But there will be some reduction in availability. Flintlock hunters participating in the late or traditional muzzleloader season will still follow the regulations that have governed that post-Christmas hunt for years. If they've taken an antlered deer in buck or archery season, their flintlock license is no longer valid, unless they have an antlerless license, which limit harvests to the counties for which they were issued. During the most recent season, for which figures are not yet available, hunters were hampered by snow, ice, rain and frigid weather. In other deer hunting news, commissioners tentatively approved the return of surplus license sales statewide.
Surplus licenses are unsold antlerless deer licenses available after three weeks of sales.
Except in special regulations counties, hunters will be limited to buying one surplus license. Surplus licenses were made available to sportsmen statewide from 1988 until 1997, when surplus sales were discontinued in all counties except those in special regulations areas. Last spring, commissioners tentatively approved the return of surplus license sales statewide, but chose not to adopt the measure at their July meeting. Surplus license sales were later approved for southwestern counties at the October meeting. Over the past year, biologists have frequently expressed the need to issue all allocated antlerless licenses to reach county deer population goals.