News Release Archive
NATURAL RESOURCES-DEER SEASON OPENS OCTOBER 27 ----------------------------------------------------------------- Dates for the 1995 Nova Scotia deer hunting season have been announced by Natural Resources Minister Don Downe. The general open season for deer starts Friday, Oct. 27, and runs until Saturday, Dec. 2, inclusive. Hunting is not permitted on Sundays. "The buck law, which allows hunters to take only male deer with antlers, will remain in place again this season, " said Mr. Downe, "This conservation and management measure will help to restock the deer herd, which had been declining until the buck law was introduced in 1993." The fee for a resident deer hunting licence is $21 plus GST, the same as it has been for the past three years. Resident senior citizens are not charged for their licences. The fee for non-resident hunters is $100 plus GST. First time hunters are required to take a hunting safety course, which this year includes both the Canadian Firearm Safety Course and the provincial hunter safety component. To register for the course, individuals should contact local offices of the Department of Natural Resources. Since hunter safety education became mandatory in 1978, the number of hunting fatalities and personal injury accidents has been cut in half. No fatalities were recorded during the 1993 and 1994 hunting seasons and there were only four personal injury hunting accidents last year. "Hunting is a popular recreation for many thousands of Nova Scotians and it makes a substantial contribution to the provincial economy," said Mr. Downe. "Our hunter safety record is excellent and, as the deer season approaches, I encourage all hunters to continue to make safety a top priority." During the 1994 deer hunting season, just under 5,300 deer were bagged. There were more than 51,000 licensed deer hunters. -30- Contact: Blain Henshaw 902-424-5252 trp Oct. 13, 1995