News Release

FREDERICTON (CNB) – New Brunswick residents can apply until Friday, July 15, for the antlerless deer draw, Natural Resources Minister Bruce Northrup said today.

"Due to the severity of last winter in southern New Brunswick and the resulting losses in the deer herd, the number of permits available for antlerless deer hunters is being reduced by 40 per cent compared to last fall's hunt,'' said Northrup. "Last winter was the harshest in 20 years in the south, and this is where most of the deer population is located, so the impact was greatest.''

There will be 2,900 antlerless deer permits compared to 4,850 in 2010. Reducing antlerless permits allows more females to breed, which helps grow the deer population.

Quotas for antlerless deer licences are based on scientific evidence gathered by Department of Natural Resources staff. Big game biologists and wildlife managers make recommendations to ensure populations of antlerless deer are managed responsibly.

New Brunswick residents who wish to hunt antlerless deer must buy their 2011 deer hunting licence before they can apply for an antlerless deer permit. Applications must be received at a Department of Natural Resources office or Service New Brunswick centre by 5 p.m., Friday, July 15.

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.

Amendments to the Fish and Wildlife Act will allow the use of crossbows after Sept. 1, for all seasons and all species with the exception of hunting deer during the archery-only portion of the deer season. Bowhunters will be permitted to hunt other species during this period.

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

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

Further information on crossbow hunting in New Brunswick will be included in the 2011 Hunt and Trap summary, which will be available soon.

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

The random computerized draw for antlerless deer permits will be held in late summer. 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 and 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, 19, 20 and 25.  For further regulatory details, refer to the 2011 Hunt and Trap summary of regulations.

Following is a list of wildlife management zones (WMZ) and the 2011 quota of antlerless permits allocated for each 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 - 50
WMZ 16 - 50
WMZ 17 - 50
WMZ 18 - 50
WMZ 19 - 0 (bucks only)
WMZ 20 - 0 (bucks only)
WMZ 21 - 200
WMZ 22 - 1,000
WMZ 23 - 1,000
WMZ 24 - 50
WMZ 25 - 0 (bucks only)
WMZ 26 - 50
WMZ 27 - 400

LINK:

●    Department of Natural Resources: www.gnb.ca/naturalresources