The DFG said survey cards asking about deer seen, bucks seen, hours hunted and other subjects will be distributed to hunters who will be hunting in the six northwestern California B zones, the four north central C zones, northern Sierra zones D3-D5, and northeastern X zones.

The survey cards also ask for the number, if any, of elk seen by deer hunters during their outings.

Fish and Game said its Sacramento headquarters will be sending a second survey to a portion of the 43,000 hunters who take part in this year's drawings for high-demand deer hunts and deer zones. The survey will ask hunters for their opinions about the drawing process.

The DFG changed the deer tag drawing system this year so that hunters who select a certain X zone or special deer hunt as their first choice, compete during the first round of drawings only with other hunters who also selected the same hunt as a first choice.