Antlerless Deer Draw Application Period Nears

Applications for the annual antlerless deer hunt will be accepted starting Monday, July 26. There will be 11,500 permits available.

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, the province has reconfigured the deer zones from an eight to 12, so applicants should review the zones before applying for the draw.

Antlerless deer permits will be awarded by draw in seven of the twelve deer management zones. Hunters will be permitted to harvest one deer of either sex in zones 105, 107 and 102 with no permit required. Hunters can also buy a bonus antlerless deer stamp for zone 102. No antlerless deer permits are available in zones 111 and 112. For more information on deer zones check www.gov.ns.ca/natr/draws/deerdraw/ddZones.asp .

Beginning at 7 a.m., July 26, hunters can call 1-900-565-DEER (3337) 24 hours a day, to apply. The line will remain open until midnight, Sept. 10. It is not possible to call from a cellphone. Hunters can also apply on-line using a credit card at www.gov.ns.ca/natr/draws/deerdraw/. A non-refundable application fee of $7.25 will be charged to apply.

A computerized random draw will take place on Sept. 11 and results will be available online Sept. 13 on the department website

Hunters who do not apply or who are unsuccessful in the draw, will still be eligible to hunt deer where permitted. However, other than zones 102, 105, and 107 they will be limited to hunting for bucks with antlers a minimum of 7.62 centimetres (three inches)in length.

Information on the 2010 draw can be found where hunting and angling licences are sold, or on the department website.