IOWA- 2015-16 DEER, TURKEY, UPLAND HUNTING SEASONS SET, WATERFOWL UP NEXT

The Natural Resource Commission of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources approved a series of hunting seasons during its June and July meetings.

The commission will discuss duck and goose hunting seasons during its August 13 meeting in Des Moines.

HUNTING INFORMATION

EARLY MIGRATORY SEASONS  DATES

Dove                                                               Sep. 1 - Nov. 9

Special September Teal                                  Sep. 5 - Sep. 20

SPECIES                                                         DATES          

Rooster Pheasant                                           Oct. 24-25 (Youth only)

Rooster Pheasant                                           Oct. 31 - Jan. 10, 2016          

Bobwhite Quail                                              Oct. 31 - Jan. 31, 2016          

Gray Partridge                                               Oct. 10 - Jan. 31, 2016          

Ruffed Grouse                                                Oct. 3 - Jan. 31, 2016

Rabbit (Cottontail)                                         Sept. 5 - Feb. 28, 2016

Rabbit (Jack)                                                   CLOSED                    

Squirrel (Fox and Gray)                                 Sept. 5 - Jan. 31, 2016           

Crow                                                               Oct. 15 - Nov. 30 AND

Jan. 14 - March 31, 2016      

Pigeon                                                             Continuous Open Season     

Coyote                                                            Continuous Open Season     

Deer and fall turkey licenses are on sale Aug. 15.

DEER SEASONS                                          DATES          

Youth Season                                                 Sept. 19-Oct. 4           

Disabled Hunter Season                                Sept. 19-Oct. 4           

Archery Season                     

            Early Split                                           Oct. 1-Dec. 4 

            Late Split                                            Dec. 21 - Jan. 10, 2016          

Early Muzzleloader                                       Oct. 17-25      

Late Muzzleloader                                         Dec. 21 - Jan. 10, 2016          

Shotgun                     

            Season 1                                              Dec. 5-9         

            Season 2                                              Dec. 12-20     

TURKEY SEASONS                                     DATES

Combination Gun/Bow                                 Oct. 12-Dec. 4                       

Archery Only                                                 Oct. 1 - Dec. 4 AND 

                                                                        Dec. 21 - Jan. 10, 2016

2016 SPRING TURKEY SEASONS           DATES          

Combination Gun/Bow Licenses

      Youth Season (Residents Only)               April 9-17

      Season 1                                                    April 18-21

      Season 2                                                    April 22-26

      Season 3                                                    April 27-May 3

      Season 4                                                    May 4-22

Resident Archery-only Licenses:                   April 18-May 22

Wisconsin Outdooes Folks - Put your deer observations to use with Operation Deer Watch

MADISON -- In an ongoing effort to include public input in deer management, and to effectively monitor and evaluate Wisconsin's deer herd, the Department of Natural Resources is continuing its annual citizen-science survey, Operation Deer Watch.

The data from the public provides insight to the reproductive status of Wisconsin's deer herd for 2015. The number of bucks, does and fawns seen are indicators of annual deer herd production.

"This is a fun and useful opportunity for the public to be the daily eyes and ears for the deer herd in their area," said Brian Dhuey, DNR surveys coordinator. "Every year, citizens provide thousands of observations which the department uses directly to help monitor the herd."

To get involved, record all bucks, does and fawns seen during the day from Aug. 1 to Sept. 30. Daily observations can be tracked using an online tally sheet available at dnr.wi.gov, keyword "deer watch."

According to Dhuey, an additional 14,000 deer hunters were selected at random this year and sent a letter inviting them to participate in Operation Deer Watch. Dhuey encourages anyone to take part of the survey even if they were not one of the hunters selected to participate.

For more information, videos and results of previous year's surveys, search the DNR website, dnr.wi.gov, for keywords "deer watch."

