Results of the drawing can be found at the department's website at www.mefishwildlife.com. Any Deer permits will be printed over the next few days, and mailed over the next two weeks.

Any-Deer permits were available in 20 wildlife management districts this year. The free any-deer permit allows hunting of deer of either sex in any of the wildlife management districts that have permits available this year. Permits are chosen through a random drawing for each of the districts.

An any-deer permit issued to an adult may be transferred to a junior hunter or a person over 65 years of age by completing the necessary transfer sections on the any-deer permit and returning the permit to the Department for validation by October 31, 2003. New this year, the Any-Deer permit or Bonus Deer permit may also be transferred to a person with ambulatory disabilities (suffering from the loss of, or the permanent loss of the use of, both lower extremities). Hunters can also transfer their Any Deer Permit online at www.mefishwildlife.com.

The Any-Deer Permit system plays a vital role in the management of deer in Maine. Since this system was implemented in 1986, the statewide population of deer has increased from 150,000 to a 2003 wintering population of approximately 259,000 deer. This permit system used in conjunction with the 30 wildlife management districts throughout the state provides biologists the flexibility needed to closely regulate the take of female deer throughout the state and achieve desired population levels.