A licensed hunter with an antlerless deer permit can harvest an antlerless deer in the designated district and an antlered deer statewide. Antlerless deer permits may be acquired through the lottery, and any remaining permits will be available for purchase on the MDIFW website.

Lottery applications must be completed online by 11:59 pm (ET) on July 31, 2025. There is no fee to apply to the antlerless deer permit lottery. If you receive a permit, you must pay the $12 permit fee and $2 agent fee to claim the permit. 

Applicants have the option to pay for their permit at time of application, if their first choice WMD is a WMD where the applicant is almost certain to receive a permit based on the number of permits available in that WMD. WMDs/subunit eligible for pre-payment option include: WMD 15-17, 20-25, 26a, and 29. If for some reason you do not receive a permit in the lottery, we will refund your payment in full.

Proceeds from the antlerless deer permit fee help fund the purchase and management of deer wintering areas (DWAs), a critical habitat for white-tailed deer living at the northern end of their range. Since 2022, these funds have helped acquire and manage over 10,000 acres of DWAs, learn more.

Dates to know

• Lottery Application Open: June 26 – July 31, 2025 at 11:59 PM
• Lottery Drawing: August 14, 2025
• Lottery Permit Payment Due: September 11, 2025 at 11:59 PM
• Extra Permits for Sale: September 16, 2025

NEW for 2025: Either-sex hunting in designated WMDs

In Wildlife Management Districts 21–25 and 29, hunters may harvest one deer, either antlered or antlerless, under the authority of their big game hunting license during the firearms and muzzleloader seasons (no antlerless deer permit required). This deer counts as the hunter’s one deer for the year. If a hunter wants to take an additional deer, an antlerless deer permit is required.

Either-sex hunting is also permitted during the youth hunt (October 24 and 25, 2025) and regular archery season statewide.