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Minnesota Department of Natural Resources wildlife managers hope to curb a potentially burgeoning deer population by allowing some hunters to take up to five deer in southeast Minnesota this year.
The DNR issued 18 percent more (31,250) antlerless deer permits in southeast Minnesota. Plus, many hunters will be allowed one additional deer under a deer management permit and, in many areas, three more antlerless deer under intensive harvest permits.
Wildlife managers are hoping early, quick action will maintain or slightly decrease deer numbers after three successive mild winters set the stage for a rapid increase in the population, according to Jack Heather, regional DNR wildlife manager in Rochester.
"Deer numbers are very similar to what we^ve had in years past," Heather said. "The difference is that we^ve got an abundance of fawn and year-old females that have the potential to significantly increase the deer population."
By maintaining deer populations at or slightly below current levels, wildlife managers hope to avoid excessive damage to agricultural crops and car/deer collisions.
Intensive harvest permits are available in permit areas 337, 341-343 and 345-349. (**Note due to a misprint, permit area 343 was not listed in the Intensive Harvest section of the 2000 Hunting Synopsis). Deer numbers in permit area 344 (Whitewater Wildlife Management Area) are within desirable permit levels, so not intensive harvest permits will be issued.
Deer hunters will be allowed to take a legal antlered buck in Zone 3A (southeast Minnesota) season from Nov. 4-12. The antlerless season will be held in Zone 3B from Nov. 18-24.
In Zone 4A (west of Zone 3) hunters may take a legal buck or antlerless deer by permit Nov. 4-5. The Zone 4B season is set for Nov. 11-14.
Hunters who applied for antlerless permits before the Sept. 7 deadline will be notified of their licensing options in the next several weeks.
Uploaded: 10/7/2000
Uploaded: 10/7/2000