2017 Deer Drawing

Authors and Contributors

Ron Wilson

Two years doesn’t make a trend, but it’s a start.

After falling to a nearly four-decades-low of 43,275 licenses in 2015, the number of deer gun licenses Game and Fish made available to hunters increased in 2016 (49,000) and 2017 (54,500).

Prospects for more deer gun licenses in North Dakota in 2017 didn’t look good initially as winter 2016-17 started with record amounts of snow in most places by early January.

Then, as unpredictable as the weather can be on the Northern Plains, temperatures increased and snow gradually started melting in late January. By March, evidence of that record amount of snow was gone in most places.

Once again, hunters could draw just one license for the 2017 deer gun season. The number of licenses in North Dakota increased by 5,500 last year compared to 2016.

Like most years, drawing a buck license in 2017 wasn’t easy. According to Randy Meissner, Game and Fish Department licensing manager, after 13,402 resident gratis licenses and 456 nonresident licenses were subtracted from the overall license allocation, just 22,223 buck licenses were available for the 66,203 hunters who applied for them as their first choice in the lottery.

For the second time since 2012, the Game and Fish Department allowed hunting of antlerless mule deer in all but one hunting unit in western North Dakota. The 2017 spring mule deer index was higher than the previous year for the fifth consecutive year.

Game and Fish maintained a conservative harvest strategy for the state’s pronghorn population in 2017, while encouraging population growth. For the fourth year in a row, the agency allowed a limited season, allocating 410 licenses, 320 fewer than 2016.

White-tailed buck

Lottery at Work

No matter if you’re new to North Dakota’s deer gun season, or a veteran of wearing fluorescent orange each November, there are always questions on how the Game and Fish Department’s lottery system works.

Using deer as the example, though turkey works the same way, this is how it works.

If you fail to draw your first license choice in any given year, you receive a bonus point. You do not have to apply in the same unit, or for the same deer type each year, to qualify. You get an additional bonus point each year you apply and do not receive your first license choice. You maintain your accumulated bonus points as long as you apply in the first drawing at least once every two years.

You receive additional chances in the drawing for each bonus point accumulated. For points one through three, you are entered in the drawing two times the number of points you have. So, if you have two points you would get four additional chances to be drawn, compared to a person who got his or her first choice the previous year. If you’re both competing for the same license, you have five chances, he or she has one.

When you accumulate four or more points, the number of additional chances is determined by cubing your bonus points. So, when you have four points, you will be in the drawing 64 additional times, 125 times if you have five points, and so on. Bonus points are accumulated as long as you do not draw your first license choice and apply in the first drawing at least every other year. You do not receive bonus points in years you do not apply.

Each drawing is still random, but the more bonus points you have, the better your odds. When you receive your first license choice, you lose your bonus points and start over. Bonus points can only be earned, or used, in the first drawing for each species in each year.

The license lottery consists of four separate drawings, one for each choice on the application. First, we hold a drawing for the first unit/first deer choice. When those are issued, we draw for the first unit/second deer choice, then the second unit/first deer choice, and finally the second unit/second deer choice.

2017 Deer License Lottery Results

Percent of applicants who received their first choice of license.

