FREDERICTON (GNB) – Preliminary figures show the provincial deer harvest for 2012 was 6,030 animals, up by 26 per cent compared to 2011 and the highest harvest since 2008.

“The deer harvest this year was up throughout the province, indicating the deer population has improved across New Brunswick,” said Natural Resources Minister Bruce Northup.

One factor responsible for the increase was the allocation of 550 additional antlerless deer permits for the just-concluded hunting season. Almost 3,500 antlerless deer permits were available in the Department of Natural Resources' Region 3, where the deer harvest was up by 17 per cent compared to the 2011 season.

However, the increase was even larger in the other three regions – 40 per cent in Region 2 and Region 4 and 107 per cent in Region 1 – where the harvest was limited to bucks.

The final harvest numbers as well as the number of licences sold will be available in early 2013.


20-11-12