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North Dakota is making only 180 any-deer bow licenses available to out-of-state hunters this year.
That is down from just under 700 licenses last year, and about 1,100 in 2011.
The number of nonresident any-deer bow licenses is 15 percent of the previous year's mule deer gun license allocation. The state Game and Fish Department issued only 1,200 mule deer buck licenses last year, because mule deer reproduction is at record-low levels in the state.
Game and Fish says bowhunters might be prohibited from killing deer within a large area of western North Dakota.
The deadline for applying is March 1. A lottery will be held if more than 180 applications are received.
