More than 10,000 additional deer licenses will be available to North Dakota hunters for the 2019 season. Last week, the North Dakota Game and Fish Department announced the license increase, bringing the total number of available licenses for deer this fall to 65,500. That means there will be more opportunity for mule deer, whitetail and both bucks and does.

According to The Jamestown Sun, mule deer doe licenses are available for the first time since 2011 in Unit 4A and there is an increase in antlered mule deer licenses by 450, antlerless mule deer by 700, antlerless whitetail by 1,250, any antlered by 3,150 and any antlerless by 4,100. Also, muzzleloader licenses will also be increased by 184 and there will be 45 more youth antlered mule deer licenses available.

The application deadline is June 5. General rifle season opens at noon on Nov. 8 and runs through Nov. 24. Interested applications can apply online or via 800-406-6409 (although there is a fee to apply through the 800 number).

When applying, be aware that any harvested deer in Units 3A1, 3B1 and 3F2 cannot be transported outside of the unit as a whole carcass, including the head and spinal column, due to the state’s chronic wasting disease plan. The only exception to this regulation is during open deer season in Units 3A1 and 3B1. In addition, it is illegal to hunt over bait or place bait in Units 3C west of the Missouri River, 3E1, 3E2, 3F1, 3F2, 3B1, 3A1, 3A2 and north of U.S. Highway 2 in Unit 3A3, according to The Jamestown Sun.