News release

Accepting Antlerless Deer Hunting Licence Applications

Natural Resources (to July 2018)

NOTE: A list of available antlerless deer stamps for the years 2006, 2007 and 2008 is posted on the Communications Nova Scotia Website at http://gov.ns.ca/news/Photos/2008/Jul/DeerChart.html .


More than 6,100 additional licences are up for grabs in this year's antlerless deer hunting draw, bringing the total licences to 11,900 for the fall 2008 season. The phone line accepting applications to hunt antlerless deer will open Saturday, July 19.

"Deer numbers have increased significantly throughout the province as a result of three very mild winters," said Natural Resources Minister David Morse. "This allows us to provide more Nova Scotians the opportunity to take either a doe or buck when hunting deer this fall."

To manage the deer population in Nova Scotia, a zone system is used. This adjusts the number of antlerless licences based on the abundance of deer in the province. The number of permits has increased this year in zones 1, 2, 2A and 4 because of a growing number of deer in those areas. There will be no antlerless deer hunting licences issued in zone 3 in the Cape Chignecto area, zone 5 in the Eastern Shore, and zones 6 and 7 on Cape Breton Island, where numbers remain well below desired levels.

Beginning at 7 a.m. on Saturday, July 19, hunters can call 1-900-565-DEER (3337) any day of the week, 24 hours a day, to apply. The line will remain open until midnight on Friday, Aug. 29. A non-refundable application fee of $6.90 will be charged to the telephone bill of the phone that is being used. It is not possible to call this number from a cell phone.

A computerized random draw will take place on Saturday, August 30. Successful applicants will be notified by mail during the week of Sept. 1, at which time all applicants can enter their Wildlife Resources Card number on the Department of Natural Resources website to find out if they have been successful. Draw results will be available by phone, Sept. 6 to Sept. 12, at 1-877-535-1234 or 493-1412, if calling from Halifax Regional Municipality.

Hunters who do not apply or who are unsuccessful in the draw will still be able to hunt deer throughout the province where hunting is permitted. However, they will be limited to hunting for bucks having antlers a minimum length of 7.62 centimetres (three inches)in length.

Information on the 2008 draw can be found where hunting and angling licences are sold, or on the website at www.gov.ns.ca/natr/draws/deerdraw .