Deer Management Assistance Program

Contact a Private Lands Biologist near you for application assistance and more information

Tier 1

• 1,000 acres or more,  unless the property is 40 acres or more and located within 5 miles of a CWD detection.
• Quality or trophy buck management
• Strategies include increased doe harvest to maintain deer herds at balanced levels and allowing bucks to reach older ages before harvest.
• Mandatory DMAP antlered and antlerless tags and complete collection of biological data, including jaw bones, from each deer harvested. (Special tag allotment rules apply).
• Deer harvest is restricted to antlered and antlerless deer quotas established by biologists for enrolled property. Hunters must place an antlered or antlerless DMAP tag on each deer harvested. There are no daily or season deer limits for antlered or antlerless deer harvested by a hunter. 
• Participants receive 15-day modern gun season extensions immediately prior to regular modern gun opening day, and/or immediately after the last primitive gun season day, depending on regional breeding data. Program biologists determine which season extension(s) are appropriate. Participants are also eligible to request an additional 10-day rabbit hunting season extension after the regular rabbit season closure.
• Fees:
• 1,000-1,500 acres: $250
• 1,501-10,000 acres: $300
• 10,001-20,000 acres: $500
• 20,001-50,000 acres: $1,500
• 50,001-75,000 acres: $2,500
• 75,001+ acres: $3,750
• > 40 acres or more within 5 miles of a CWD detection: no fee.

Tier 2

• 500 acres or more
• Quality deer management
• Mandatory collection of biological data, including jaw bones, from each deer harvested.
• Only antlerless DMAP tags normally issued unless antlered tags are requested and need to meet harvest objectives.
• Antlerless deer harvest is restricted to antlerless deer quota for enrolled property. Hunters must place an antlerless DMAP tag on each antlerless deer harvested. There is no daily or season limit for antlerless deer harvested by a hunter. Antlered deer must be tagged with hunter’s license tags (unless antlered DMAP deer tags are issued). The antlered deer limit is one per day. The antlered deer season limit is the same as the respective Deer Area.
• Fees:
• 500-1,500 acres: $150
• 1,501-10,000 acres: $200
• 10,001-20,000 acres: $500
• 20,001-50,000 acres: $1,500
• 50,001-75,000 acres: $2,500
• 75,001+ acres: $3,750

Tier 3

• 40 acres or more
• Mandatory documentation of total number of antlered and antlerless deer. 
• Only antlerless DMAP tags available.
• Antlerless deer harvest is restricted to antlerless deer quota for enrolled property. Hunters must place an antlerless DMAP tag on each antlerless deer harvested. There is no daily or season limit for antlerless deer harvested by a hunter. Antlered deer must be tagged with hunter’s license tags. The antlered deer limit is one per day. The antlered deer season limit is the same as the respective Deer Area.
• Fees:
• 40-500 acres: $100
• 501-1,500 acres: $150
• 1,501-10,000 acres: $200
• 10,001-20,000 acres: $500
• 20,001-50,000 acres: $1,500
• 50,001-75,000 acres: $2,500
• 75,001+ acres: $3,750

Tier 4

• No minimum acreage 
• Only available for nuisance deer issues such as crop or lawn depredation. 
• Mandatory documentation of total number of antlered and antlerless deer. 
• Only antlerless DMAP tags available.
• No fee

Rules and Regulations

• Definitions
• Antlered buck: a deer with visible antlers of hardened bony material which has broken through the skin naturally
• Antlerless deer: a female deer (doe) or young buck (button buck) that has no visible hardened antlers
• Deer harvested on DMAP-enrolled property are not to be validated (reported) by phone or internet.
• Deer harvested using DMAP antlered or antlerless tags do not count towards hunters’ season bag limits. Hunters’ license tags may still be used on non-DMAP-enrolled property.
• The DMAP property cooperator will be the person listed on the application as the contact person and will serve as the liaison with LDWF. This person shall be responsible for the tags and provide harvest records to LDWF at the end of the hunting season or at any time requested during the season. Cooperators will be given 48 hours to provide requested documentation. If a hunting camp is used, it is recommended to keep records at this location.
• DMAP cooperators agree to allow LDWF personnel access to their lands for management surveys or other inspections deemed appropriate.
• Property enrolled in DMAP must be posted with DMAP signs at a minimum of 1,000-foot intervals along any public road frontage and all points of ingress and egress used by motorized vehicles to access the property.
• Assigned DMAP tags are valid only on DMAP-enrolled lands for which they have been issued. All unused tags shall be returned by March 1 to the LDWF office that issued the tags.
• Tier 1 requires antlered and antlerless tags, and Tiers 2 and 3 require antlerless tags.
• DMAP tags must be used during the entire deer hunting season, which includes archery, primitive, and modern firearm seasons.
• The DMAP tag must be attached in such a manner that it cannot be removed before the deer is transported.
• The DMAP tag must remain with the deer in the field, camp, en route to domicile of its possessor, or stored at a cold storage facility. The tag is no longer required when the meat is identifiable as food rather than wild game.
• Documentation of all deer harvested in DMAP shall be kept daily on an official DMAP Deer Kill Record. Mandatory records include: DMAP tag number, harvest date, hunter’s name, license number (annual or lifetime) or date of birth (under 16/over 59), and required biological data from harvested deer. Mandatory biological data on Tier 1 and 2 includes (jawbones), weight, antler measurements, and lactation of females (not required for Tier 3).
• Failure of the cooperator to follow these rules and regulations may result in suspension and/or cancellation of the property’s participation in the DMAP program.
• Antlerless deer may be harvested any day of deer season on property enrolled in DMAP provided a DMAP tag is possessed by the hunter at time of harvest. 

