DNR's 2009 deer season forecast

[Lee Borgersen]

 
 
DNR's 2009 deer season forecast

by Tom Rusch
DNR Wildlife Manger, Tower

The 2009 firearms deer season will begin Saturday Nov. 7 and end Sunday, Nov. 22. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Wildlife Office in Tower is forecasting a reduced deer population for Northern St. Louis and Lake Counties.

Wildlife managers report a smaller deer herd and "lottery" drawings for antlerless permits in six out of seven deer permit areas in our area.

The local deer herd has been thinned by two consecutive moderately-severe winters, predators, and aggressive antlerless deer harvest over the past five years. Fawn production has been reduced. Most units are now at or slightly below population goals set for each permit area in 2005. We have achieved the designated population levels in this area.

The 16-day Zone 100 season in Northeastern Minnesota will straddle the peak of the annual white-tail breeding period. Hunters should see good deer movement as the annual rutting season progresses.

Hunters will find wet field conditions following eight plus inches of rain in August, September and October, compared to last summer. Swamps and wetlands are wet, again, after being bone dry.

Liberal antlerless regulations have produced the five all-time highest deer harvests in the past six years. 2008 was the third consecutive year that antlerless harvest topped buck harvest in our area.

Winters are the biggest factor in increasing or decreasing deer populations in our area. Most local areas are showing population reduction, and overall, the deer population has trended downward to goal levels over the last 2-3 years.

Status of Local Deer Population by Permit Area

"Managed" Permit Areas Bag Limit = 2 deer

Hunters can harvest 1 bonus deer in deer permit area 178 (South of Iron Range).

Permit area 178 is the only permit area still (slightly) above population goals. It has the highest deer population in our area, and therefore, the most liberal regulations. Bonus permits can be purchased over-the- counter ($13.00) and can only be used in PA 178 or other downstate permit areas designated "managed" or intensive".

"Lottery" Permit areas Bag Limit = 1 deer

Deer permit areas 175 (North of Iron Range), 115 (Lake Vermilion area), 116 (North & East of Ely), 107 (West of Cook, Orr, and Kabetogama) 122 (East of Hoyt Lakes and Whiteface), 127 (Isabella area) and 168 (West of Hwy 65, Itasca Co.) are designated "Lottery" in 2009 to limit doe harvest. The lottery deadline was Sept. 10. Lottery permits can only be used in the permit area they are issued for.

Intensive Units: Bag limit = 5 deer

There are no "Intensive" permit areas in Northern St Louis County of Lake County in 2009.

Buck Bag Limit = 1 adult buck state-wide, regardless of how many licenses you buy.

State-wide Harvest

The state-wide outlook will also be quite different than the previous five years. A combination of aggressive antlerless harvests and tougher winters has lead to the lowest state-wide population in over five years. Wildlife managers expect a harvest similar to the early part of this decade, as the herd recovered from the severe winters of the mid-1990s. The population estimate is 1.2 million. Many areas are now at population goals. Antlerless deer harvest will continue in permit areas that are over goals, but will be more conservative in permit areas at or below established goals. Modifying antlerless harvest through permit regulations is the best way to reduce, maintain or rebuild our deer populations.

Rutting Activity

The 2009 Minnesota deer season will start as the bucks enter the chasing phase of the whitetail rut. Rutting activity should be good by opening weekend. Buck movement generally peaks between Nov. 5-15. Hunters can expect to see increased rutting activity as the season progresses. (The season starts the Saturday closest to Nov. 6, by statute.)

Field Conditions

Hunters will find field conditions wet following a wet September and October. Swamps, creeks, rivers, lakes and wetlands have received significant precipitation in the last eight weeks. Plan ahead as normal ATV and vehicle travel may not be practical. Hunters may need to prepare for alternate access plans to stands, hunting areas and for deer retrieval. Some roads and trails are in tough driving condition and will only get worse with additional rain. The DNR reminds hunters it is illegal to drive in, or damage, these wetland areas.

Baiting

Baiting deer or hunting deer in the vicinity of bait is illegal statewide, on all ownerships, in Minnesota.

Share the Harvest

Hunters are encouraged to share venison with others. "Gifting" venison to non-hunters is a great way to harvest additional antlerless deer and provide inexpensive meat to non-hunting friends and family. Make your arrangements before you harvest the deer!

Permit Boundary Changes--2010

Permit area changes approved in 2009 will be implemented for the 2010 deer season. Permit areas 175, 115, and 107 will change around Cook, Orr and the west end of Lake Vermilion. Permit area 116 and 115 will change around Ely. Permit area 178 and 122 will change around Markham.

Changes will be implemented to improve deer managers' ability to manage the local deer population.