Two North Dakota wildlife groups are encouraging hunters to help out local food pantries and soup kitchens by donating deer taken this fall.

Sportsmen Against Hunger is a charitable program in the Bismarck area that has arranged for deer to be processed and delivered at no cost to the hunter. Hunters are advised to call West Dakota Meats in Bismarck before dropping off a deer in order to verify the SAH quota has not been filled. The number is (701) 221-9142. Sportsmen Against Hunger is sponsored and paid for by the Northern Plains Chapter of Safari Club International. For more information contact Lance Doerr at 701-226-3484.

In the Valley City area, the Barnes County Wildlife Club is arranging for processing of 100 deer. The club is seeking hunters to sign up to donate one or more deer. For further information contact Perry Kapaun at (701) 845-0564; or email pskapaun@ictc.com.

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department supports these programs and encourages hunters to participate.

New for 2004 - Summary of changes from last year

• Total deer gun licenses available increased from 123,475 to a record 145,250.
• The 2004 deer hunting proclamation allows for hunters to purchase an unrestricted number of additional antlerless licenses in specific units as long as licenses are available.
• Antlerless deer license holders for the early season of split season Unit 2B who are unsuccessful may also hunt the last three days of the regular season (November 19-21). Hunters with a license for an antlered deer may hunt only during the early or late season dates applicable to their license.
• North Dakota residents who are on active duty with the National Guard or Reserve and who are stationed outside of the state during the 2004 deer gun lottery process, and who miss the initial lottery, are eligible to purchase one deer gun license for a white-tailed deer of their choice in a unit of their choice. North Dakota residents who were on active duty with the National Guard or Reserve and stationed outside of the state during the 2003 deer gun season and were unable to participate in the season are also eligible to purchase one deer gun license for a white-tailed deer of their choice in a unit of their choice.
• Some archery equipment specifications have been refined.
• Note:  Nonresidents may not hunt on lands owned or leased by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, including state wildlife management areas and Private Lands Open To Sportsmen (PLOTS), for the first week of pheasant season (October 9-15). This provision applies to all types of hunting, not just pheasants.  This restriction does not apply to lands owned or managed by other state agencies that may be open to hunting, such as state school lands, US Fish and Wildlife Service waterfowl production areas, other federal lands open to hunting, or to private lands not enrolled in the G&F PLOTS program.

License Fees

• Resident Deer Bow (16 years of age and older) - $20.00
• Resident Deer Bow (under 16 years of age at time of purchase) - $10.00
• Nonresident Deer Bow - $200.00
• Youth Deer (residents 14 and 15 years of age at time of application) -$10.00
• Resident Deer Gun or Muzzleloader (16 years of age and older) - $20.00
• Resident Deer Gun or Muzzleloader (under 16 at time of application) - $10.00
• Nonresident Deer Gun, Muzzleloader, or Landowner - $200.00
• (Nonresident deer gun applicants also pay a non refundable application fee of $5.)

Season Dates, Times, Open Areas

Licenses

Deer bow, youth deer, deer gun, and muzzleloader licenses are issued in the form of stamps. All stamps must be affixed to the back of the fishing, hunting, and furbearer certificate. If space is not available on the certificate the hunter must be in possession of the signed stamp. Stamps and licenses must be signed in ink. It is illegal to purchase more than one deer bow license per season. Licenses are nontransferable. No person may give, barter, or sell an issued license to another person.

Deer bow - All resident licenses and the nonresident general deer licenses (for white-tailed deer only) are issued by county auditors, license vendors, the Department, or by calling 1-800-406-6409. Nonresident any deer licenses are issued on a first come - first served basis only from the Department's Bismarck office.

Youth deer - Licenses are issued only through the Department's Bismarck office. The deadline for submitting a restricted youth antlered mule deer license application (licenses issued by lottery) was June 2, 2004. The deadline for submitting regular youth deer applications was September 1, 2004.

Deer gun - Licenses are issued only through the Department's Bismarck office by a weighted lottery procedure. The deadline for submitting regular lottery applications was June 2, 2004. Any remaining licenses are also issued by lottery or on a first come-first serve basis. Check with the Department for details.

Muzzleloader - Licenses are issued by a weighted lottery drawing among eligible applicants. The deadline for submitting applications to the Department's Bismarck office was June 2, 2004.

Use of Animals and Tree Stands

It is unlawful to use any animal except horses or mules as an aid in the hunting or taking of big game.

