News release

Antlerless Deer Draw Application Line Opens

Natural Resources (to July 2018)

The telephone line to apply for a stamp to hunt antlerless deer opens at 7 a.m. on Saturday, July 20.

Hunters can call 1-900-565-DEER (3337) any day of the week, 24 hours a day, until midnight on Friday, Aug. 30, to apply for a stamp. As in previous years, a non-refundable application fee of $6.90 will be charged to the bill of the phone that is used.

"The popular and convenient method for applying for an antlerless deer stamp remains the same this year for hunters throughout the province," said Natural Resources Minister Tim Olive.

This year 12,200 permits are available for the hunt, which is 1,000 fewer than last year. Permits are being offered for five of the seven deer management zones. Stamps for antlerless deer will not be available for Zone 3 (Chignecto area, Cumberland Co.) or Zone 7 (Cape Breton Highlands and area) because of low deer numbers. The 2002 regulation summary booklet provides more detail on zone locations.

"We are still feeling the effects of the severe winter of 2000- 01," said Mr. Olive. "Long periods of deep snow caused high mortality in the deer herd, especially among fawns and yearlings. Doe yearlings and fawns that died last year would have produced a lot of fawns this year and over the next three to four years. This must be taken into account when establishing harvest numbers."

When a stamp is attached to the general deer hunting licence, it allows the licence holder to hunt does and fawns, as well as antlered bucks, in a designated deer management zone. Hunters who do not have an antlerless deer stamp may hunt only antlered bucks and may do so throughout the province where hunting is permitted.

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

To apply for a stamp, hunters must hold a valid Firearm or Bow Hunting Certificate and have it on hand when calling the application line. In addition, applicants can apply only once and in only one deer management zone.

The application line will be open at 7 a.m. July 20. After Aug. 30, a computerized random draw will take place. Successful applicants will be notified by mail during the week of Sept. 2. The results will be available between Sept. 7 and 13 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. Last year more than 32,000 people applied for a stamp.


NOTE: Below is a list comparing the numbers of stamps for hunting antlerless deer in each deer management zone for 2001 and 2002.

Deer Management Zone 2001 2002 1 1,200 1,000 2 4,000 2,000 3 0 0 4 6,000 7,500 5 1,000 1,200 6 1,000 500 7 0 0 Total 13,200 12,200