Game and Fish offers refunds for whitetail and ‘any deer’ gun tags in some western units after EHD outbreak – Grand Forks Herald

BISMARCK – The state Game and Fish Department is allowing hunters with whitetail or “only” deer gun permits in several units in western North Dakota to surrender those permits for refunds, the department said Tuesday, Oct. 22, in a news release. .

The decision is based on scattered reports of white-tailed deer mortality caused by an epizootic hemorrhagic disease that began in late August, said Casey Anderson, wildlife director for Game and Fish in Bismarck.

Antlered whitetail, antlerless whitetail, all antlerless and antlerless licenses are eligible for refunds in units 3D1, 3D2, 3E1, 4B, 4C and 4D. Hunters who surrender their licenses will have their bonus points, if applicable, restored to the same number of points prior to the 2024 deer rifle lottery.

“Compared to previous years, this outbreak appears to be mild and less extensive,” Anderson said. “However, it is possible that some hunters may see an impact in certain areas.”

Department staff will continue to monitor reports to determine if licenses in additional units are eligible for refunds due to the EHD outbreak. Hunters and landowners should report dead deer, along with photographs, if possible, to the department through the online wildlife reporting system, at gf.nd.gov/mortality-report.

Contributed / North Dakota Game and Fish Department

Before deciding to surrender a permit, Anderson urges permit holders to make local contacts to find out the extent of mortality in their hunting unit.

“Most areas within these units have not been severely impacted and a good deer harvest is still needed,” he said. “But a little scouting and a few phone calls will help make an informed decision.”

Eligible licensees seeking a refund must send their tag, along with a note requesting a refund from EHD, to the Game and Fish Department office in Bismarck by Nov. 8. Envelopes postmarked by November 8 will be accepted.

EHD, a naturally occurring virus spread by a biting mosquito, is often fatal to infected white-tailed deer, while mule deer usually do not die from the disease. Hunters do not need to worry about handling or consuming meat from infected deer because the virus that causes EHD is not known to cause disease in humans. In addition, the first set of hard frosts typically kills the mosquito that transmits the EHD virus, slowing or stopping the spread of the disease.