The Antlerless Deer Draw 1998 - 2002

By Tony Nette (Wildlife Division)
SUMMER/FALL 2002

In the mid 1980s deer numbers reached 120,000 animals with hunter harvest in the vicinity of 66,000 animals. Then came the expected decline, and by 1995 the population had dropped to about 42,000. Hunter harvest that year was just over 7,000 with a province-wide buck law in effect.

Because deer are not evenly distributed throughout the province, a management system that could more easily increase harvest by area in times of plenty and reduce hunting pressure where and when appropriate would better control deer numbers and provide more consistent hunting opportunity. Establishing deer management zones had been discussed,but there was a long standing practice to keep hunting regulations simple and uniform across the province.

Deer Management Zones were finally established in 1997 and, beginning in 1998, permits were issued for a limited number of does and fawns in certain zones. Hunting of adult bucks (with antlers) continued to be permitted throughout the province.

A lottery-type system was introduced to distribute fairly the limited number of Antlerless Deer Hunting Stamps or 'Doe Tags' amongst interested hunters. Administration of the program was contracted, through tender, to the Target Call Center in Halifax. Target's proposal best fit the program and they have continued to administer the program ever since. Although there was initially some confusion and complaints, most hunters readily accepted the system. The draw takes place in early September after a six week application period during which any eligible resident hunter can apply by calling a 1-900 phone line.

Since the introduction of zones and the antlerless deer draw, about 50,000 to 57,000 deer hunting licenses have been issued each year. The number of hunters applying to the draw has remained about the same at between 30,000 to 36,000. Hunters who have applied each year but have not yet been successful, complain that there should be some sort of a priority system to increase their chances of winning a stamp. However, the number of complaints has decreased and the majority of participants are satisfied with the existing program. A few individuals and special interest groups have requested exemptions, but none have been made. Equal opportunity to all eligible hunters is the cornerstone of the program.

The number of antlerless Stamps issued is determined annually using current information on herd condition, age/sex structure and abundance of deer within each zone.

The system has worked well. As the deer herd grew between 1998 and 2000, an increasing number of antlerless stamps were issued. After the heavy snows of the winter of 2000-01, biological data showed that up to 65 per cent of fawns, and 47 per cent of yearlings and adult bucks had starved. With the zone system it was possible to make adjustments to reduce the number of stamps available for fall 2001 without going through the regulatory process.

In the first year it was unknown how many antlerless deer would be taken, relative to the number of stamps issued. Some predicted there would be 100 per cent success and 8,150 antlerless deer would be killed. The final figure was 2,799 antlerless deer registered, or only 34 per cent of the stamps used. A large number of antlerless deer were taken in the closing days of the season suggesting hunters with an antlerless stamp were trying to take a buck, but settled for a doe. Many were successful in taking a buck - others were unsuccessful in taking a deer at all. The number of stamps used in 2001 was only 23 per cent of the number issued. These numbers are considered when determining how many stamps to issue the following year.

The Antlerless Deer Draw program has overall been a success to date. It is an effective system to maintain more stable deer numbers and prevent the extreme highs and lows experienced in the past.

Antlerless Deer Hunting Permits Available
And Applications Received

Draw Success Rate = odds of applicant's name being drawn to receive a stamp.