ADDISON COUNTY — Despite a fairly slow opening weekend, a strong finish made Addison County’s rifle deer season the second best in the past decade with 571 bucks taken. That total also put the county’s overall numbers ahead of the record pace set in 2017.
Last year hunters set a record of 1,089 deer weighed locally in all seasons fall hunting seasons combined since 2005, when Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department officials banned shooting spikehorn bucks during rifle season.
And after the October bow season, Youth Hunting Weekend and the just-concluded rifle season 955 deer have already been weighed locally. A typical local December muzzleloader season will shoot this year’s overall total past last year’s mark.
The total of 571 bucks taken during the Nov. 10-25 rifle season and weighed at one of the seven county wildlife reporting stations trailed only the 2016 rifle season’s 573 — the highest since the 2005 spikehorn ban. In 2017 rifle hunters had 554 bucks weighed at a county station; that total stands in third place.
In 2017 between the October bow season, Youth Hunting Weekend, rifle season and the December muzzleloader/archery season, the 1,089 deer weighed locally broke down as 554 rifle, 110 youth, 161 October bow, and 264 December muzzleloader/bow.
This year’s county total includes a productive October bow season (274 deer) and an above-average youth weekend (110), as well as the rifle count of 571.
Over the past four years hunters have averaged 176 deer weighed locally in muzzleloader and the second half of bow season, which runs this year from Dec. 1 to 9. Therefore a typical December season could easily send the county past 2017’s record.
The Independent will report on successful bow and muzzleloader hunters and final totals once that season concludes.
Rifle season prospects looked uncertain after rifle hunters took 175 deer locally during rifle season’s opening weekend, when often close to 40 percent of the final season total is reached. But over the next 14 days they brought another 396 deer to be weighed locally.
Miserable weather on the opening Saturday of Nov. 10 might have depressed the first weekend’s total. And some believe cooperative weather might have boosted the late numbers, particularly last week’s snowstorm. 
“The snow helped,” said West Addison General Store owner Scott Petrin.
Weigh station operators uniformly talked about the quality and size of the bucks they weighed over the course of the season.
“Oh, my god,” said Buxton’s Store owner Andy Buxton. “Everything was beautiful.”
A dozen bucks weighing more than 200 pounds were shot during rifle season, none bigger than the one Scott Hawkins took down on his Ferrisburgh property on opening day, a 236-pound, 8-pointer weighed at Rack ’N Reel in New Haven. Five more 200-pounders were taken on open weekend.
Since then Rack ’N Reel handled three more big bucks: a 213-pound, 8-pointer Christopher Fortin shot in Charlotte; a 207-pound, 9-point buck killed by Thomas Kenyon in Monkton; and Brian Lafleche’s 203-pound, 8-pointer that he brought down in Addison.
Also, Lincoln General Store weighed a 206-pound, 8-pointer that Larry Ducharme bagged in Huntington, and Buxton’s weighed both a 206-pound, 8-pointer that Jesse Wilburn took in Orwell, and a 205-pound, 8-pointer that Stephen Blodgett brought down in Shoreham.
For a combination of pounds and points, it would be hard to argue against the 193-pound, 10-pointer that Jack Gracie brought to Lincoln General Store after shooting it in Fayston.
The following hunters weighed deer at one of the county reporting stations (including the ones mentioned plus Vermont Field Sports in Middlebury, C&S Shooting Sports in East Middlebury, and Green Mountain Trail’s End in Bristol) in the final 14 days of rifle season. Included are the towns of kill, plus deer pounds and antler points.
WEST ADDISON GENERAL STORE  
Jeremy Dodds, Addison, 119 pounds-5 points; Kenneth Nolan, Panton, 125-4; Christopher Mulliss, Addison, 161-5; Nathan Fleming, Addison, 165-7; Kelly Barrows, Addison, 173-10; Christopher Thompson, Cornwall, 175-7; Andrew Warren, Bridport, 142-5; Jacob Hanlon, Monkton, 177-4; Mitchell Gallison, Shoreham, 135-3; Dylan Preston, Panton, 120-5; Klancy Dunbar, Addison, 175-3; Laura Henault-Ratelle, Ferrisburgh, 119-3; Craig Ringer, Addison, 125-5; Peter Bodette, Goshen, 145-8; and Jeremy Markwell, Weybridge, 185-8.
