BISMARCK, ND (trfnews.i234.me) – The chances of winning the lottery for a deer gun license in North Dakota feel even slimmer this year as the North Dakota Game and Fish Department issued fewer licenses due to lower deer populations. Many hunters, like Glenn Anderson, who has a lifelong passion for deer hunting, find themselves looking for alternative options. Glenn mentioned that he typically secures an antlered mule deer tag about once every three years. However, this year, the deer population has been impacted by a harsh winter, habitat loss, and chronic wasting disease, making licenses harder to obtain.
Wildlife Division Chief Casey Anderson noted a significant decline in the deer population on the eastern side of the state, further complicating the lottery draw in those units. Over 70,000 people applied for the 50,000 available deer gun licenses, leaving only 3,800 remaining, which are mostly not the highly sought-after tags. Hunters like Glenn are adjusting their preferences and holding onto hope, knowing that with each year their name isn’t drawn, their chances improve statistically.
Hunters have until July 10th to apply for the second round of the deer license lottery in North Dakota.