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian Dhuey, DNR surveys coordinator, 608-221-6342 or Jes Rees, DNR research scientist, 608-221-6349

Related articles

• New CWD report gives hunters food for thought (jsonline.com)
• Michigan confirms second case of chronic wasting disease in deer (wndu.com)

Oklahoma Deer Hunters - Applications Due Aug. 14 for Youth Bonus Antlerless Deer Hunts

Beginner deer hunters have a unique opportunity to participate in one of four bonus antlerless deer hunts that will take place on private land in Osage County (Oct. 2-4, 2015), Ellis County (Oct. 23-24, 2015), Love County (Oct. 16, 2015, orientation on Oct. 15, 2015), and Carter County (Nov. 20-21, 2015).

    This year, 49 youths will be selected to receive one of the bonus private lands antlerless deer gun permits. To be eligible, youths must have completed their hunter education requirements prior to applying and must be 12-17 years old at the time of their scheduled hunt.

"These hunts are on private property and should provide young hunters a great opportunity to see some deer as well as a chance to harvest a doe," said Bill Dinkines, assistant chief of wildlife for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. "The Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission has endorsed the youth hunt program, and we are thankful for the landowners' willingness to allow these kids the opportunity to hunt on their property."

    To apply for a hunt, applicants must submit an application online at  https://wildlifedepartment.wufoo.com/forms/m12yasc31rn5mhy/.com or submit (mail or walk-in only) a 3-by-5-inch index card with the following information:
Hunter's first and last name
Date of birth
Mailing address
Telephone number
Hunter education certification number
Lifetime license number, if applicable
Accompanying adult* first and last name
List of hunts by order of preference**

    *Each child participating in this hunt must have an adult (licensed or unlicensed) who is at least 21 years of age accompany them on the hunt.

    **List the hunt(s) you wish to apply for by order of preference (Please do not list any hunt that you are not interested in or know in advance you cannot attend.)

    Envelope should be addressed to Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, Attn.: Wildlife Division "Private Lands Youth Deer Hunts," P.O. Box 53465, Oklahoma City, OK 73152. Walk-in applications will be accepted at 1801 N. Lincoln Blvd., Oklahoma City. All applications must be received by Friday, Aug. 14, 2015.

    Antlerless deer taken by selected applicants during these hunts will be considered a bonus deer and will not count toward the hunter's statewide season limit.

    Applicants who are successfully drawn will receive a notification letter in the mail that includes specific information about their hunt and the deadline for purchasing required license(s) as listed below:

Resident Options (Ages 12-15):
    Lifetime Hunting or Lifetime Combination License
            OR
    $10 Controlled Hunts Private Lands Youth Deer License***

Resident Options (Ages 16-17):
    Lifetime Hunting or Lifetime Combination License
            OR
    Resident Youth Annual Hunting + $10 Controlled Hunts Private Lands Youth Deer License***
            OR
    Resident Youth Fiscal Year Hunting + $10 Controlled Hunts Private Lands Youth Deer License***

Nonresident Options (Ages 12-17):
    Controlled Hunts Nonresident Private Lands Youth Deer License***

    ***NOTE: The $10 resident or the $201 nonresident Controlled Hunts Private Lands Youth Deer Hunt Licenses will be issued in lieu of the open season license and must be purchased through the Wildlife Department's Central Office, 1801 N. Lincoln Blvd., Oklahoma City. No Apprentice Licenses will be allowed due to the Hunter Education requirement.

    For more information, call Doug Schoeling at (405) 590-2584.

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Wisconsin bonus antlerless deer permit sales begin Aug. 17

Antlerless Deer in Field

MADISON -- Bonus antlerless deer carcass tags are available for purchase starting Monday, Aug. 17 at 10 a.m. Antlerless tags will be sold at a rate of one per person per day. Sales will continue until sold out or until the 2015 deer hunting season ends.

Twelve counties, in part or in whole, will have no antlerless permits available in 2015. It is important to remember that permit availability will vary between public and private lands.