LINCOLN GENERAL STORE  
Daniel Shepard, Lincoln, 139-5; Larry Ducharme, Huntington, 206-8; Robert Cote, Huntington, 167-6; Jack Gracie, Fayston, 193-10; Matt Brown, Lincoln, 133-4; Austin Lafayette, Lincoln, 170-8; Adam Thomas, Lincoln, 140-4; Erik Mayer, Starksboro, 194-9; Edward Campbell, Starksboro, 110-3; Jason Booska, Bristol, 178-7; Richard Antone, Williston, 140-5; Ross Brooker, Shelburne, 123-4; Danny Grace, Bristol, 183-8; and Brett Sargent, Lincoln, 145-6.  
Also, Sara Roscoe, Lincoln, 178-6; Ray Martin, Ripton, 118-4; Benjamin Shepard, Lincoln, 155-4; Adam Crary, Ripton, 152-7; Colby Trudeau, Lincoln, 135-6; Matthew Blair, Huntington, 134-6; Gregory Harriman, Huntington, 131-4; Grant Lewis, Huntington, 141-7; David Lowell, Huntington, 163-6; Alan Kamman, Lincoln, 171-8; Justin Malzac, Lincoln, 115-3; Justin Huizenga, Monkton, 146-7; Bradley Palmer, Lincoln, 146-4; Jacob Lathrop, Bristol, 129-6; and Jason Charest, Monkton, 137-7. 
Also, Caleb Brewer, Hinesburg, 121-4; James Donegan, Lincoln, 146-4; Steven Spafford, Cornwall, 137-5; Steven Lever, Huntington, 102-4; Ty Combs, Lincoln, 114-4; Adam Whitcomb, Starksboro, 163-8; Michael Donnelly, Lincoln, 110-4; Robert Bingham, Lincoln, 165-8; Brett Combs, Lincoln, 113-8; Mark Cousino, Lincoln, 136-6; Nelson O’Bryan, Lincoln, 148-6; Jason Barnard, Starksboro, 139-5; Robert Jimmo, Lincoln, 162-7; James Ferland, Lincoln, 115-3; Thomas Kilbourn, Ferrisburgh, 154-7; and Stanley Sargent, Lincoln, 137-4.
BUXTON’S STORE
Jesse Wilbur, Orwell, 206-7; Stephen Blodgett, Shoreham, 205-8; Michael Dame, Shoreham, 195-7; Eric Russell, Orwell, 195-8; Sean O’Brien, Orwell, 192-8; Tony Quenneville, Whiting, 190-4; Steve Myrick, Bridport, 189-6; Leslie Myers, Hubbardton, 188-8; Robert Ketcham, Whiting, 186-7; Kyra Roberts, Shoreham, 185-7; William Hart, Ripton, 183-9; Taylor Patterson, Shoreham, 182-8; and George Whittemore, Bridport, 180-7.
Also, Tracie Quesnel, Orwell, 180-6; Chris Groman, Bridport, 179-4; Shawn Cook, Castleton, 176-4; Joe Warren, Shoreham, 176-9; Edward Bell, Orwell, 175-6; William Lang, Cornwall, 174-6; Kenneth Leng, Castleton, 173-8; Cassandra Fyles, Shoreham, 171-6; George Madison, Shoreham, 170-8; Darren Ouellette, Shoreham, 168-6; Robert Doane, Shoreham, 168-5; and Brent Perkins, Addison, 168-7.
