Final 2008 Deer Season Harvest

The Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) announced today that a total of 11,217 white-tailed deer were harvested by licensed hunters during the combined 2008 seasons. A total of eight deer were taken down during the deer season for paraplegic hunters; 3,521 were taken by archers; 5,793 were taken during the shotgun season and 1,895 were taken during the muzzleloader season. Additionally, 80 deer were harvested during the Quabbin Reservation hunt.

The 2008 season was another record year for the archery category, with a nearly 7 percent increase statewide. Archery season was expanded from three weeks to six weeks for zones 9-14 in 1999 and zones 1-8 in 2002.

“Archery is an important management tool in suburban areas where deer densities are higher and firearms discharge and other local bylaws are in place,” said MassWildlife’s Deer Project Leader Sonja Christensen.

Christensen also noted that there was a slight overall decrease from 2007 during the shotgun and muzzleloader seasons, most likely due to difficult hunting conditions as result of a December ice storm in the central and western regions of the state. In addition, fewer antlerless deer permits were issued in 8 of the 15 Wildlife Management Zones (WMZ), because deer populations in many WMZs now meet MassWildlife's management goals for those zones.

Hunters are reminded that they need an antlerless deer permit to take antlerless deer in any season. The deadline for sending in an antlerless deer permit application is July 16, 2009. There will be no permits available for over-the-counter sales in most WMZs. Permit applications are attached to traditional hunting and sporting licenses and must be submitted prior to July 16. Hunters who purchased their license on line via www.mass.gov/massoutdoors must apply for an antlerless permit electronically.

*2008 Deer Harvest by Season and Wildlife Management Zone*

Zone	Paraplegic	Archery	Shotgun	Muzzleloader	Total
1	1	49	148	50	248
2	0	87	171	57	315
3	3	165	408	113	689
4N	0	92	192	68	352
4S	0	69	107	37	213
5	0	146	328	124	598
6	2	23	108	49	182
7	0	213	482	127	822
8	0	208	656	208	1072
9	2	321	489	191	1003
10	0	890	771	392	2053
11	0	883	1014	318	2215
12	0	46	134	39	219
13	0	197	418	81	696
14	0	132	367	41	540
Statewide	8	3521	5793	1895	11217

The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) is responsible for the conservation - including restoration, protection and management - of fish and wildlife resources for the benefit and enjoyment of the public. MassWildlife works to balance the needs of people and wildlife today so that wildlife will be available for everyone's enjoyment today and for future generations.

The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) is responsible for promoting the enjoyment and conservation of the Commonwealth’s natural resources. DFG carries out this mission through land preservation and wildlife habitat management, management of inland and marine fish and game species, and enforcement of the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act. DFG promotes enjoyment of the Massachusetts environment through outdoor skills workshops, fishing festivals and other educational programs, and by enhancing access to the Commonwealth’s lakes and ponds.