Bucks-only again in N/E MN.

[Lee Borgersen]

  DNR: Bucks-only again in the northeast.

Wildlife officials say the focus will remain on rebuilding the population, for now.


 
 

 




 
 

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REGIONAL— For the vast majority of deer hunters in northeastern Minnesota, it will be bucks-only again when the regular firearms deer season opens on Nov. 7. Despite a relatively mild winter last year, wildlife officials with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources said this week that it’s too early to loosen the harvest restrictions put in place last year after back-to-back severe winters.

“The main message is that we’re continuing to rebuild deer numbers,” said Leslie McInenly, DNR Big Game Program Leader. “The 2015 deer hunting regulations will be quite similar to last year, with one-deer limits in most of the state,” she said. DNR officials say they’ve heard from the public in meetings around the state that most Minnesotans favor rebuilding the deer population, which was whittled down by severe winters as well as more generous bag limits in prior years.

The good news, say officials, is that last year’s conservative harvest and a milder winter have the deer population headed in the right direction.

“We anticipate that hunters will be seeing more deer when afield, and we are already hearing from people that they are seeing more deer this summer,” McInenly said. “We are continuing a conservative harvest approach in order to raise deer numbers consistent with our recent goal-setting process.”

In northern St. Louis County, as well as northern Lake and all of Koochiching counties, hunters in all of the permit areas, including PAs 108, 119, 118, 117, 177, and 176 will be limited to a single buck. Only 14 of the 128 deer permit areas across the state are limited to bucks only. Most other areas are offering some antlerless tags through the lottery or are classified as hunter’s choice, which means a regular license holder can take one deer of either sex.

DNR wildlife officials note that deer populations have the ability to bounce back quickly, as happened after two severe winters in the mid-1990s. “In the 1990s, it only took a few years to get back to what people thought was a more normal deer population,” said McInenly. “We don’t think this strategy is set in stone in the longer term,” said McInenly.

Indeed, McInenly said the DNR is hearing more favorable reports from around the state about deer numbers and fawn production following last winter’s limited snow.

McInenly said she expects this year’s statewide harvest will increase slightly from the 139,000 deer harvested last year. “We’re looking at a projected harvest of 140,000 to 155,000,” she said.


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[beeker]

wolves gotta eat too

[gophergunner]

Yeah, looks like bucks only for us in the Outing area this year.

[glenn57]

welcome aboard!!!! outing area eh?????? there is a particular dentist on here that frequents the outing area. he cant catch fish but he tries!!!!!!! I drive thru outing on our way up to Itasca county!

[glenn57]

our group hunt in 2 different zones. one part of the group hunts 169, and its bucks only. last year we went over there for an evening hunt and it was filthy full of wolf tracks.

I and 2 others in the group hunt zone 197, the leech lake reservation. we have 200 permits available!!!!!

[gophergunner]

The last time we hunted south of Emily we saw lots of wolf tracks and one of our guys caught a fleeting glimpse of one running in the woods.  Outing is a new spot for us, so we're starting from the ground up.  Three of us for deer season this year.  The group just keeps getting smaller and smaller.  Wondering who's gonna pick up the torch and keep this going.

[gophergunner]

welcome aboard!!!! outing area eh?????? there is a particular dentist on here that frequents the outing area. he cant catch fish but he tries!!!!!!! I drive thru outing on our way up to Itasca county!

If he can't catch fish, we definitely have something in common.  If they ever put a limit on cans of tuna I'd be in deep trouble.

[deadeye]

I hunt in area 221 which is lottery this year.  I think the area can support and should be a managed area.  Plenty deer around and suspect there will be some over browsing soon. 

[gophergunner]

If I read the regs right, we've got 300 antlerless tags for 171.  None of our guys have any preference, so no baldies for us this year.