Also, Crane Fletcher, Sudbury, 168-8; Ronald Swenor, Orwell, 166-5; Jeffery Hornbeck, Whiting, 166-8; Troy Audet, Bridport, 166-8; Barry Delphia, Leicester, 165-8; Allison Straley, Orwell, 165-4; Walter Hadvab, Orwell, 162-3; Rodney Bourdeau, Salisbury, 162-8; Jacob Kemp, Orwell, 161-8; James Gill, Cornwall, 160-8; Ronald Kerr, Addison, 160-6; Raymond Mitchell, Orwell, 160-8; and Paul Metcalf, Benson, 160-6.
Also, Devin Lowell, Orwell, 159-6; Clinton Snyder, Orwell, 159-6; Eric Laroche, Orwell, 157-8; Gabe Laberge, Shoreham, 157-7; Stephen Pope, Bridport, 156-4; Curtis Castle, Shoreham, 156-3; Randy Ryan, Orwell, 156-8; Will Telgen, Orwell, 155-8; Frederick Russell, Orwell, 155-3; Kyle Birchmore, Shoreham, 155-3; Daniel Desforges, Orwell, 154-8; John Williams, Sudbury, 153-7; and Louis Lee, Orwell, 150-6.
Also, Tyler Wilson, Orwell, 150-6; Marlana Pickel, West Haven, 150-5; Michael Hughes, Fair Haven, 150-8; Eric Hall, Orwell, 149-8; Timothy Smith, Orwell, 148-7; Jason Whittemore, Waltham, 148-8; Eric Ramey, Castleton, 147-8; Gary Arnold, West Haven, 146-4; Paul Parent, Orwell, 145-5; John Gosselin, Shoreham, 145-3; Aubrey Ramey, Castleton, 144-4; and Mark Reginbald, Orwell, 144-5.
Also, Steven Brileya, Shoreham, 144-3; Jesse Booska, Orwell, 141-6; Dennis Rheaume, Rupert, 140-7; Tyler Barber, Shoreham, 140-6; Armand Gevry, West Haven, 140-4; Timothy Williams, Sudbury, 138-7; Glen Hayward, Castleton, 138-7; Steve Hotte, Shoreham, 138-8; Shaun Tomasi, Benson, 138-4; Kaleb Radford, Whiting, 137-5; Matthew Miller, Hubbardton, 136-8; and Timothy Bushey, Hubbardton, 136-6.
Also, James Vladyka, Bridport, 135-4; John Reed, Castleton, 135-4; Edson Lanpher, Shoreham, 135-4; Peter Orr, Hubbardton, 135-7; William Bishop, Shoreham, 135-8; Jason D’Avignon, Orwell, 134-6; James Hanson, Orwell, 134-5; Robert Almeida, Orwell, 134-4; Gene Fairbrother, Shoreham, 134-6; Bryan Young, Orwell, 134-4; Christopher Davis, Orwell, 133-6; and Shirley Vladyka, Benson, 132-5.
Also, Tristan Stearns, Shoreham, 131-3; Evelyn Palmer, Orwell, 131-14; Timothy Steady, Shoreham, 130-4; John Lynch, Castleton, 130-5; Bruce Payne, Cornwall, 129-4; James Payne, Weybridge, 127-5; Paul Metzger, Ripton, 126-8; Wyatt Stearns, Shoreham, 125-4; Lawrence Bishop, Orwell, 125-6; Jeremy Audet, Orwell, 125-4; Wyatt Traverse, Bridport, 122-6; and Travis Whittemore, Bridport, 121-5.
Also, Timothy Langlois, Clarendon, 121-5; Hannah Williams, Whiting, 118-5; Stephen Blaise, Rutland, 115-4; David Hanson, Shoreham, 115-3; Stephen Pratt, Cornwall, 114-3; Bret Williams, Whiting, 112-4; Jeffrey Williams, Cornwall, 112-4; Shane Wood, Orwell, 110-4; and Kurt Miller, Hubbardton, 110-8.