For a list of units and available tags, search the Department of Natural Resources website, dnr.wi.gov, for keywords "bonus availability." Tags will be available for purchase through the Online Licensing Center and at DNR license sales locations.

Hunters will need to know which deer management zone and unit they plan to hunt within, and must determine whether they will hunt on public or private land.

"Bonus permits are very limited or non-existent in some areas this fall in order to implement deer hunting recommendations from County Deer Advisory Committees," said Kevin Wallenfang, DNR big game ecologist. "Hunter demand for tags in many counties will be greater than tag availability, so we encourage folks to check out their situation early and begin to plan fall hunts now."

Bonus permits will be sold by management zone beginning at 10 a.m. on the following dates:

• Aug. 17, - Northern and Central Forest Zones;
• Aug. 18, - Central Farmland Zone;
• Aug. 19, - Southern Farmland Zone; and
• Aug. 20, - remaining bonus antlerless permits (all zones).

Those who purchase a 2015 deer hunting license before Aug. 17 can expedite the tag purchasing process, since hunters must obtain a deer hunting license before they can purchase a bonus antlerless tag.

To learn more, join DNR staff for an antlerless tags chat at noon on Wednesday, Aug. 5. For more information, visit dnr.wi.gov and search keyword "chat." Hunters are encouraged to stay tuned, as additional chats will focus on season forecasts, finding a place to hunt, novice hunting programs, new regulations and electronic registration.

To receive email updates regarding deer hunting regulations, reminders and other important information, visit dnr.wi.gov and click on the email icon near the bottom of the page titled "subscribe for updates for DNR topics," then follow the prompts and select the "Crossbow Deer Hunting" distribution list.

For more information, including frequently asked questions and other helpful links, search keyword "deer."

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin Wallenfang, DNR big game ecologist, 608-206-1107

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Staying Safe Deer Hunting out of Treestands

Those of us who hunt know that although firearms seem to others to be the most likely culprit for hunting accidents, it's all the other associated activities with hunting that can get you in trouble.  Probably the most dangerous part of the hunt is the drive to your hunting site.

Of course another area we need to be careful is hunting from treestands.  Many accidents occur yearly from falls, and with a little common sense, they are largely avoidable.  Here is a great article that details some things to think about as you prepare for Fall deer season.

If you were to imagine the most likely way you might injure yourself during hunting season, what would that be? Some might say snake bites while others could anticipate rolling an ankle while traversing rough terrain. Though both of these are possibilities, the leading cause of injuries during hunting season is actually attributed to something else entirely. 

Falls from treestands make up the bulk of injuries suffered by hunters during whitetail deer season. Although these falls happen with alarming frequency, they are actually preventable which makes suffering such a fall completely unnecessary. By applying an ounce of prevention to your treestand usage routine, you can ensure your safety throughout the season, making it so that you come back uninjured each time you set out. 

Read more 

Related articles

• More Than 500 Special Hunts Available By Draw (kansas-outdoors.blogspot.com)
• DNR reports 2014 deer hunting harvest down across Michigan (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)

DNR reports 2014 deer hunting harvest down across Michigan

Several factors added to decline; wildlife managers working on improvements

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources recently issued a Michigan Deer Harvest Survey Report on the 2014 hunting seasons indicating that roughly 615,000 hunters statewide harvested a total of roughly 329,000 deer. The harvest represents a drop of 15 percent from 2013.

Wildlife managers report that regional declines in deer harvest were greatest in the Upper Peninsula, where the overall harvest was down by nearly 36 percent.

The DNR said several factors – including back-to-back years of severe winter weather that depleted the deer population in some parts of the state – contributed to the decline.

Snow, snow and more snow“In the Upper Peninsula, winter started early with more than 3 feet of snow on the ground in some areas before the Nov. 15 opening of firearm deer season,” said DNR wildlife biologist Brian Frawley. “Though not as severe as the previous season, this marked the third consecutive rough winter for the deer population in the U.P.”

