The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department reports that bear hunters in Vermont had a safe and successful hunting season in 2014. Hunters took 567 black bears during the 84 days of the two-part ‘early bear season’ and ‘late bear season.’ There were also no hunting-related shooting incidents. The final harvest was nearly identical to the 2013…

Vermont wild turkey hunters had safe and successful spring and fall hunting seasons in 2014, according to the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department. A total of 6,414 turkeys were taken by hunters during Vermont’s three hunting seasons–the spring youth hunt, the regular May spring season, and the fall turkey hunt. Young turkey hunters mentored by…

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department recently announced the release of the long-awaited book entitled “A Landowner’s Guide – Wildlife Habitat Management for Lands in Vermont.” The book is a comprehensive guide to wildlife habitat management on private lands. It is filled with colorful photos and helpful tips. “The Landowner’s Guide is something that Vermonters…

By Polly Lynn Ronnie Berlack, 20, and Bryce Astle, 19 were two development-level ski racers who were among six people skiing when the avalanche struck. The four others were able to ski out of danger; Berlack and Astle were not. Their deaths in an avalanche at a resort in the Austrian Alps have left their…

The annual Rutland Town Snowball Tournament was held Dec. 22-23. Area fifth and sixth grade boys and girls basketball teams competed. Rutland Town beat Proctor for the Boys Championship. Proctor beat West Rutland for the Girls Championship. Photos by Stacy Kent

KILLINGTON — Bear Trax Adventures, a snowshoe touring company based in Killington has entered into a partnership with Killington Resorts. This season, Bear Trax will operate its snowshoe tours out of the Killington Clubhouse located on East Mountain Road next to the Tubing Park. Tours began Dec. 12, with all levels of tours offered, from a…

Photo courtesy of Beth Roberts Fellow Bootcampershelped put the finishing touches on the Killington Boot Camp studio behind the Lookout Bar & Grill, Dec. 14. Boot Camp owner Beth Roberts partnered with Lookout owner Phil Black to establish Killington Boot Camp’s first permanent studio space behind the popular mountain eatery. Roberts will offer high intensity…

KILLINGTON — There are those rare, transformative events that people experience in life, moments that serve as touchstones and turning points along their journey, and Killington Mountain School student-athlete, Spencer Wood recently participated in what ended up being a life-altering event for him–the Hartford Ski Spectacular hosted at Breckenridge Ski Resort by Disabled Sport USA. Most…

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department has some ice safety tips for anyone going ice fishing this winter. “Once we have sustained cold weather to form good ice, ice fishing can be safe and a lot of fun,” said Major Dennis Reinhardt, “but when we go onto the ice, we need to use good judgment…

Gary K. Robertson, 60, of Loris, South Carolina is the lucky winner of a Vermont lifetime hunting and fishing license in the 2014 drawing from 4,474 lottery tickets purchased during the year. “This makes my day,” Robertson said. “I was born in Rutland, and I am recently retired from a military career, but I have…

Spending time on ice skates is a great winter activity for all ages to enjoy. Many towns in Central Vermont have indoor rinks that are open for the season. See listings below for individual rinks and their open ice times. Please note, fees for ice use may apply, and generally, rentals are available for a…

The Grand Opening of Okemo’s Sunburst lift was held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 13. Owner Tim  Mueller smashed a bottle of champaign on one of the support towers to officially christen it, and Owner Diane Mueller did the ribbon cutting. The event happened to correlate with a media weekend at Okemo Mountain Resort, which many attended. Construction…

LUDLOW–Okemo Mountain Resort is re-energizing its commitment to provide skiing and riding guests with superior terrain parks through a partnership with Snow Park Technologies and the introduction of a new on-mountain parks and pipe management team. Leading the charge is Mark Fiori, an Okemo veteran who left the resort several years ago and returned recently…

The Vermont Association of Snow Travelers (VAST) is looking forward to a great snowmobiling season as a Nor’easter descended on Vermont last week just in time for the snowmobile season’s opening day, Dec. 16. In order to have trails ready to ride, there must be at least four inches of packed snow and frozen ground…

Vermont’s hunters will get one final chance for a deer this year during the muzzleloader deer season and the second part of the archery deer season.  The two seasons run at the same time —Dec. 6-14. A muzzleloader hunter may take one legal buck anywhere in the state. In addition, a hunter who received a muzzleloader…