There could be a major change in how North Dakota deer licenses are issued, if a preferred license distribution plan proposed by Game and Fish is enacted in 2015. The gist of the new plan is that deer hunters would be allowed only one tag per season. Currently hunters apply for a limited number of deer gun and muzzleloader tags. Deer archery tags are not limited.

Jeb Williams, newly appointed Wildlife Division chief, said he is proposing the “one tag” plan to insure that hunters do not receive multiple tags while other hunters get none.

“This year we had about 30,000 people who applied for a deer gun license and didn’t get one in the lottery,” said Williams. “This new system will give more people an opportunity to hunt deer each year, compared to our current system.”

The preferred plan would mean a hunter who is a successful applicant in the deer gun drawing, which is completed by mid-summer, could opt to hunt deer with a bow prior to the gun season, provided he or she remains within their specified deer hunting unit. If the tag remains unfilled the hunter has the option of hunting with a rifle in the deer gun season. If unsuccessful then, a hunter could return to the field with a bow. In no case could a hunter harvest more than one deer a year.

“We know it’s not the same as having both a gun and a bow license,” said Williams. “But we feel it’s a fair compromise while we work toward rebuilding our deer herd.”

Other aspects to the proposed plan includes an option for hunters to simultaneously apply for the deer gun and muzzleloader lotteries. If available, the computer would issue the hunter’s preferred license. Additionally, hunters who chose not to apply for a deer gun license would not lose any bonus points they had accumulated from previous lotteries.

Youth hunters under age 16 would be exempt and remain eligible for both a bow and gun license. Gratis license holders would be limited to one license per year but could hunt in any open season on their own land.

Sportsmen will be able to provide their input to the proposed plan during Game and Fish Advisory Board Meetings following the completion of the current deer gun season.