The DFG said its license staff in Sacramento will be working long hours to enter data for the 77,000 hunters who applied for high-demand deer hunts and for antelope, elk and bighorn sheep hunts. Automated computer drawings will select the names of tag recipients by June 12.

But, that's only the beginning.

The license staff launches its post-drawing work by firing off notices to deer hunt applicants who did not receive any of their three hunt choices. The hunters are asked to make another selection or request a tag application refund.

As soon as unsuccessful deer hunt applicants are notified, the staff begins mailing tags to successful drawing competitors. Tags also are mailed to those who drew elk, antelope and bighorn hunts.

Because of the volume, notices are not sent to unsuccessful applicants for elk, antelope or sheep hunts. Elk, antelope and sheep applicants who have not received DFG mail by July 1 probably were not drawn, the DFG said.

Beginning June 21, hunters may learn of their plight in the drawings by contacting individual DFG offices — except Menlo Park — or the Sacramento license office at 916-227-2177. Results also will be on the Internet at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/licensing/index.html.