Applications open for antlerless deer draw in Nova Scotia

Applications for the annual antlerless deer draw opened today, July 14. (Province of Nova Scotia / File)

Nova Scotia hunters can now enter the antlerless deer draw for the 2025 hunting season.

An antlerless deer hunting stamp allows hunters to harvest an antlerless deer in a specific deer management zone and must be accompanied by a general deer stamp or archery/muzzleloader stamp.

To be eligible for a stamp, hunters must:

• be a resident of Nova Scotia
• be eligible for a deer hunting licence
• have a valid Nova Scotia Wildlife Resources Card
• be at least 16 years old by the end of the deer hunting season on Dec. 13

The province says stamps are available for five of the 10 deer management zones in mainland Nova Scotia (zones 103, 104, 106, 108 and 110) and both of the Cape Breton zones.

“Antlerless deer stamps are not needed for the other mainland zones (101, 102, 105, 107 and 109) because they are open for harvesting deer of either sex,” reads a news release from the Nova Scotia

Applicants can enter online, by phone or by mail. The deadline to apply is July 31, with results posted online Aug. 15.

“The antlerless deer draw helps with management of the province’s deer population by allowing licensed hunters to harvest a female deer in areas where deer numbers are higher. This supports healthy and balanced wildlife populations,” reads the release.

The province says bonus stamps are available on a first-come, first served basis for both Cape Breton zones and most of the mainland zones. These stamps allow hunters to take a second deer, either a buck or doe, if they have already harvested one.

For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page