News release

Accepting Antlerless Deer Hunting Licence Applications

Natural Resources (to July 2018)

Note: A list of the number of antlerless deer stamps available for the years 2006 to 2009 can be found at gov.ns.ca/news/Photos/2009/Jul/DeerChart.html.


Phone lines accepting applications to hunt antlerless deer will open on Saturday, July 18. Nine-thousand permits are up for grabs this year.

"Once again, hunters in Nova Scotia look forward to this annual tradition," said Natural Resources Minister John MacDonell. "These antlerless deer permits allow for the opportunity to enjoy a high quality deer hunting experience."

To manage the deer population in Nova Scotia, a zone system is used to set the number of antlerless licences based on the abundance of deer in various areas.

This year, permits will not be required for zone 2A, near Lunenburg, in an effort to reduce the deer population in that area. Hunters may take either antlered or antlerless deer. The number of permits has decreased for zone 4, located in central Nova Scotia, because of a lower number of deer.

Antlerless deer hunting permits will not be available in zone 3 near Cape Chignecto, zone 5 on the eastern shore, and zones 6 and 7 in Cape Breton Island, where numbers remain well below desired levels.

Beginning at 7 a.m., July 18, hunters can call 1-900-565-DEER (3337) 24 hours a day, to apply. The line will remain open until midnight on Friday, Sept. 4. A non-refundable application fee of $6.90 will be charged to the telephone bill of the phone used to make the call. It is not possible to call from a cellphone.

A computerized random draw will take place on Sept. 5. Successful applicants will be notified by mail during the week of Sept. 8, at which time all applicants can enter their Wildlife Resources Card on the Department of Natural Resources website to find out if they have been successful. Draw results will be available by phone, Sept. 12 to Sept. 18, at 1-877-535-1234 or 493-1412, if calling from the Halifax area.

Hunters who do not apply or who are unsuccessful in the draw, will still be able to hunt deer where hunting is permitted. However, other than in zone 2A, they will be limited to hunting for bucks having antlers a minimum length of 7.62 centimetres (three inches)in length.

Information on the 2009 draw can be found where hunting and angling licences are sold, or on the department website at www.gov.ns.ca/natr/draws/deerdraw .