Free Doe Permits?

[totally_addicted]

I heard from a buddy that in his area they were giving away doe permits because there was so many surplus. Has anyone ever heard this before? Plus this area is a lottery area and my buddy has already shot his deer for the area. I am super confused on this and think the guy at the sport shop was definitely on something...HA!

Any thoughts????

[jwmiller33]

i'd check with the DNR and give them a call

[lcornice]

So many they're giving them away might be a stretch but here goes ... there are leftover lottery permits in some areas. There are every year. You can get one of these permits, valid for that area and that season only, and there is no additional cost beyond the deer license. You can only have one so if you were successful in the regular lottery, you won't be able to grab one of the permits.

It's really no different than making an application before the September deadline. Other than the deer license, there is no fee to make a an application. However, you must either have or purchase a deer license before getting the either-sex permit. The permit is the exact same thing you'd get if you had applied in September. It's not an extra deer; rather, it allows you to take an antlerless deer in that lottery area. Again, no different from the regular lottery that started around 1975. The only difference is a couple years ago, the surplus permits were put over-the-counter. In years past, they were just burned.

Instructions and the a list of leftover permits is located here: Leftover DNR lottery permits

Look under 'SURPLUS ANTLERLESS PERMITS'

To answer your other question, just because there are leftover permits doesn't mean your buddy isn't done in lottery areas - he is. The bag limit is still one per year. Remember, the vast majority of people gun hunt and they buy their license Thu/Fri. The permits will all go in the next couple of days.

[Jameson]

If I get one of these leftover permits do I lose my preference points?

[mrklean]

i dont seem them giving them away in a lottery area or else they would be giving them away in a intensive area also where does need to be thinned down

[lcornice]

i dont seem them giving them away in a lottery area or else they would be giving them away in a intensive area also where does need to be thinned down

It's called a bonus permit. The question was regarding leftover either-sex permits in lottery deer areas.

[lcornice]

If I get one of these leftover permits do I lose my preference points?

No, you don't.

[Jameson]

Thanks lc. To the store I go.....