VERMONT FIELD SPORTS
Joseph Dragon, Ripton, 188-8; Mason Jackman, Ferrisburgh, 186-7; Rowan Nelson, Weybridge, 179-8; Jonathan Hescock, Shoreham, 179-6; James Gorton, Middlebury, 175-7; Philip Joyce, Cornwall, 175-10; Carter Leggett, Bridport, 174-7; Logan Swinton, Middlebury, 171-6; Steven Giard, Benson, 170-5; Michael Clark, Cornwall, 166-6; Eric Fifield, Cornwall, 165-5; Wayne Rainey, Salisbury, 164-8; and Tyler Malloy, Middlebury, 163-3.
Also, Kirk Ringey, Cornwall, 162-8; Harley Grice, Middlebury, 161-6; Steven Ouellette, Bridport, 160-8; River Payne, Cornwall, 159-5; David Doria, Ripton, 159-4; James Webb, Goshen, 157-8; Ronald DeVoid, Middlebury, 157-8; William Ringey, Cornwall, 157-6; Michael Betourney, Bridport, 157-5; Andrew Malzac, Middlebury, 156-7; Donald Keeler, Middlebury, 154-5; Shawn Gero, Cornwall, 153-6; and Russell Bishop, Shoreham, 152-4.
Also, Gregory McKenney, Middlebury 150-5; Mort Pierpont, Salisbury, 150-7; Gene Torrey, Salisbury, 147-4; Richard Terk, Ripton, 147-7; Gary Perkins, Hancock, 147-7; Mark Lee, Brandon, 146-4; Morgan Dragon, Ripton, 145-4; James Giard, Benson, 145-8; Levi Hubbell, New Haven, 145-5; Ryan Breen, Brandon, 144-10; Johnathan Thresher, Salisbury, 144-5; 144-5; and Darcy Trudeau, Brandon, 143-6.
Also, Robert Cole, Leicester, 143-6; Alvin Rivait, Ferrisburgh, 142-6; Israel Dwire, Ferrisburgh, 142-6; Ian Ploof, Middlebury, 140-4; Carlisle Doria, Ripton, 140-8; Tyler James, Weybridge, 140-4; Nicholas Madison, Shoreham, 138-3; Ronnie Gero, Cornwall, 137-5; Scott Whitman, Ripton, 137-6; Lawrence Kaufmann, Shoreham, 135-6; Ralph Dragon, Ripton, 135-6; and Andrew Pratt, Whiting, 135-4.
Also, Riley Brown, Salisbury, 135-5; Daniel Cram, Lincoln, 134-5; Maverick Payne, Bridport, 133-4; Caleb Goodrich, Ripton, 133-5; Matthew Brush, Pawlet, 131-4; Andrew Filion, Salisbury, 130-8; James Jackson, Ripton, 130-4; Jason Betourney, Bridport, 125-5; Andrew Recupero, Salisbury, 125-7; Penny Curler, Middlebury, 120-3; Thomas Fitzpatrick, Cornwall, 120-5; and Mark Humiston, Brandon, 120-3.
Also, Marc Swenor, Goshen, 118-4; Nicholas O’Keefe, Middlebury, 115-4; Todd Seguin, Weybridge, 115-4; Edgar Butterfield, Middlebury, 115-4; Kimberlee Gero, Bridport, 115-6; Kelly Torrey, Salisbury, 11-4; Henry Babcock, Salisbury, 110-4; Aaron Larocque, Middlebury, 107-4; William Alexander, Cornwall, 107-3; Aaron Trombley, Ripton, 105-5; Colin Foster, Bridport, 105-4; Tyler Pockette, Salisbury, 102-4; Adin Girard, Bridport, 100-4; Nicholas Desjadon, Salisbury, 97-6; and Nathan Warren, Bridport, 96-5.
