Either-sex deer permit, special hunt deadline is Thursday

Hunters who have not applied for an either-sex deer permit by Sept. 4 will be restricted to taking only bucks in designated deer lottery areas.
“The number of deer lottery areas have increased and the number of available permits has been lowered in other areas,” said Lou Cornicelli, big game program coordinator for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. “Check the regulations and don’t presume that there are no changes in the area you want to hunt.”
The deadline for hunts in special areas, which are listed on page 88 and 89 of the 2008 Hunting and Trapping Regulations booklet, also is Thursday. Most of these hunts are conducted in state parks.
Leftover either-sex permits will be available on a first come, first served basis starting at 5 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 13.
“Don’t count on leftover permits being available,” Cornicelli said. “Last year, very few permits remained after the lottery drawing.”
A complete list of lottery areas is available in the 2008 Hunting and Trapping Regulations booklet, the DNR Web site at http://mndnr.gov/hunting/deer and at all 1,800 ELS agents.
While most lottery areas did not change, four permit areas in the Brainerd lakes area have changed from managed to lottery. These include areas 154, 246, 247 and 249. Hunters should be aware that some of the permit areas have new numbers this year as part of deer simplification regulations.
Hunters can download comprehensive 2008 deer season information from the DNR’s Web site. The overview does not replace the regulations but provides more detailed information, larger maps and a list of frequently asked questions.
2008 LOTTERY DEER AREAS
154, 215, 218, 219, 230, 232, 234, 237, 238, 246, 247, 249, 250, 252, 253, 254, 255, 262, 269, 270, 271, 272, 273, 274, 275, 276, 277, 278, 279, 280, 281, 282, 283, 284, 285, 286, 288, 290, 291, 294, 295, 296, 299, 338, 339, 341, 342, 344.