Application Line To Open for Antlerless Deer Draw

Hunters can apply for a stamp to hunt antlerless deer this fall in Nova Scotia. Telephone applications will be accepted beginning at 7 a.m. on Saturday, July 15.

Hunters can call 1-900-565-DEER (3337) any day of the week, 24 hours a day, to apply for a stamp. The line will remain open until midnight on Friday, Sept. 1. A non-refundable application fee of $6.84 will be charged to the telephone bill of the phone that is being used.

This year, 4,750 permits are available to qualified resident Nova Scotians.

"Our primary goal is to maintain the province's deer population while providing Nova Scotians the opportunity to enjoy a high quality deer hunting experience," said Natural Resources Minister David Morse. "Although deer numbers remain relatively low as a result of a series of severe winters since 2000, the population was in good condition this past spring following the very mild winter. Winter kill was minimal and does are in good shape to provide for their fawns. If we have another mild winter, our scientists expect the herd to grow."

"Using a zone system allows us to adjust the number of antlerless deer hunting permits based on the deer population in different areas of the province," said Mr. Morse. For example, this year there will be no permits issued in zone 3 (Parrsborro area); zone 5 (Eastern Shore); and zones 6 and 7 (Cape Breton Island) where numbers remain low. "This science-based approach helps to maintain a more stable deer population in Nova Scotia."

There's a special situation in zone 2A in (Bridgewater-Lunenburg area), where residents have had problems with very high deer numbers for many years now. The number of antlerless permits in zone 2A was doubled in recent years, but it did little to help reduce the deer population.

This year 750 winners of the draw in zone 2A will receive a bonus stamp. This will give them the opportunity to take two deer -- an antlerless deer within zone 2A, and an antlered deer anywhere in the province where deer hunting is permitted. Antlered bucks are defined as having antlers with a minimum length of 7.62 centimetres (three inches).

A computerized random draw will take place after Sept. 1. Successful applicants will be notified by mail during the week of Sept. 4. Draw results will be available on the Department of Natural Resources website beginning Sept. 6, or by calling 1-877-535-1234, or 493-1412 in the Halifax area, between Sept. 9 and Sept. 15.

Information on the 2006 draw can be found where hunting and angling licences are sold, or on the website at www.gov.ns.ca/natr/draws/deerdraw .

NOTE: Below is a comparative list of available antlerless deer stamps for the years 2004, 2005 and 2006. Bonus stamps are being issued only in zone 2A this year.

Deer Management Zone Stamps 2004 Stamps 2005 Stamps 2006

1 500 500 500

2 2,000 1,500 1,500

2A 750 750 750

3 0 0 0

4 2,000 2,000 2,000

5 0 0 0

6 0 0 0

7 0 0 0

Total 5,250 5,000 4,750