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North
Dakota’s 2012 deer season is set, with 65,300 licenses available to
hunters this fall, 44,650 fewer than last year and the lowest since
1988.
Randy
Kreil, wildlife chief for the State Game and Fish Department, said the
decline in the deer population is a result of increased adult mortality
and reduced fawn production following the severe winters of 2008-10. In
addition, the extreme winter conditions followed nearly a decade of
aggressive deer management featuring large numbers of antlerless
licenses in many units.
“It
is expected there will be very few, if any licenses remaining after the
initial lottery,” Kreil said. “Therefore, there is not a concurrent
season this year.”
Hunters
are able to draw one license for the deer gun season and one for the
muzzleloader season, and purchase an archery license. Unlike the past
several years, however, Kreil said a hunter will not be able to receive
more than one license for the deer gun season.
Low
deer numbers are evident in all portions of North Dakota, Kreil said,
as all but two hunting units are below management goals. The statewide
hunter success rate in 2011 was 52 percent, the lowest on record and
well below the typical 70-75 percent success rate experienced by North
Dakota deer hunters.
“The large decrease of licenses in 2012 is necessary to allow the deer population to grow toward management goals,” Kreil said.
The
mule deer population in the badlands was also stung by three
consecutive harsh winters, with the three lowest years of fawn
production observed from 2009-11. Survey numbers indicate mule deer in
the badlands are down 23 percent from last year and 52 percent below
2007.
As
a result, no antlerless mule deer licenses are available for the 2012
deer season in units 3B1, 3B2, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E and 4F, Kreil said.
“This restriction applies to regular gun, resident and nonresident
any-deer bow, gratis and youth licenses,” he added.
The
number of licenses available for 2012 is 1,200 antlered mule deer, a
decrease of 3,350 mule deer licenses from last year; 1,282 for
muzzleloader, down 826 from last year; and 120 restricted youth antlered
mule deer, a decrease of 130 from last year.
North Dakota’s 2012 deer gun season opens Nov. 9 at noon and continues through Nov. 25. Online applications
for the regular deer gun, youth, muzzleloader, and resident gratis and
nonresident landowner seasons will be available about May 9 through the
Game and Fish Department’s website at gf.nd.gov. Also, paper applications will be at vendors throughout the state the week of May 14. The deadline for applying is June 6.
Total
deer licenses are determined by harvest rates, aerial surveys,
deer-vehicle collision reports, depredation reports, hunter
observations, input at advisory board meetings, and comments from the
public, landowners and department field staff.
2012 Deer License Questions and Answers
In
past years, hunters have been able to receive more than one license
that is valid during the deer gun season. Will that be the case this
year?
No.
The number of licenses remaining after the first drawing will be small,
if any at all. Therefore, hunters can receive only one license for the
deer gun season. If any licenses remain after the first and second
lotteries, they will only be available to those who applied in the first
lottery and still have not received a license, or for those who did not
submit an application for the first lottery.
If I receive a deer gun license, will I still be able to receive a muzzleloader license or purchase an archery license?
Yes,
hunters can draw one license for the deer gun season and one for the
muzzleloader season, and purchase an archery license. However, there
won’t be any additional antlerless deer licenses available this year,
that in the past could be used during the archery or muzzleloader season
in the unit designated on the license.
Can I use my deer gun license during the muzzleloader or archery season?
No.
The deer gun license is valid for only the regular deer gun season.
That option in past years was only available for second, third, or
additional antlerless licenses.
I
want a deer license this year so I want to increase my odds and apply
for a doe license as a first choice. If I receive the license, will I
lose my preference points?
Yes, preference points are based on your first choice. If you receive your first choice, you lose your preference points.
Can I use my gratis license to take a mule deer doe?
Gratis hunters whose land is located in 3B1, 3B2, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E and 4F may not take a mule deer doe with their gratis license. Gratis hunters in all other units may take any deer, including mule deer does.
As
a landowner, if I apply in the regular lottery for a buck license as my
first choice and a doe for my second choice, and receive a doe license,
can I still submit a gratis application to get a license to hunt a
buck?
No.
If you submit a regular lottery application and receive a deer gun
license, regardless if it is for a buck or doe, you are not able to
receive a gratis license, as only one deer gun season license per hunter
is allowed this year.
Since
only one deer gun season license is available this year, does that mean
landowners can receive either a gratis license or a lottery license,
but not both?
That’s
correct. If a landowner applies for and receives a license in the
regular lottery, he or she cannot also receive a gratis license.
Landowners who apply in the regular lottery and are not drawn for a
license can still receive a gratis license as long as there are unissued
licenses.
I
am a landowner, and often delay submitting a gratis license application
until I know if I will have time to hunt deer. If I wait until later in
summer to apply, will I still be able to get a gratis license?
Gratis
licenses can be issued as long as licenses remain. However, with the
dramatic reduction in licenses this year there is no guarantee that any
licenses will be available after the initial lottery. Once all licenses
are issued, Game and Fish is not able to provide further gratis
licenses. Therefore, we suggest that landowners eligible for gratis
licenses submit their application prior to the June 6 deadline to ensure
receiving a license.
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