Summary


The proposed rule amendment would establish or revise regulations pertaining to deer hunting, antlerless deer permits, and private lands deer management permits as follows: Establish a statewide annual bag limit of 5 deer per hunter, of which no more than 2 may be antlerless deer. Provide that, for youth (15 years of age or younger) only, the annual bag limit of 5 deer may include 1 antlered deer having at least 1 antler 5-inches or greater, but with antlers not meeting the criteria for antler point regulations in the DMU of harvest. Currently, youth may harvest up to 2 antlered deer per day having at least 1 antler 5-inches or greater. Establish a youth deer hunt weekend on private lands that allows youth (15 years old and under) to harvest 1 deer (any antlered deer having at least 1 antler 5-inches or greater or antlerless deer). The youth hunt would coincide with the second weekend of muzzleloading gun season (or the first weekend in Zone D) and youth would be allowed to use any legal method of take for deer. Require private lands antlerless deer permittees to report the number of antlerless deer harvested annually. Require the harvest of antlerless deer on private lands enrolled in the antlerless deer permit program to be limited to the number of antlerless deer tags issued for the property. Currently, the use of antlerless deer tags during antlered deer season is allowed in addition to antlerless deer harvested in accordance with deer management unit regulations.