Antlerless deer permit notification cards were mailed to deer hunters in mid-August. All applicants selected for their Wildlife Management Zone (WMZ) of choice were notified of their permit with a brown postcard. To ensure receipt of the permit by archery season, the postcard and $5 fee must be returned by September 3rd to: "Deer Permit" MassWildlife FHQ, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough, MA 01581.

Applicants not selected for their WMZ of choice were sent blue postcards in mid-August to allow applicants to re-apply in WMZs where permit allocations exceeded applications. New for this year, re-applicants may circle and rank up to 3 choices for Wildlife Management Zones. Due to a limited number of permits available in certain WMZs, re-applicants should send in their postcards as soon as possible since re-applicant requests will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. As of August 20, WMZ 3 and 8 have already sold out through the re-applicant process.

The final opportunity for obtaining an antlerless deer permit, or acquiring additional permits, will occur October 9 when remaining permits will be available for sales over-the-counter. Specific information on WMZ availability will be posted on the agency website in late September. Each antlerless deer permit will come with an antlerless deer tag, increasing the hunter's bag limit for antlerless deer by the number of permits possessed. More details on antlerless deer permits are posted as a link on the front page of the agency website.

Bear hunters who applied for a permit should have received their permits in the mail. Bear hunters who applied for a permit but have not yet received the permit should contact MassWildlife Permit Specialist, Lori Cookman at 508/389-6339. Bear permit applications, which are on paper hunting and sporting licenses and also available on line for internet license buyers, may still be mailed in with the $5 fee. At the end of August, bear permits will be issued for walk-ins at the MassWildlife Westborough Field Headquarters or MassWildlife District offices. The Southeast District Office in Bourne will not be issuing permits.

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The Coyote Hunting Addiction
It could be the plumes of dust kicked up by the combines, the abrupt change in the dominate colors of the landscape, or the appearance of thousands of geese making their yearly migratory journey; whatever triggers it, fall is here! As my mother puts it, "I have been dealing with your father's neck swelling this time of year, for 26 years; and now I have to deal with both of you going into rut!"