Natural Resources Minister Stresses Hunter Safety

NATURAL RESOURCES--Natural Resources Minister Stresses Hunter Safety

The general open season for deer hunting opens on Friday, Oct. 27, and Natural Resources Minister Ernest Fage wants hunters to make safety a top priority.

"As hunters get ready to go into the woods for another deer season, I encourage them to make safe hunting a number one priority," said Mr. Fage. "Our hunter safety record over the past number of years has been very good and is reflected in the low number of fatalities and accidental injuries."

Since the hunter education program became mandatory in Nova Scotia in 1980, the number of personal injuries and fatalities has dropped by 50 per cent. Last year there were three injuries and one fatality.

Nearly 56,000 deer hunting licences were issued last year and nearly 16,000 hunters were successful in bagging deer, of which 10,745 were bucks and 5,064 were antlerless deer, or does.

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 licences.

The 2000 deer season closes on Saturday, Dec. 2.

Summaries of the 2000 hunting regulations are available at local Department of Natural Resources offices and from licence vendors.