RACK ’N REEL
Raymond Therrien, Charlotte, 192-8; Donald Isabelle, West Rutland, 175-8; Corey Rougier, Monkton, 133-4; Brad Bassett, New Haven, 119-3; Bryan Curtis, Hinesburg, 100-3; Jerad Gorton, New Haven, 159-7; Kathryn Kayhart, New Haven, 153-6; Thomas Kenyon, Monkton, 207-9; Amos Higbee, Monkton, 146-9; Chris Burritt, Monkton, 159-7; Andrew Lafleur, 148-8; and Mason Livingston, New Haven, 187-8.
Also, Terry Hier, Weybridge, 129-5; Eric Bingham, Middlebury, 137-8; Aaron Collette, Shoreham, 167-3; Jeffrey Galipeau, Weybridge, 110-3; Kyle Charron, Ferrisburgh, 117-3; Charles Dwy, Hubbardton, 143-10; Jeff Lathrop, Bristol, 128-5; Adam Lafountain, Starksboro, 158-6; Brian Heffernan, Starksboro, 158-9; Michael Preston, Panton, 185-7; and Kurt Mishke, Ferrisburgh, 116-5.
Also, Danielle Norris, New Haven, 119-5; Larry Gebo, Ferrisburgh, 138-4; Jim Demilt, Lincoln, 157-5; Steve Correia, New Haven, 144-4; Gary Norris, Bridport, 178-8; Peter Pizzagalli, Huntington, 193-6; Casey Huizenga, Monkton, 117-5; Jared Litch, New Haven, 112-3; John Palmer, New Haven, 147-6; Pierre Collette, Waltham, 156-6; Eric Dalley, New Haven, 122-3; and Randy Boise, New Haven, 122-3.
Also, Michael Forbes, Middlebury, 106-4; Ashlie Bodington, Addison, 99-6; Mark Laberge, Charlotte, 143-5; Miles Shorey, Ripton, 133-6; Philip Cyr, Bridport, 142-5; Ray Highter, Middlebury, 137-4; Tyler Flynn, Waltham, 129-4; Brian Latulippe, 186-9; Donald Sisters, Ferrisburgh, 130-6; Lance Perlee, New Haven, 159-8; Keith Betourney, Bridport, 180-8; Jacob Trombley, Ferrisburgh, 120-4; and Sterling Pelsue, Chester, 117-5.
Also, Stephen Aruzza, Huntington, 103-4; Christian Day, New Haven, 117-3; Duncan Chisholm, Hinesburg, 198-8; Shawn Roscoe, Bristol, 148-4; Devon Campbell, Panton, 137-3; Evan Fleming, Ferrisburgh, 157-9; Howard Hunter, Monkton, 117-4; Jonathan Audy, New Haven, 155-6; Mike Burnor, Hinesburg, 133-4; Keegan Carter, Starksboro, 153-7; Josh Rotax, Monkton, 150-8; and Patrick Flynn, Huntington, 127-8.
Also, Shawn Frost, Bristol, 156-6; Tylar St. Hilaire, Bristol, 156-6; Peter Norris, New Haven, 159-2; Brent Newton, Waltham, 156-5; Daryl Tribou, Addison, 156-5; Mark Livingston, New Haven, 129-5; Bruce Putnam, Panton, 160-6; Lucius Cousino, Bristol, 136-8; Ethan Hallock, Salisbury, 143-4; Jason Gebo, Ripton, 122-4; Nick Jennings, Starksboro, 167-7; Tyler Vincellette, Monkton, 158-8; and Albert LaRose, Monkton, 163-6.
Also, Goia DiMaggio, New Haven, 170-8; Jamie Smith, Cornwall, 152-7; Jeff Palmer, Starksboro, 127-3; Bruce Martell, Ferrisburgh, 144-8; Andrew Raymond, Ferrisburgh, 151-6; Andy Mansfield, Charlotte, 169-4; Craig Newton, Waltham, 191-8; Liam Casey, Hinesburg, 174-7; Douglas Kendall, Huntington, 125-8; Joshua Hurlburt, Monkton, 169-4; Brett Wood, New Haven, 150-7; and Michael Hinsdale, Charlotte, 144-6.
