News release

Antlerless Deer Draw Application Line Opens

Natural Resources (to July 2018)

The telephone line to apply for an antlerless deer hunting stamp officially opens at 7 a.m. on Saturday, July 17, Natural Resources Minister Richard Hurlburt announced today, July 9.

Hunters can call 1-900-565-DEER (3337) any day of the week, 24 hours a day to apply for a stamp. The line is open until midnight on Friday, Sept. 3. A non-refundable application fee of $6.90 will be charged to the telephone bill of the phone that is being used.

This year, 5,250 permits are available for the hunt. That is the lowest number of permits issued since the deer management zone system was implemented in 1998.

"The deer herd across the province is at its lowest population level in a long time, which has resulted in a decrease in the total number of stamps available," said Mr. Hurlburt. "The decline in deer numbers is a result of the severe winter weather conditions and deep snow we have experienced over the last few years."

The use of deer zones is a management practice that allows Natural Resources staff to set appropriate harvest numbers based on the uneven distribution of deer throughout the province. The science-based approach helps to maintain a more stable deer population regionally in Nova Scotia.

"By using a zone system we are able to adjust the number of permits available to hunters to accurately reflect the population of deer in different areas of the province," said Mr. Hurlburt. "For example, the number of permits available in zone 2A have been increased this year to help reduce the high number of deer in the Bridgewater-Lunenburg area."

Permits are being offered for four of the eight deer management zones. This is the first year that zone 5 (Eastern Shore area including much of Halifax and Guysborough counties) has not had any antlerless deer permits available because of low deer numbers. Zones 3 (Chignecto area, Cumberland County), 6 (all of Cape Breton, except for the Highlands area) and 7 (Cape Breton Highlands area) also will have no antlerless deer stamps for the same reason. The regulation summary booklet provides more detailed information on zone locations.

A computerized random draw will take place after Sept. 3. Successful applicants will be notified by mail during the week of Sept. 6. Draw results will be available on the department website beginning Sept. 7 or between Sept. 11 and Sept. 18 by calling 1-877-535-1234, or 493-1412 in the Halifax area.

Detailed information on the antlerless deer draw can be found where hunting and angling licences are sold or on the website: www.gov.ns.ca/natr/draws/deerdraw .


NOTE: Below is a comparative list of available antlerless deer stamps for the years 2003 and 2004.

Deer Management Zone 2003 2004

Zone 1 500 500 Zone 2 2,000 2,000 Zone 2A 500 750 Zone 3 0 0 Zone 4 4,000 2,000 Zone 5 500 0 Zone 6 0 0 Zone 7 0 0

Total 7,500 5,250