POINTS
UNIT	LICENSE TYPE	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	OVERALL
1	A Any Buck	11.1	22.7	35.3	45.8	97.1					30.4
1	B Any Doe	92	86.4	100	100						91.7
2A	A Any Buck	2.6	11.4	8.1	16.8	88.1	80	100			22.1
2A	B Any Doe	94.1	87	83.3	100	90.9					90.9
2B	A Any Buck	2.3	6.6	8	11.8	61.9	68.2	66.7	100		14.1
2B	B Any Doe	27.7	58.4	63.9	64.3	76.5					50.8
2C	A Any Buck	0.3	2.2	3.7	7	35.7	50	83.3	100		11.7
2C	B Any Doe	2.4	13	18.8	16.7	50	50				15.6
2D	A Any Buck	3.5	8.3	20.8	23.3	84.4	100				22.2
2D	B Any Doe	89.3	78.9	95.3	100	100					98.9
2E	A Any Buck	0.4	1.2	0.8	5.3	27.1	53.6	56.1			11.7
2E	B Any Doe	13.5	21.2	52.9	40	75	75				33.5
2F1	A Any Buck	29.5	65.8	84.8	88.7	100	100				52.2
2F1	B Any Doe	95.6	100	87.5	100	100					95.8
2F2	A Any Buck	11.5	29.6	37.8	59.3	95.8	100			100	30.3
2F2	B Any Doe	97.7	82.7	66.7	80						94.4
2G	A Any Buck	20.4	56.7	62.9	75	91					48.7
2G	B Any Doe	81	95.6	96.8	100	100					89.9
2G1	A Any Buck	3.1	9.9	20.5	29	88.6	83.8		100		22.4
2G1	B Any Doe	89.5	89.3	78.9	78.6	100	100				88.6
2G2	A Any Buck	16.8	42.3	56.8	69.8	93.4	100				40.4
2G2	B Any Doe	95.9	86.5	85	66.7	100					93.9
2H	A Any Buck	29.2	63.9	82.1	77.1	83.3	100				50.9
2H	B Any Doe	97.2	100	100	100	100					97.6
2I	A Any Buck	14.1	37	54.2	59.9	95.9	100	100			35.6
2I	B Any Doe	95.8	95.5	87.5	100	66.7	100				95.4
2J1	A Any Buck	17.6	44.9	61	81.5	96.2	83.3			100	43.1
2J1	B Any Doe	97.1	94.1	100		100					97
2J2	A Any Buck	28.7	64.5	82.8	89.7	91.7	100				53.1
2J2	B Any Doe	97.7	92.5	100	100						97.2
2K1	A Any Buck	9	14.2	32.8	34.8	93.2	84.6				27.2
2K1	B Any Doe	97.2	79.5	81	75	100					93
2K2	A Any Buck	14.1	36.6	50.9	64.3	96.7	100	100			35.6
2K2	B Any Doe	93.1	94.2	91.7	100	100					93.2
2L	A Any Buck	25.3	60.7	81.5	81.2	100	100				49.7
2L	B Any Doe	100	100	100							100
3A1	A Any Buck	6.7	17	29.4	40.6	93.9	90.8	90.9	83.3		27.7
3A1	B Any Doe	96.6	100	93.3	72.7	100	100	100			95.3
3A2	A Any Buck	22.9	51.8	67.2	82.3	84.2					44.8
3A2	B Any Doe	95.8	90	76.9	100	100					94.6
3A3	A Any Buck	5.6	13.7	18.3	25.7	91	89.8	100	100		24.6
3A3	B Any Doe	96	89.5	68	90	100					92.9
3A4	A Any Buck	9.9	20.7	34.3	47.2	94.6	81.8	66.7	100		28.6
3A4	B Any Doe	93.3	82.1	73.3	81.8	100					90.1
3B1	E MD Buck	7.6	14.9	32.4	40.8	90	100				25.9
3B1	C WT Buck	2.3	10	11.2	11.5	74.6	92.1	100			16.9
3B1	F MD Doe	53.8	100	100	100	100					78.8
3B1	D WT Doe	91.7	100	75	100	100					92.3
3B2	E MD Buck	19.3	55.6	76.9	42.9	66.7					40.4
3B2	C WT Buck	19.3	46.2	48.6	82.4	83.3		100			36.5
3B2	F MD Doe	100	100								100
3B2	D WT Doe	95.7	100		100						94.6
3B3	A Any Buck	12.7	46.8	50	78.3	87.5	100				36.3
3B3	B Any Doe	95.8	100	100							96.8
3B3	C WT Buck	66.2	96	100	100	100					82.3
3B3	D WT Doe	98.7	90	100		100					98.2
3C	A Any Buck	5.3	15.3	15.3	32.4	90.6					18.2
3C	B Any Doe	51.4	82.9	50							67.7
3C	C WT Buck	51.4	82.8	90.8	100	100					69.1
3C	D WT Doe	98	100	50	100	100					97.7
3D1	A Any Buck	20.4	52.8	67.9	76	100					42.8
3D1	B Any Doe	100	100	100							100
3D1	C WT Buck	98.1	100	100		100					98.3
3D1	D WT Doe	100									100
3D2	A Any Buck	12	36.4	52.3	65.5	96.4	100	100			35.1
3D2	B Any Doe	98.4	88.9	100	100						97.9
3D2	C WT Buck	70.1	95.5	85.7	75	100					78
3D2	D WT Doe	100	100								100
3E1	A Any Buck	17.5	41.3	65.8	65.5	81.8	66.7				37
3E1	B Any Doe	92.6	100	100							93.5
3E1	C WT Buck	62.7	95	90.3	100	100					76.3
3E1	D WT Doe	100	100								100
3E2	A Any Buck	34.7	71	90.7	94.1	66.7				100	55.8
3E2	B Any Doe	96.4	100	72.7							95.4
3E2	C WT Buck	97.9	100	100							98.1
3E2	D WT Doe	100		100							100
3F1	A Any Buck	26.3	65.3	77.8	79.3	100					54.4
3F1	B Any Doe	98.3	100								97.3
3F1	C WT Buck	99	100	100							99.1
3F1	D WT Doe	100	100								100
3F2	A Any Buck	26.9	68.9	83.3	92.6	100	100	100	100		51.8
3F2	B Any Doe	97.1	90.9	100	100						96.6
3F2	C WT Buck	98.6	100	100							98.7
3F2	D WT Doe	87.5									87.5
4A	E MD Buck	3.9	7.8	8.5	9	76.2	82.6	100	100	100	16
4A	C WT Buck	33.5	67.6	87.5	88.2	88.9	100				55.4
4A	D WT Doe	96.2	100		100						97.1
4B	E MD Buck	2	2.3	4	6.3	38.8	59	68.4	88.9	83.3	17.6
4B	C WT Buck	77.9	94.8	81.8	100	100	100				89.6
4B	F MD Doe	94.7	100	100	100			100			96.3
4B	D WT Doe	100	100	100							100
4C	E MD Buck	0	2.1	3	3.4	28.7	45.6	58.6	73.9	78.3	15.4
4C	C WT Buck	63.2	92.7	90	100	100	100		100		77.9
4C	F MD Doe	96.6	100		100		100				93.2
4C	D WT Doe	88.9	100								90
4D	E MD Buck	1	1.8	4.6	6.2	48.2	71.6	84.3	91.3	100	19
4D	C WT Buck	100	85.7	100	100	100	100				98.1
4D	F MD Doe	90.2	81.8	75		100					88.1
4D	D WT Doe	85.7	100			100					87.5
4E	E MD Buck	12.4	32	50.9	57.7	84.2	100	88.9			38.1
4E	C WT Buck	98.6	100	100							98.9
4E	F MD Doe	86.4	100			100					87.5
4E	D WT Doe	100	100								100
4F	E MD Buck	33.5	74.4	88.6	100	100	100	100	100		65.7
4F	C WT Buck	99.4	100	100	100						99.5
4F	F MD Doe	100	100								100
4F	D WT Doe	100	100	100	100						100
MUZ	C WT Buck	0.1	0	0.1	0.3	2.1	4.4	7.9	10.4	20.7	3.7
MUZ	D WT Doe	33.7	72.9	87.2	82.1	100	100		100	100	52.1

