The 2024 deer gun lottery results illustrate a challenging season for North Dakota hunters, with only 19,927 buck licenses available out of 62,471 applications for first-choice picks. The odds appear tougher this year as the state has reduced the total number of deer gun licenses to 50,100, a decrease from previous years, indicating increased competition among applicants.
Biologist Doug Leier explains the bonus point system that affects hunters’ chances, noting that each applicant earns additional entries for future lotteries by not drawing their first choice. As a result, those with four or more bonus points significantly improve their odds, with 13,947 applicants qualifying in this category. Given these statistics, hunters eager for the upcoming season can strategize their applications as they prepare for the live deer applications opening in mid-May.
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