Apply to hunt antlerless deer

An antlerless deer is a deer with no antlers or with antlers that are both less than 7.5 cm (3 inches) long. Generally, antlerless deer include adult female deer and fawns of both sexes.

Hunters who receive an antlerless deer tag through the draw are permitted to harvest their choice of either an antlerless deer in the wildlife management unit specified on the tag or an antlered deer anywhere in the province during the open season – except for during a controlled hunt.

Before you apply

Choose where to hunt

1. Find the list of wildlife management units with a resident open season on pages 40-43 of the Ontario Hunting Regulations Summary.
2. Choose your preferred wildlife management unit to hunt in, and a second choice (if you have one).

Note: in areas with controlled deer hunt, antlerless validations are for the bow only seasons and apply to any sub-WMUs within a unit (for example, are for WMU 90, which includes WMUs 90A and 90B)

Buy your licence

You can buy your deer licence:

• before you apply to the draw
• at the same time as you apply to the draw

How:

• online by using the Fish and Wildlife Licensing Service
• by phone: 1-800-288-1155 (during the draw period only)
• at a licence issuer
• at a participating ServiceOntario location

If the draw application period has closed, you can buy a deer licence (to harvest an antlered deer only).

Apply online

To apply online, you need to create an online account  with the Fish and Wildlife Licensing Service. Once your account is set up, you can apply to the antlerless deer draw.

You will need a credit card to pay the licence fee.

Learn how to apply to the antlerless deer draw from your online account.

Create a new account

To set up an online account, you will need your:

• Outdoors Card number
• date of birth
• postal code

Learn how to create an online account

Login to your existing account

To access an online account that you already have, you will need the following:

• Outdoors Card number or account email address
• password

Apply by phone

1. Call the automated phone line at 1-800-288-1155.
2. Purchase a deer licence and apply to the antlerless deer draw.
3. Pay the licence fee.
4. Record the authorization number you receive at the end of the call.

Apply in person

1. Visit a licence issuer or participating ServiceOntario location.
2. Check your receipt before leaving the counter to verify your choices are entered correctly.

Get draw results

Draw results are available starting August 1:

• online through the Fish and Wildlife Licensing Service
• by phone at 1-800-288-1155

Learn how to view your draw results from your online account.

If you receive an antlerless validation, you can harvest either:

• an antlerless deer or an antlered deer in the WMU specified on the tag
• an antlered deer anywhere in the province during the open season – except during a controlled deer hunt

Print your deer tag

Once tags are available for printing on August 20, 2024, you can print your tag at:

• home through your Fish and Wildlife Licensing Service account
• a licence issuer
• a participating ServiceOntario location

Get detailed step-by-step instructions on how to print your tags online from your home.