2017 Lottery Stats

Deer

54,500 – Number of deer licenses available, up from 49,000 in 2016.
77,622 – Number of people – not including about 10,000 gratis applicants – who applied for deer gun season lottery licenses, up from 74,179 in 2016.
46.63 – Percent of successful applicants, excluding gratis and nonresidents, for deer gun and muzzleloader licenses.
1.45 – Average bonus points of applicants who received their first choice.
15 – Maximum number of bonus points for any applicant.
11,386 – Number of applicants with four or more bonus points.
12.67 – Percent of applicants with four or more bonus points.
4,490 – Number of applicants with four or more bonus points who drew their first choice of license.
21.35 – Percent of applicants with four or more bonus points who applied for a mule deer buck license.
48.85 – Percent of applicants with four or more bonus points who applied for a muzzleloader buck license.

Turkey

5,685 – Number of spring turkey licenses available to hunters, down from 5,815 licenses in 2016.
77.7 – Percent of applicants who received their first license choice in the spring turkey drawing.
3,505 – Number of fall turkey licenses available to hunters, down from 3,510 licenses in 2016.
73.5 – Percent of applicants who received their first license choice in the fall turkey drawing.

Pronghorn

A limited pronghorn season was offered for the fourth consecutive year in four hunting units.
410 – Number of licenses available to hunters, 320 fewer than 2016.
8,756 – Number of people who applied for available licenses.

2017 Pronghorn Lottery Results

Percent of applicants who received their first choice of license.

POINTS
Unit	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	OVERALL
02B	0	0	0	0	1.2	2.8	2.9	4	8.3	0.6
03A	0	0	0	0	1.5	20.6	4	45.5		2.7
03B	0	0.3	0.7	0.6	1.9	6.2	8.2	8.3	20	1.7
04A	0.4	0.1	1.3	1.5	11.2	24.2	31.6	54.3	35.7	4.3
04C	1.2	0	0	0	3.7	8.2	25	43.8	33.3	2.5

2017 Spring Turkey Lottery Results

Percent of applicants who received their first choice of license.

POINTS
Unit	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	OVERALL
2		87.1	100	100							88.8
3		100	100								100
4		62.6	100	100							86.4
6		100	100								100
13		100	100	100							100
17		35.5	81.1	87.5							62.8
19		100	100	100							100
25		100	100								100
27		42	81.2	82.4	100						66.8
30		100	100								100
31		100									100
37		46.5	87.6	91.9	100						60.8
40		100									100
44		100	100								100
45		100	100								100
47		100									100
50		58.1	88.5	100							68.5
51		100	100								100
53		16	42.1	33.3							29.2
98		66.9	98.6	100							85
99		100	100								100

2017 Fall Turkey Lottery Results

Percent of applicants who received their first choice of license.

POINTS
Unit	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	OVERALL
2	22.5	43.2	80	100						35.3
3	100	100								100
4	41.1	87.5	100							55.1
6	51.9	60								56.2
13	100		100							100
17	37.7	75	92.9							55
19	100	100								100
25	100	100								100
27	39.7	67.9	85.7	100						65
30	100	100								100
31	100									100
37	56	89	100	100						64.9
40	100									100
44	81.4	100								84.8
45	100	100	100							100
47	100	100								100
50	54.7	90.6								62.9
51	100									100
98	76.3	88.9								84.4
99	85.7	100								91.5

Donations for Deer Habitat

Unsuccessful applicants in the Department’s deer drawing can now donate their refunds to the agency’s Private Land Open To Sportsmen program.

North Dakota lawmakers created this option in 2015. Proceeds to this point from about 4,900 resident and nonresident deer hunters total nearly $153,000.

Donations will be earmarked for projects in areas of the state where wildlife habitat has been lost and deer numbers have declined.

Return to North Dakota Outdoors February 2018 Edition