TRURO – Hunters rejoice, as the general season for hunting whitetail deer opens today.
The 2012 general deer hunting season in Nova Scotia ends Dec. 1. Deer hunting has been open to bow hunters since Sept. 29, and will close Dec. 8.
"Deer hunting is a popular activity that many Nova Scotians look forward to every year," said Natural Resources Minister Charlie Parker. "It's a great way to explore and enjoy nature while managing wildlife in the province."
Hunters with a valid licence and deer stamp may harvest one deer of either gender in zones 107, 105 and 102. Zone 107 includes parts of Colchester, Hants, Pictou and Halifax counties.
A limited number of antlerless deer may be taken in the remaining mainland zones.
License holders should review zone locations carefully and are encouraged to use the department's online deer zone map for more information on boundary lines at www.gov.ns.ca/natr/draws/deerdraw/ddZones.asp.
More than 87,000 men, women and youth have provincial wildlife resources cards and are eligible to hunt.
Beginning this year, all deer licenses holders, whether they harvest a deer or not, must submit a report, which includeshunting effort and an estimate of deer population in their area. These reports will provide valuable information for deer management in the province.
When registering a deer online, hunters are automatically directed to the report page.
Those registering deer at registration stations can use the online report or the card provided in the Hunting and Furharvesting Summary of Regulations booklet.
Hunters are reminded to wear orange-coloured clothing in the woods. Hunting is not permitted on Sundays.
For more about hunting regulations and safety in Nova Scotia, visit www.gov.ns.ca/natr/wildlife/hunting-furharvesting.asp.
Hunters are again able to make a meaningful difference to Nova Scotia families by participating in the seventh annual Hunters Helping the Hungry program. Through the program, co-ordinated by Feed Nova Scotia, hunters may bring deer to a participating meat cutter to donate all, or a portion of, the meat to Feed Nova Scotia.
