Deer hunting season opens today

"Deer hunting is a popular sport in our province, but it also helps manage the wildlife population," said Natural Resources Minister John MacDonell. "Our Zone 2A, is always of particular concern and we continue to offer extra stamps in that area to address the over-abundant deer population."

The five-week season excludes Sundays and runs until Dec. 5. Hunters and non-hunters are reminded to wear hunter-orange clothing at all times when in the woods.

With the exception of Zone 2A, the coastal area from East River at the head of Mahone Bay, Lunenburg County, west to the Medway River, Queens County, deer hunting is limited to antlered deer only, unless the hunter is the holder of an antlerless deer hunting stamp acquired through the annual deer draw.

In Zone 2A, hunters are permitted to take one antlered or antlerless deer with their general deer-hunting licence. Hunters can also take one bonus antlerless deer if they have a stamp. Hunting stamps for this zone are available at no additional cost at all Department of Natural Resources district offices.

Again this year, meat may be donated to food banks through Feed Nova Scotia's Hunters Helping the Hungry program. Hunters may bring a deer or moose to participating meat cutters to donate all or a portion of the meat to help families in need.

Information on the 2009 draw can be found at www.gov.ns.ca/natr/draws/deerdraw/