Province Seeks Input on Deer Hunting Zones

The Department of Natural Resources is seeking public input to revise provincial deer-management zone boundaries to better manage the population and provide more harvesting opportunities.

The department expects zone revision will help direct hunters to areas with the highest deer numbers.

"Existing zones are too large to achieve optimum hunting results, which has become a problem where numbers are high and deer have become a nuisance," said John MacDonell, Minister of Natural Resources. "We believe boundary revisions and subdividing a number of the zones will help address this issue and we are asking for public input."

The department is offering hunters, the agricultural community and general public the opportunity to help guide them through this process. Interested parties can visit http://www.gov.ns.ca/natr/ where they can view a map of current and potential revised zones or contact the department's wildlife division at 902-679-6091 to receive this information by mail.

There are eight deer management zones throughout the province, introduced in 1998 to improve hunting opportunities. The department hopes to have new zones in place by the fall hunting season.