Deer Kill Record Requirements

• DMAP Tag Number: the number of the DMAP tag (antlered or antlerless) which was placed on the deer
• Harvest Date: Enter the month and day. All deer must be logged on the record the day they were harvested. 
• Hunter’s Name: name of hunter harvesting deer
• Hunter’s License Number: LDWF number, Lifetime License number, or date of birth (under 16/over 59) for the hunter harvesting deer
• Sex of Deer: male (B) or female (D) 
• Deer Weight: Only use weights obtained from accurate scales. Do not estimate weights. Record weights as live (not gutted) or empty (gutted). 
• Milk Present: Check each female harvested for lactation. If milk or fluids can be squeezed from teats, write “yes” in the box. The udder can be cut open to confirm the presence of milk. This is very important biological data indicating reproduction information.
• Antler Measurement: Record data from both antlers.
  • Number of Points: total points one inch long or longer
  • Inside Spread: widest inside spread measurement between main beam of antlers
  • Main Beam Length: Measure main beam from antler burr above eye to tip. This measurement is also required for spikes. 
  • Circumference of Main Beam: Measure the smallest circumference at a point between antler burr and first point (brow tine). 
• Comments: any information on deer abnormalities, hunting conditions or habitat changes that could influence deer health or deer hunting
• Remove deer jawbones for aging. 

Jawbone Extraction and Handling Instructions

• Label deer jawbones to correspond to the Deer Kill Record with a permanent marker or aluminum tag firmly attached to jawbone.
• If the jawbone cannot be linked to the Deer Kill Record, LDWF biologists will not be able to record the age data in your annual report.
• You must clean deer jawbones of as much flesh as possible and completely dry them. We recommend using a wire fish basket as a storage container—it allows bones to dry and protects them from scavengers.
• Do not freeze or store jawbones in sealed plastic bags.
• Properly label box or bag containing jawbones with name of DMAP club or cooperator as it appears on the Deer Kill Record. 

Procedures for Using DMAP Tags

TIER 1 (Antlered and Antlerless DMAP Tags Issued)

• You’ve harvested a deer. Take the appropriate antlered or antlerless DMAP tag and attach the tag to the deer.
  • Bring the deer to whatever facility your club has where records are kept and data is collected (even if it is a residence).
  • Record DMAP tag number on data sheet.
  • Collect all required biological data from deer and record on data sheet.
  • You are legal and your deer is validated. You can proceed with the cleaning process. Do not call in any information.

TIER 2 (Antlerless DMAP Tags Issued)

• You’ve harvested an antlerless deer (doe or button buck).
  
  • Take an antlerless DMAP tag and attach the tag to the deer.
  • Bring the deer to whatever facility your club has where records are kept and data is collected (even if it is a residence).
  • Record antlerless DMAP tag number on data sheet.
  • Collect all required biological data from deer and record on data sheet.
  • You are legal and your deer is validated. You can proceed with the cleaning process. Do not call in any information.
• You’ve harvested an antlered deer. (Two Options Available)

(Option 1):

• Detach one of your antlered deer tags from your hunting license. Record the date and parish on the tag and affix it to the carcass with string, wire, etc.
• Bring the deer to whatever facility your club has where records are kept and data is collected (even if it is a residence).
• Record “Club ID Number and Deer Number” on the report card portion of your license. (Example Club ID 70285 deer #7) [70285-7]
• Collect all required biological data from deer and record on data sheet.
• You are legal and your deer is validated. You can proceed with the cleaning process. Do not call in any information.

 (Option 2):

• Electronically tag your antlered deer by utilizing text-to-tag, tagging through the LDWF web portal or via LA Wallet. Select DMAP as land type during the menu selection. Your antlered deer has been successfully tagged electronically. Follow the steps below to validate. Bring the deer to whatever facility your club has where records are kept and data is collected (even if it is a residence).
• Collect all required biological data from deer and record on data sheet.
• You are legal and your deer is validated. You can proceed with the cleaning process. Do not call in any information.

TIER 3 & 4

(ONLY Antlerless DMAP Tags Issued)

• You’ve harvested an antlerless deer (doe or button buck). Take an antlerless DMAP tag and attach the tag to the deer.
• Bring the deer to whatever facility your club has where records are kept and data is collected (even if it is a residence).
• Record antlerless DMAP tag number on data sheet.
• Collect all required data and record on data sheet.
• You are legal and your deer is validated. You can proceed with the cleaning process. Do not call in any information.

 You’ve harvested an antlered deer. (Two Options Available)

(Option 1):

• Detach one of your antlered deer tags from your hunting license. Record the date and parish on the tag and affix it to the carcass with string, wire, etc. Bring the deer to whatever facility your club has where records are kept and data is collected (even if it is a residence).
• Record “Club ID Number and Deer Number” on the report card portion of your license. (Example Club ID 70285 deer #7) [70285-7]
• Collect all required data and record on data sheet.
• You are legal and your deer is validated. You can proceed with the cleaning process. Do not call in any information.

(Option 2):

• Electronically tag your antlered deer by utilizing text-to-tag, tagging through the LDWF web portal, or via LA Wallet. Select DMAP as land type during the menu selection.  Your antlered deer has been successfully tagged electronically. Follow the steps below to validate.
• Bring the deer to whatever facility your club has where records are kept and data is collected (even if it is a residence).
• Collect all required data from deer and record on data sheet.
• You are legal and your deer is validated. You can proceed with the cleaning process. Do not call in any information.