DNR releases deer outlook

More than 400,000 deer hunters are preparing for the firearms deer season that opens Saturday, Nov. 4, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has released its outlooks on bagging a buck or doe across the state.

DNR wildlife managers report that there should be good opportunities to harvest deer in most areas.

Deer populations in many northern areas of Minnesota are still struggling to recover following back-to-back winters with heavy snowpack.

During severe winters, thermal cover and forage availability become more important. In deep snow, deer have more difficulty moving around and become more susceptible to predation. The best deer harvest opportunities in the northeast part of the state will be in the southern portion of this region, where deer numbers are higher and not affected by winter weather to the same extent as permit areas farther north.

The highest deer numbers are expected in areas of mixed habitat of open fields and forest. Scouting for local pockets of deer will improve hunter success. Hunters in far northern areas will again have fewer opportunities to harvest antlerless deer, and in some areas will be allowed to harvest only bucks. This will give local deer populations in these northern areas a chance to grow.

Be aware of chronic wasting disease zones where hunters must follow mandatory testing requirements.

The DNR reports that deer hunting is the primary tool used to manage deer populations, and hunters help keep deer numbers in line with population goals.