enjoys hunting both cottontail rabbit and snowshoe hare with his four-legged friend companion, a beagle.   "My passion for the outdoors stems awhile back through my father. He always ensured a huge amount of time taking my brothers and me fishing and hunting in southwestern Pennsylvania. Back then, one of our favorite quarry was the cottontail rabbit. Numerous, cunning and tasty, they provided us countless days afield and we pursued them with a beagle named "Pokey". He was an exceptional hound and a great companion. He's long gone now but my passion is still very strong for beagles and pursuing snowshoe hare in Vermont. This critter lives in beautiful places and I very much enjoy leashing-up a hound, strapping on a pair of snowshoes and heading to the snowy spruce/fir thickets of central and northern Vermont."

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Rebecca Phelps 

is the Conservation Education Coordinator for the Dept. of Forests, Parks and Recreation. She is also a deer hunter.  

  

When asked about important hunting tips, Phelps responded that there are many aspects to consider.

 

"I use a young buck call once an hour, every hour. This draws attention to other bucks in the area." It also allows for Phelps to get a better shot at deer passersby, as the call signals to the young bucks that there is competition in the nearby area.

 

"When I caught the buck (pictured above), it was rutting season. He (the buck) probably thought there was competition in the area and wandered over to come challenge another buck."

 

Another tip from Phelps: pay attention to your surroundings.  

 

Surveying the land around oneself is also an important aspect to take into consideration while hunting. Although it may come across as basic, novice understanding, Phelps emphasizes that hunters should not establish themselves in an area that is heavily forested. "You need a spot with good visibility," Phelps said. One spot that Phelps used successfully was on top of a large rock outcropping that was sheltered by brush and trees. This enabled her to have a good lookout point but still be camouflaged.

 

Deer learn trails from their mothers as young fawns. Consequently, they follow certain trails with frequency and rarely stray from their established routes.

 

"Also look for an area where deer have been present. Some things that I look for before I pick a spot are deer tracks and fresh scat. Those tell me that deer are not only in the area, but they will most likely come back."    

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Tom Rogers

 recently hosted Seven Days' Eva Sollberger, as she examined the culture and history of hunting in Vermont. Watch here to see Tom and Eva's adventure: 

 

Deer Hunting Opening Weekend

 

 

Have questions? More information regarding where one can hunt, hunting season timeframes, events, procedures, and precautions can be found on the Vermont Fish and Wildlife website here.