Frawley said that much of the region’s drop in deer harvest can be explained by those conditions. The heavy U.P. snowfall, for example, made it challenging – sometimes impossible – for some firearm deer hunters to get to their camps. Given the conditions, many decided not to hunt; others, after experiencing the effects of the two previous winters, decided not to buy licenses.

“When the number of hunters is reduced in a given year, the deer harvest potential naturally is reduced, too,” Frawley said.

Across all hunting seasons, 84,099 people hunted deer in the U.P. in 2014, down about 19 percent from 2013.

Natural cyclical movementDNR Director Keith Creagh said that like Michigan's deer population, the state’s deer harvest numbers have risen and fallen in an ebb-and-flow pattern since the early 1960s.

"The number of deer harvested hit a low in the early 1970s at below 100,000 statewide," Creagh said. "With mild winters and changing forest conditions, deer populations then rose and hunter harvest climbed to more than 400,000 by the late 1980s."

After tough back-to-back winters in the mid-1990s, the harvest followed the population steeply downhill, but rebounded again to nearly 600,000 by the end of the decade. Since then, deer harvest has remained below 500,000 since the early 2000s.

Other population indicators
DNR deer program biologist Ashley Autenrieth said U.P. deer-vehicle collisions tallied 2,961, down 22 percent from 2013. Crop damage permit kills were down to 1,664 in 2014 from 1,745 the previous year.

"These two factors indicate a drop in the overall deer population," Autenrieth said.

The winter severity index, crop damage permits and deer-vehicle accidents also were down in the northern Lower Peninsula.Pockets of successIn northern parts of the U.P., firearm deer hunters who did get to their camps and blinds found the snowy conditions had put many deer on southward seasonal migration paths early. Hunters who altered their strategies to follow those paths fared better.

Despite the challenging conditions, firearm deer hunters in the U.P. harvested 14,734 antlered bucks, with 41,415 taken in the northern Lower Peninsula and 49,110 in the southern Lower Peninsula.

Across all 2014 deer hunting seasons, nearly a fourth of hunters in the western U.P., and 14.6 percent in the eastern U.P., harvested at least one antlered buck. Statewide, the percentage jumped to 26.9 percent.
Overall deer harvest, hunter satisfaction
Statewide, 41 percent of hunters harvested a deer in 2014, compared to 43 percent in 2013. Roughly 11 percent of deer hunters harvested two or more deer of any type. Less than 4 percent of hunters took two antlered bucks.

About 20 percent of deer hunters harvested an antlerless deer and 27 percent took an antlered buck.

“Across Michigan, 39 percent of hunters said they were satisfied with their overall hunting experience, with the highest satisfaction in the Lower Peninsula,” Frawley said. “Those are numbers we want to build on as we work to provide a positive experience for hunters in every part of the state.”

Other population, harvest factors
Michigan deer hunters spent 8.8 million days afield last year. DNR efforts to improve the deer population affected the harvest numbers as well. Those actions include:

• To protect more does in the U.P., the Michigan Natural Resources Commission restricted the number of deer management units open to antlerless deer hunting to three areas in the southern part of the region.
• Recently, at the urging of hunters, the NRC decided to remove for this fall the ability of hunters in the U.P. to tag antlerless deer during the archery season with a single or combination deer license.

For the long-term, DNR and hunter efforts continue to improve deer habitat:

• A U.P. Habitat Workgroup reconvened in January, focused on improving and conserving critical winter deer habitat, offering technical assistance and incentives to private landowners.
• A Mississippi State University multiyear study on the role of predators, winter weather and habitat on white-tailed deer fawn survival in the U.P. is continuing, aided by the DNR and Safari Club International.

Reasons for optimism
Although the overall number of license buyers was down from 10 years ago, an increased number of people younger than 14 years old and people older than 50 bought a hunting license last year. Overall, 12 percent of license buyers were younger than 17 years old.

The DNR continues efforts to meet changing hunter demographics by promoting hunting to younger hunters and female hunters, whose numbers are rising.

