Antlerless deer permits will not be available for Roscommon County for 2008 hunting seasons, wildlife officials announced today. That decision was made by the Natural Resources Commission at its meeting last week in Munising.

Applications for antlerless permits go on sale today, with more than 600,000 licenses available. All licenses for public land and licenses for private land in the northern two-thirds of the state are subject to a drawing. The application fee is $4.

"Last year we had 10 deer management units in the Upper Peninsula and the northern Lower Peninsula that sold out of private-land licenses completely by 5 p.m. the first day," explained DNR big game specialist Rod Clute. "We believe making those licenses available by drawing is a more equitable way of distributing them."

Applications for antlerless deer licenses may be purchased at all license dealers and online at www.michigan.gov/dnr. Hunters may apply for a single license, for either private or public land, for a single DMU. Deadline for application is Aug. 15. Any leftover licenses will go on sale over the counter Sept. 17 at 10 a.m. You need not have applied for an antlerless permit to buy the leftovers.

Wildlife officials have noted several errors in the table of available antlerless licenses printed in the 2008 Michigan Antlerless Hunting Guide. Corrected tables and a new map, reflecting the change in Roscommon County, are being sent to license dealers. However, the state's computerized retail sale license system is up to date and hunters will be able to apply for all available antlerless licenses.

Hunters may purchase up to five antlerless licenses, though no more than two can be from the Upper Peninsula and/or the northern Lower Peninsula, unless they are for DMUs in the seven-county special regulations zone where deer have tested positive for tuberculosis.

Hunters are reminded that youths (ages 10-16) may purchase an antlerless permit for any DMU during the application period.