News Release

FREDERICTON (GNB) – New Brunswickers can now apply for this year's antlerless deer draw.

"New Brunswick's deer population has remained relatively stable during the past year,'' said Natural Resources Minister Bruce Northrup. "As a result, the Department of Natural Resources has been able to maintain the number of antlerless deer permits at the same level as last year.''

There will be 3,450 antlerless deer permits available for this year's random computerized draw.

Quotas for antlerless deer licences are based on scientific evidence gathered by department staff. Big game biologists and wildlife managers make recommendations designed to ensure the population of antlerless deer are managed responsibly.

New Brunswick residents who wish to hunt antlerless deer must first purchase their 2013 deer hunting licence at a private vendor or Service New Brunswick location. Application cards for the antlerless deer draw are attached to the licence. The cost to apply is $4.52.

Applications can be submitted in person to a Service New Brunswick centre or sent by mail to: Department of Natural Resources, Fish and Wildlife Branch, P.O. Box 6000, Fredericton, N.B., E3B 5H1, on or before 5 p.m., Friday, July 19. A cheque or money order made out to the Minister of Finance in the amount of $4.52 must be included.

First-time hunters, persons born on or after Jan. 1, 1981, and bow hunters must meet specific hunter education training requirements to be eligible to purchase their deer or other hunting licence. Course information is available by contacting the nearest Department of Natural Resources office.

Since Sept. 1, 2011, amendments to the Fish and Wildlife Act have allowed the use of crossbows for all seasons and all species with the exception of migratory birds and deer hunting during the archery-only portion of the deer season. Bowhunters are permitted to hunt other species during this period.

Hunters planning to use a bow or crossbow are required to provide proof they have completed a bowhunter education course or have had a previous bowhunting licence before being issued an antlerless deer licence.

Anyone interested in completing a bowhunter education course can register at the nearest Department of Natural Resources office. Once the course has been successfully completed, the hunter may visit a Service New Brunswick centre, where staff will indicate on the hunter's licence that a bow or crossbow may be used.

Licences, applications, booklets describing wildlife management zones, and deer hunter fact sheets are available at Service New Brunswick centres and licence vendors. Application information is online.

Results will be available the week of Aug. 19, and successful applicants will receive a validation sticker in the mail prior to Oct. 1.  

A specific number of permits are available for each wildlife management zone where hunting is permitted. New Brunswick residents may apply to hunt for antlerless deer in one zone only.

Deer hunting season remains closed in zones 3, 4, 5 and 9, while hunters are allowed to harvest only deer with visible antlers (bucks only) in zones 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 19, 20 and 25.  

For further regulatory details, refer to the 2013 Hunt and Trap summary of regulations.

Following are a list of wildlife management zones and the 2013 quota of antlerless permits allocated for each zone:

●    Wildlife management zone (WMZ) 1 – 0 (bucks only);
●    WMZ 2 – 0 (bucks only);
●    WMZ 3 – deer season closed;
●    WMZ 4 – deer season closed;
●    WMZ 5 – deer season closed;
●    WMZ 6 – 0 (bucks only);
●    WMZ 7 – 0 (bucks only);
●    WMZ 8 – 0 (bucks only);
●    WMZ 9 – deer season closed;
●    WMZ 10 – 0 (bucks only);
●    WMZ 11 – 0 (bucks only);
●    WMZ 12 – 0 (bucks only);
●    WMZ 13 – 0 (bucks only);
●    WMZ 14 – 0 (bucks only);
●    WMZ 15 – 0 (bucks only);  
●    WMZ 16 – 100;
●    WMZ 17 – 50;
●    WMZ 18 – 50;
●    WMZ 19 – 0 (bucks only);
●    WMZ 20 – 0 (bucks only);
●    WMZ 21 – 200;
●    WMZ 22 – 1,500;
●    WMZ 23 – 1,000;
●    WMZ 24 – 50;
●    WMZ 25 – 0 (bucks only);
●    WMZ 26 – 50; and
●    WMZ 27 – 450.

LINK:

●    Department of Natural Resources