Across Michigan, about 57 percent of hunters supported antler point restrictions on buck harvest that were implemented for the U.P. and about 63 percent of the hunters who preferred to hunt in the U.P. supported the antler point restrictions.

The DNR offered all deer hunters the option to voluntarily report information about their deer hunt via the Internet. More than 4,200 hunters responded. Next, a questionnaire was sent to 58,857 randomly selected individuals who had bought a hunting license, but had not reported harvest information online. Respondents who promptly responded became eligible to win a firearm or a bow.

Questionnaires were returned by 29,035 hunters (a 51-percent response rate), providing additional valuable harvest and experience data.

Moving forward, the DNR and the NRC will continue to talk with the public regarding their ideas on more measures that potentially could be taken to further improve deer hunting in Michigan.

For more information on the 2014 deer harvest report, visit www.michigan.gov/deer.

Michigan confirms chronic wasting disease in second free-ranging white-tailed deer

CWD Deer, courtesy Wisconsin DNR

The Michigan departments of Natural Resources (DNR) and Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) have confirmed a second free-ranging deer in Meridian Township (Ingham County) has tested positive for chronic wasting disease (CWD), a fatal neurological disease that affects white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk and moose. This second case is a 2-year-old male found less than a mile from the initial positive female deer, confirmed this past May. Genetic testing is being conducted to see if the two deer are related.
“Finding this second positive deer is disappointing, however, not unexpected,” said DNR Wildlife Division Chief Russ Mason. “We will continue with our aggressive surveillance throughout the summer and fall. With the assistance of hunters, we hope to determine the distribution of this disease.”
To date, 304 deer have been tested in the Core CWD Area. Only two have tested positive for CWD.
Upon the finding of the initial CWD positive deer, the DNR established the CWD Management Zone consisting of Clinton, Ingham and Shiawassee counties.
Additionally, the Core CWD Area consisting of Lansing, Meridian, Williamstown, Delhi, Alaiedon and Wheatfield townships in Ingham County; DeWitt and Bath townships in Clinton County; and Woodhull Township in Shiawassee County, was created. Feeding and baiting of deer and elk are prohibited in the CWD Management Zone. Mandatory checking of deer will be required in the Core CWD Area during hunting seasons and restrictions will apply to the movement of carcasses and parts of deer taken in this area.
“Michigan has a long tradition of hunter support and conservation ethics. Now, with these CWD findings, that support is needed more than ever,” said Steve Schmitt, veterinarian-in-charge at the DNR Wildlife Disease Lab. “Because hunters are often familiar with the deer herd locally, one of the best things they can do to help manage this disease is to continue hunting and bring their deer to check stations this season.”
In the Core CWD Area, there is an unlimited antlerless deer license quota and the deer license or deer combo licenses may be used to harvest antlerless or any antlered deer during firearm and muzzleloading seasons. Additional deer-check stations will be established in the Core CWD Area and the CWD Management Zone to accommodate hunters.
To date, there is no evidence that chronic wasting disease presents any risk to non-cervids, including humans, either through contact with an infected animal or from handling contaminated venison. However, as a precaution, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization recommend that infected animals not be consumed as food by either humans or domestic animals.
The DNR asks that the public and hunters continue to report deer that are unusually thin and exhibiting unusual behavior (for example, acting tame around humans and allowing someone to approach).
To report a suspicious-looking deer, call the DNR Wildlife Disease Lab at 517-336-5030 or fill out and submit the online observation report, found on the DNR website.
DNR staff will continue with road-kill collection in the Core CWD Area. To report road-kills found in the Core CWD Area call the Wildlife Disease Hotline at 517-614-9602. Leave a voicemail with location information and staff will attempt to pick up carcasses on the next open business day.
More information on CWD, including Michigan’s CWD surveillance and response plan and weekly testing updates, are available at www.michigan.gov/cwd.

