The antlerless deer permit lottery is open. Here’s what’s different this year.
By V. Paul Reynolds
On the heels of the Maine moose lottery, another big game lottery is officially open: the antlerless deer permit lottery. If you are interested in harvesting more than one deer in Maine this year, the opportunity is available.
The odds of drawing a doe permit this year varies upon your district of choice, but it’s exceedingly better than the moose lottery. A proposed change in the doe permit system was approved on June 26. These are unprecedented changes to the permit system since the doe permit process began in 1957.
A licensed hunter with an antlerless deer permit can harvest an antlerless deer in a designated district, as well as one antlered deer anywhere in the state. Antlerless deer permits may be acquired through the lottery, and any remaining permits will be available for purchase on the MDIFW website.
The antlerless deer permit application opened on June 26 and will close on July 31 at 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time. Applications must be completed online. There is no fee to apply to the antlerless deer permit lottery. If you receive a permit, you must pay the $12 permit fee and $2 agent fee to claim the permit. Applicants have the option to pay for their permit at the time of application if their first choice wildlife management district is one where the applicant is almost certain to receive a permit based on the number of permits available in that district. Eligible wildlife management districts with a pre-payment option include: 15-17, 20-25, 26a, and 29.
If you are not awarded a permit in the lottery, your payment will be refunded in full. The drawing for antlerless permits will take place August 14th.
Recently approved changes for deer hunting this year pertain to wildlife management districts 21–25 and 29. Hunters may harvest one deer, either antlered or antlerless, under the authority of their big game hunting license during the firearms and muzzleloader seasons. An antlerless deer permit will not be required. This permit will count as the hunter’s one deer for the year. If a hunter wants to take an additional deer, an antlerless deer permit is required.
The takeaway from this historic change is obvious. Hunters just aren’t harvesting enough does in these wildlife management districts to satisfy population management objectives. For two consecutive years, the doe harvest in the aforementioned districts was about 5,000 short of the state’s objectives.
Either-sex hunting is also permitted during the youth hunt (October 24 and 25) and regular archery season statewide.
The wildlife management districts that won’t require a doe permit include a very extensive area. Districts 21-25 starts in the Sebago Lake area and works southeastward into Lewiston, Sidney, Pittsfield and then gets into the coastal areas from Boothbay Harbor up to Rockland. District 29 includes areas east of Machias over to the Canadian border.
A detailed map of the state Wildlife Management Districts is available on the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife website.