Hunters can go after more deer this season

New Brunswick hunters will have a higher chance of bagging a deer during this year's hunt.

The province announced Friday that it willoffer 3,400 permits for the fall hunting season antlerless deer draw, up from 2,100last year.

The majority of those permits will be issued for wildlife management zones in southern areas.

Of the total, 3,200 permits are for areas in Charlotte, Kings and SaintJohn counties.

Some communities in those countieshave seen a dramatic increase in their urban deer population, which has elicited calls to increase hunting in the area.

Upward trend

The increase in permits continues a recent upward trend inantlerless deer permits.

But overall, the number of permits offered has fluctuated wildly over the past decade, from a high of 5,000 in 2008 to a low of just 1,800 in 2016.

Most wildlife management zones won't have anantlerlessdeer hunt at all, as has been the case in recent years.

Only seven zones will allow doe hunting, and17 zones will have a buck hunt only.

Three zones, all in the north of the province along the Chaleur Bay, will not allow any deer hunting.

Hunters have from July 16 to Aug. 17 to apply.

Results will be released on Sept. 5.