Ten Deer in Kansas Test Positive for CWD in 2014-2015

A total of 640 deer were tested for chronic wasting disease (CWD) during the 2014-2015 seasons, and 10 of those were confirmed positive. Samples were obtained from deer killed by hunters in southcentral and southwest parts of Kansas and from sick and/or suspect deer observed in the eastern, northcentral and northwest parts of the state. The 10 confirmed positives included two mule deer, one from Rawlins County and one from Scott County; and eight whitetails including two from Decatur County and one from each of the following counties, Norton, Meade, Hodgeman, Pawnee, Kearny, and Gray.

CWD testing began in 1996 to help track the occurrence of CWD in the state’s wild deer, and nearly 25,000 tissue samples have undergone lab analysis since. The first CWD occurrence documented in a wild Kansas deer was a whitetail doe killed by a hunter in 2005 in Cheyenne County. Seventy-four deer have tested positive since testing began, and most have occurred in northwest Kansas, specifically Decatur, Rawlins, Sheridan and Norton counties.

Although research is underway, there is currently no vaccine or other biological method of preventing CWD. The only tool is to prevent the spread of CWD to new areas. Once the infective particle (an abnormal prion) is deposited into the environment – either through an infected carcass or from a live animal – it may exist for a decade or more, capable of infecting a healthy deer.

Despite the recent occurrences, the likelihood of finding CWD in a wild deer harvested in Kansas is small. That small likelihood decreases even more the farther from northwestern Kansas the deer live. In recent years, numerous cases of CWD have been documented in neighboring areas of Colorado, Nebraska and Wyoming.

While CWD is fatal to infected deer and elk, humans have never been known to contract the disease. CWD is a member of the group of diseases called transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). Other diseases in this group include scrapie in sheep and goats, bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE or mad cow disease) in cattle, and Cruetzfeldt-Jacob disease in people.

CWD is a progressive, fatal disease that results in small holes developing in the brain, giving it a sponge-like appearance under the microscope. Decreased brain function causes the animal to display neurological signs such as depression, droopy head, staggering, loss of appetite, and a lack of response to people. The continuing deterioration of the brain leads to other signs such as weight loss, drooling, rough coat, and excessive thirst. Caution is advised because of unknown factors associated with prion diseases, but no human health risks have been discovered where CWD occurs. Any sick deer or elk with signs listed above or exhibiting behaviors such as stumbling, holding the head at an odd angle, walking in circles, entangled in fences or staying near farm buildings for extended periods of time should be reported to the nearest KDWPT office or the Emporia Research Office, 620-342-0658.

Hunters can help protect the health of the Kansas deer herd and slow CWD’s spread by not introducing the disease to new areas in Kansas through disposal of deer carcass waste. Avoid transporting a deer carcass from the area where it was taken, especially from areas where CWD has been detected. If the carcass is transported, dispose of carcass waste by double-bagging it and taking it to a landfill. Landowners can also bury carcasses on their own property.

The Chronic Wasting Disease Alliance maintains an online clearinghouse of information about the disease. More information is also available at www.ksoutdoors.com.

Michigan Antlerless deer license applications on sale through Aug. 15

The Department of Natural Resources reminds hunters that the application period for antlerless deer licenses is now open and runs through Aug. 15.

