News Release Archive
NATURAL RESOURCES--Minister Stresses Hunter Safety
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The general open season for hunting deer opens Friday, Oct. 31,
and Natural Resources Minister Ken MacAskill wants hunters to
make safety a top priority.
"I encourage all hunters to make safe hunting their No. 1
priority again this season," said Mr. MacAskill. "Our hunter
safety record in recent years has been excellent, with no hunting
fatalities for four consecutive years. And 1996, with no
accidental shootings and no fatalities, was the best ever
recorded."
Since hunter safety education courses became mandatory in Nova
Scotia in 1980, there has been a 50 per cent drop in the number
of accidental shootings and fatalities.
The buck law, which allows each hunter to take only one antlered
deer, remains in effect this year. It was introduced in 1993 as a
conservation measure to help replenish deer stocks.
Last year, nearly 52,000 deer-hunting licences were issued and
8,180 hunters were successful in bagging a buck.
There has been no increase in deer licence fees since 1992. A
resident deer hunting licence costs $21 plus HST. The fee for
non-residents is $100 plus HST. Resident senior citizens are not
charged for deer or small-game hunting licenses.
The 1997 deer season closes Saturday, Dec. 6.
Summaries of 1997 hunting regulations are available at local
offices of the Department of Natural Resources and from licence
vendors.
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Contact: Blain Henshaw
Natural Resources
902-424-5252
E-mail: bwhenshaw@gov.ns.ca
ngr Oct. 30, 1997 8:50 a.m.