Also, Scott Stearns, Ferrisburgh, 140-7; Robert Whalen, Ferrisburgh, 154-7; Dean Ouellette, Orwell, 116-4; Geoffrey Ouellette, Bristol, 177-8; Cary Tracy, Monkton, 172-5; Brian Lafleche, Addison, 203-8; Lucas Smith, New Haven, 144-3; Kathryn Newton, Waltham, 129-4; Matthew Funk, Cornwall, 148-5; Alphonse Gilbert, Charlotte, 150-8; Ryan Cornellier, Ferrisburgh, 127-4; and Daniel Barrows, Ferrisburgh, 109-4.
Also, Daniel Stein, Ferrisburgh, 11-3; Christopher Fortin, Charlotte, 213-8; Terry Lee, Charlotte, 127-6; Angela Heath, Ferrisburgh, 124-4; Deanna Whalen, New Haven, 135-4; George Torrey, Ferrisburgh, 149-4; Andy Gendreau, Monkton, 161-6; Rogan Jackman, Charlotte, 177-8; Patrick Murphy, Waltham, 178-6; Dylan Stearns, Ferrisburgh, 125-8; Eugene Aube, 192-8; Michael Dragon, Middlebury, 100-4; and Alan Whittemore, Ferrisburgh, 129-5.
GREEN MT. TRAILS END  
Dave Livingston, Monkton, 169-8; Gary Briggs, New Haven, 135-4; Richard Mason, Starksboro, 135-7; Brent Francis, Hinesburg, 138-4; Jeremy Jennings, New Haven, 112-3; John Fleury, Lincoln, 125-8; Craig Shepard, Starksboro, 121-3; Matt Myers, Bristol, 128-6; Blake Bowen, Starksboro, 138-6; Tucker Davis, Bristol, 171-8; Miles Russell, Hinesburg, 161-4; Derek Whitcomb, Bristol, 113-3; and Edward Lafayette, Lincoln, 113-3.
Also, Frederick Wells, Jericho, 184-5; Andre Rheaume, New Haven, 99-5; Shawn Freegard, Addison, 137-4; Kenneth LaFountain, Monkton, 133-7; Kaitlyn Sorrell, Charlotte, 188-10; Kyle Bezanson, Lincoln, 174-7; Brian Lalumiere, Ferrisburgh, 150-8; Ryan Whitcomb, Bristol, 155-5; Edward Malzac, Ripton, 105-3; Stephen Butler, Middlebury, 153-5; James Martell, Bristol, 155-5; Kristine Butler, Bristol, 122-3; Louis Bennett, Starksboro, 122-4; Gerald Clark, Hubbardton, 143-4; Douglas Brown, Bristol, 157-6; and Ryan Mobbs, Hinesburg, 140-6.
Also, Daniel Nugent, Starksboro, 170-8; Leonard Desjadon, Salisbury, 125-4; Martin Landon, Weybridge, 196-7; Callahan Butler, Bristol, 146-5; Michael Sears, Bristol, 119-3; Larry Butler, New Haven, 101-3; Jeremy Lattrell, Lincoln, 137-4; Lewis Rheaume, Leicester, 147-5; Randall Williams, Huntington, 166-7; John Chamberlain, Lincoln, 142-7; Kyle Dacres, Bristol, 123-6; Charles Johnson, Starksboro, 129-9; and Casey Babcock, Hinesburg, 174-8.
C&S HUNTING SUPPLIES   
Travis Grant, Middlebury, 130-4; Justin Sequin, Weybridge, 126-5; Travis White, Middlebury, 116-4; Gabe Cameron, Goshen, 124-7; Marilyn Larocque, Goshen, 177-9; Blake Webb, Lincoln, 123-4; James Warner, Ripton, 135-4; and Christopher Griggs, Brandon, 150-8.
Andy Kirkaldy may be reached at [email protected].
In the Brandon area hunters reported 204 deer kills during rifle season. Click here to read about them.