North Dakota Deer Season Set to Open

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota's deer gun season gets underway Friday, but tens of thousands of hunters will be staying home.

The 43,275 deer gun licenses that were made available for this fall's hunt is the lowest amount in nearly 40 years. That's due to declining habitat and some recent tough winters.

Game and Fish Department Wildlife Chief Jeb Williams says officials "hope we've bottomed out." He says that with a mild winter this year, the agency might be able to start increasing deer licenses again next year.

However, he says hunters need to adjust expectations because the days of more than 100,000 licenses are gone.

Williams says the agency's management strategy for deer has a goal of about 76,000 licenses five years from now, provided winters aren't too harsh.