Tree Stands. No person shall construct or use a permanent tree stand or permanent steps to a tree stand on any State Wildlife Management Area, Federal Waterfowl Production Area, or Federal Refuge. Permanent tree stands and permanent steps to tree stands are defined as those which are (1) fastened to the tree with nails, spikes, bolts or other metal fasteners driven or screwed into the tree or are (2) themselves fixtures driven or screwed into the tree. Portable tree stands and natural tree stands may be used. Portable tree stands and portable steps to tree stands are defined as those which are held to the tree but do not penetrate the bark of the tree. Portable tree stands may not be put up before Aug. 20, 2004 and they must be taken down by Jan. 10, 2005.

National Wildlife Refuges (NWR)

National wildlife refuges open to deer hunting during the youth deer season include: Arrowwood, Chase Lake, Des Lacs, J. Clark Salyer, Long Lake, Lostwood, Lake Alice, Lake Nettie, Sibley Lake, Slade, Tewaukon, Upper Souris and Zahl. Youth hunters are required to contact refuge headquarters for permission and details. Certain national wildlife refuges may be open to deer hunting during the bow and muzzleloader seasons. Contact refuge headquarters for details. Some national wildlife refuges will be open during the deer gun season (see table below), including some requiring a special refuge permit which controls the amount of access during the season. Special refuge permits are determined by lottery and must be applied for through the initial lottery drawing process. To receive a special refuge permit, an individual must first be successful in drawing a unit permit.

Licenses Available By Season

Deer Bow - Resident - not limited. Nonresident general deer bow licenses (valid for any white-tailed deer statewide) are not limited. Nonresident any deer bow licenses (valid for any deer including mule deer statewide) are limited to 784, (a number equal to fifteen percent (15%) of the total mule deer gun season licenses made available during the previous year).

Youth Deer - Restricted youth (type I) antlered mule deer licenses (valid for any deer including antlered mule deer) are limited as follows: unit 3B1-45, 3B2-15, 4A-45, 4B-55, 4C-50, 4D-45, 4E-35, and 4F-20.

Regular youth (type H) licenses are valid statewide for any deer (except antlered mule deer in units 3B1, 3B2, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, and 4F) and are not limited. If the licensee is unsuccessful in harvesting a deer during the youth deer season, the license will also be valid during the regular deer gun season. Restricted youth antlered mule deer licenses are valid only for the specific unit during either season.

Deer Gun - No more than 145,250 licenses will be issued. Special permits designating type of deer and unit are a part of the gun license.

Attention White-Tailed Deer Hunters in Units 4B, 4C, 4D, & 4E:
White-tailed deer license holders for units 4B and 4C must hunt in their assigned unit for the first 21/2 days (November 5-7). For the remainder of the season they may hunt either or both units. White-tailed deer license holders for units 4D and 4E must hunt in their assigned unit for the first 21/2 days (November 5-7). For the remainder of the season they may hunt either or both units.

Attention Antlerless Deer Hunters in Unit 2B
Antlerless deer license holders for the early season of split season unit 2B who are unsuccessful may also hunt the last three days of the regular season (November 19-21). Antlered deer license holders must abide by the early or late season dates applicable to their license.

Attention Antlerless Deer Hunters in Unit 3C:
Antlerless deer license holders for split season unit 3C may hunt the entire season (November 5-21) in that portion of unit 3C which is located east of the Missouri River and south of a line beginning at the Hazelton Boat Ramp, then east following the main gravel road to its junction with Highways 34 and 83 in Hazelton. Those desiring to hunt antlerless deer in the remainder of the unit must abide by the early or late season dates applicable to their license. Antlered deer license holders must abide by the early or late season dates applicable to their license.

Muzzleloader - State law allows two percent of the total number of white-tailed deer gun licenses available each year to be issued as muzzleloader licenses. For 2004, 2778 total muzzleloader licenses may be issued, one half (1389) as antlered white-tailed and one half (1389) as antlerless white-tailed. Muzzleloader licenses are valid statewide.

Mule Deer Foundation Raffle
The 2004 Deer Hunting Proclamation provides the Mule Deer Foundation with one mule deer license, valid for the 2004 hunting season. The license is to be raffled as per legislative guidelines with proceeds used for mule deer conservation.

17. Additional Concurrent Seasons

If the Game and Fish Director determines after the regular lottery that an adequate number of licenses remain unissued, additional seasons may be proclaimed for antlerless deer only and they would run concurrently with the regular gun, muzzleloader and bow seasons. Additional concurrent season licenses may be used during any open season provided the unit, sex, and species printed on the license is adhered to. Only weapons legal during the appropriate season time frame may be used. Additional concurrent season licenses issued in split season units must be used during the assigned early or late season if used during the regular gun season unless otherwise allowed in section 16.

18. Fire Danger Index