Deer populations & goals
Goal setting begins January 2020
The statewide goal-setting process will span four years, starting with the northwestern/western region of the state. Find more details below about how to get involved, including workshop meeting dates and RSVP information.
About the goal-setting process
2020-2023 goal setting
How to participate
Historical goal-setting information
Goal-setting resources
About the goal setting process
The DNR sets deer population goals – how much of an increase or decrease is desired in a deer population in a particular deer permit area – as part of managing the state’s wild deer herd.
Deer population goals will be updated in 15 regional goal-setting blocks that are made of multiple deer permit areas. The population goals established in this process will provide direction for management over 10 years, with a midpoint review every five years.
2020-2023 goal setting
The DNR is beginning its statewide goal-setting process again in 2020. The process will take four years, with a separate group of blocks addressed annually.
Block groups
First year of goal setting (2020)
The first year focuses on the following blocks in the northwestern and western parts of the state, which include the following deer permit areas:
Agassiz-Littlefork goal block – 101, 103, 105, 108, 110, 111
Northwest Parkland-Prairie goal block – 201, 208, 209, 256, 257, 260, 261, 263, 264, 267, 268
West Central Prairie goal block – 262, 265, 266, 269, 270, 271, 272, 297
Central Hills Prairie goal block – 213, 214, 215, 218, 239, 240, 273, 276, 277
Second year of goal setting (2021)
Minnesota River goal block – 274, 275, 278, 280, 281, 282, 283, 284, 290
South Central goal block – 230, 232, 233, 253, 254, 255, 291, 292, 293, 299
Blufflands Plateau goal block – 234, 237, 238, 250, 252, 279, 286, 288, 289, 294, 295, 296
Border Uplands/St. Louis Moraines goal block – 119, 176, 177, 132, 171, 173, 178, 179, 181, 199
Third year of goal setting (2022)
Superior Uplands Arrowhead goal block – 117, 122, 126, 130, 131, 133, 180, 182, 118
North Central Plains Moraines goal block – 169, 172, 184, 197, 210, 298
Pine Moraines goal block – 241, 246, 248, 251, 258, 259, 287
Coteau-Plains goal block – 341, 342, 343, 344
Fourth year of goal setting (2023)
East Central Uplands goal block – 152, 155, 156, 157, 159, 183, 221, 222, 225, 249
Sand Plain/Big Woods goal block – 219, 223, 224, 227, 229, 235, 236, 285, 338, 339
Map showing the DPAs that will be assessed annually during the 2020-2024 goal-setting process.
The following areas are not included in the goal-setting process: Twin Cities metro area, Duluth area, Red Lake Reservation, disease management areas.
How to participate
Attend a workshop
The DNR is using a new workshop format that will use small group discussions to both scope issues and create recommendations. (The workshops replace the citizen advisory committees and public meetings that were used during the last round of deer goal setting in 2017.)
There will be a pair of workshops for each block. In addition, concurrent workshop locations will also be provided in the Twin Cities metro area as an alternative location for each block.
Each workshop is three hours in length and will be led by big game program staff. Regional and area wildlife managers will also be present.
During the first workshop, participants will work in small groups to identify key issues of interest and priorities to guide management of the deer population, using DNR information, including background information about the particular area; hunter and landowner survey results; and public input results. In the second workshop, participants will discuss solutions to the issues in small groups and create recommendations for the deer populations in those blocks.
Anyone may attend these workshops, regardless of affiliation or knowledge of the process. Background information will be provided. Attendees are highly encouraged to RSVP using this form .
2020 workshop details
Agassiz-Littlefork goal block (DPAs 101, 103, 105, 108, 110, 111)
Location: International Falls (Rainy River Community College, 1501 US-71)
Time: 6-9 p.m.
Workshop 1: Jan. 29
Workshop 2: Feb. 27
Northwest Parkland-Prairie goal block (DPAs 201, 208, 209, 256, 257, 260, 261, 263, 264, 267, 268)
Location: Thief River Falls (Quality Inn, 1060 Hwy 32 S., Thief River Falls, MN 56701)
Time: 6-9 p.m.
Workshop 1: Jan. 30
Workshop 2: Feb. 26
West Central Prairie goal block (DPAs 262, 265, 266, 269, 270, 271, 272, 297)
Location: Moorhead (Minnesota State Community and Technical College, Oscar Bergos Center Northwest Room, 1900 28th Ave S.)
Time: 6-9 p.m.
Workshop 1: Jan. 21
Workshop 2: Feb. 24
Central Hills Prairie goal block (DPAs 213, 214, 215, 218, 239, 240, 273, 276, 277)
Location: Alexandria (Alexandria Technical & Community College, auditorium and classroom, 410 18th Ave.)
Time: 6-9 p.m.
Workshop 1: Jan. 22
Workshop 2: Feb. 25
Participation outside of workshops
Those who do not wish to participate in or cannot commit the time to the workshops can still participate in the goal-setting process. There will also be online comment opportunities supplementing the workshops, including an online questionnaire that will be available on the DNR website in January and opportunities for the public comment to comment on draft population goals that result from the goal-setting process.
In addition, as in prior years, anyone can provide input by talking directly with area wildlife managers or attending deer open houses.
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