AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine hunters are getting ready for a Sept. 9 deer hunting draw that will apportion a significantly reduced number of permits.

Maine is issuing 28,770 deer hunting permits, down from 37,185 permits last year.

The permits are antlerless deer permits, which the state uses to manage the deer population by controlling the harvest of females.

The main firearms season for deer runs from Nov. 2 to Nov. 28. There is also an expanded archery season that lasts from Sept. 12 to Dec. 12 and a muzzleloader season from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12. Youth Deer Hunting Day is on Oct. 24.

Online applications for the upcoming season closed at 11:59 p.m. on Monday night. The paper application period closed in July.