Hunters may apply for one license in any open Deer Management Unit (DMU) statewide; a nonrefundable $5 fee is charged at the time of application. Hunters may choose to apply for either one private-land or one public-land license online at E-License or at any authorized license agentor DNR Customer Service Center. Young hunters, ages 9-16, can purchase one junior antlerless deer license over the counter July 15 - Aug. 15. No application is required. A 9-year-old must be 10 by Sept. 26 to purchase this license.
Any leftover antlerless deer licenses not issued in the drawing will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis beginning Sept. 9 at 10 a.m. EDT, until license quotas are met.
Antlerless deer license quotas for each DMU can be found at www.michigan.gov/deer.
Drawing results and leftover license availability may be viewed at www.michigan.gov/huntdrawingsbeginning Sept. 2.
Hunters also are reminded that chronic wasting disease (CWD) has been confirmed in a free-ranging deer in Michigan. CWD is a fatal neurological disease that affects white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk and moose. A CWD Management Zone has been created for Clinton, Ingham and Shiawassee counties. DMU 333 was created for the Core CWD Area and encompasses those townships (Lansing, Meridian, Williamstown, Delhi, Alaiedon and Wheatfield in Ingham County; DeWitt and Bath in Clinton County, and Woodhull in Shiawassee County) closest to where the CWD-positive deer was located. In DMU 333 there is an unlimited antlerless deer license quota, and the deer license or deer combo licenses may be used to harvest antlerless or antlered deer within DMU 333 during firearm and muzzleloading seasons.
Additional deer-check stations, to be announced at a later date, will be available to hunters in the Core CWD Area and CWD Management Zone. To learn more about chronic wasting disease please visit www.michigan.gov/cwd.

For additional information, the 2015 Michigan Antlerless Deer Digest is available online atwww.michigan.gov/dnrdigests.

North Dakota Pronghorn Season Set, Online Apps Available

Male Pronghorn 

North Dakota’s 2015 pronghorn hunting season is set, with 410 licenses available in three open units, according to Jeb Williams, wildlife chief for the State Game and Fish Department.

Along with unit 4-A, which was the only open unit in 2014, units 3B and 4C will hold a limited number of licenses. A total of 250 licenses are available in 4-A, 100 in 3B and 60 in 4C. All licenses are valid for any pronghorn.

Similar to last year, the three units will have a season that is split into an early “bow-only” portion, and a later gun/bow season.

The bow-only portion of the season is from Sept 4 (noon) – Sept. 27. Anyone who draws a license can hunt pronghorn with a bow in the unit printed on the license.

From Oct. 2 (noon) – Oct.18, hunters who still have a valid license can use legal firearms or bow equipment, and again must stay in the assigned unit.

Survey results indicated the number of pronghorn in the primary range was similar to last year, Williams said.

“Pronghorn in the three units have maintained a high buck-to-doe ratio, so we are having another limited season to take advantage of a surplus number of bucks and provide hunting opportunity, while still encouraging population growth,” Williams said.

Game and Fish biologists surveyed more than 9,900 square miles, which covers 100 percent of the primary range for pronghorn in North Dakota. The buck-to-doe ratio remained stable at 44 bucks per 100 does.

Only North Dakota residents are eligible to apply for a 2015 pronghorn license. Williams said people who have accumulated bonus points and choose not to apply this year will not lose their points.

In addition, state law allows youth who turn age 12 on or before December 31, 2015 to apply for a license.

Applicants can apply online at the Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov. Paper applications will be available the week of July 20 for printing off the website, and from Game and Fish offices, county auditors and license vendors, or by calling 800-406-6409.

The pronghorn license fee is $30, and the deadline for submitting applications is Aug. 5.

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Indiana Bonus deer antlerless quotas set for 2015

Quotas have been reduced in eight counties and increased in one. As a result, 60 counties will be included in the special antlerless season compared to 63 in 2014-15.

In addition to basic bag limits, hunters can purchase bonus licenses to take additional antlerless deer based on the quota assigned to the county in which they hunt. Bonus antlerless licenses can be used in any season, except the Reduction Zone Season, using the equipment that is legal for that season.
Bonus licenses may be used in any county, but hunters may not take more than the county quota for bonus antlerless deer in any specific county.

County quotas range from A to 8. For counties designated as an “A,” a bonus antlerless license can be used to take one antlerless deer from Nov. 26 through Jan. 3, 2016 (the last four days of the regular firearms season, plus muzzleloader and archery seasons). Bonus antlerless licenses cannot be used in an “A” county prior to Nov. 26.

Since 2011, the number of counties with a bonus quota of 8 has dropped from 45 to 23 this coming season.

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