Applications will be available from most license agents and all regional headquarters and offices of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife starting the week of June 24th.

Any-deer permit applications must be postmarked no later than August 1, or received at the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife headquarters by 5:00 p.m. on August 1. Hunters who apply for their permit online at www.mefishwildlife.com must do so by 5:00 p.m. on August 1. To apply, you must have a current hunting license and you can apply just once.

The free any-deer permit allows hunting of deer of either sex in 22 of 30 wildlife management districts that have permits available this year. Permits are chosen through a random drawing for each of the districts.

An any-deer permit issued to an adult may be transferred to a junior hunter or a person over 65 years of age by completing the necessary transfer sections on the any-deer permit and returning the permit to the Department for validation by October 26, 2001.

The Any-Deer Permit system plays a vital role in the management of deer in Maine. Since this system was implemented in 1986, the statewide population of deer has increased from 150,000 to a 2001 wintering population of approximately 241,500. This permit system used in conjunction with the 30 wildlife management districts throughout the state provides biologists the flexibility needed to closely regulate the take of female deer throughout the state and achieve desired population levels.

There are 76,575 Any-Deer permits available this year in 22of 30 Wildlife management districts.