Minnesota Deer Harvest Numbers

[blake]

NEWS!


Final 2009 Minnesota Deer Harvest Numbers Released

A strategy to achieve deer population goals by allowing hunters to harvest fewer deer succeeded in 2009, according to final deer harvest numbers the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has released.
Hunters harvested 194,178 deer during the 2009 season. The decline reflects the fact that fewer permits were available to hunters to harvest antlerless deer because the deer population has been reduced to desired levels in many permit areas.

“We regulate deer populations by allocating antlerless deer harvest,” Cornicelli said. “In 2008, one-third of deer permit areas were lottery. In 2009, half the deer permit areas were either lottery or bucks-only, so hunters could only take one deer and many did not receive an either-sex permit. Consequently, total harvest declined because thousands of antlerless deer were not included.”

Firearm hunters harvested 165,428 deer while archery and muzzleloader hunters harvested 20,659 and 8,091 deer, respectively. Overall, the statewide firearm harvest was down 13 percent from 2008. Archery was down 9 percent. The muzzleloader harvest decreased 15 percent.
However buck harvest in 2009 was only 1 percent lower than in 2008 and archery and muzzleloader hunters actually took 6 percent and 11 percent more bucks in 2009, respectively.

Final population estimates will be completed after the winter ends. DNR staff re-evaluates populations relative to established goals. In many areas, hunters should expect similar bag limits and possible placement of their hunting area into the lottery designation, requiring them to apply for lottery permit.

The final deer harvest number is calculated using information provided by hunters when they register their deer. A final report, which includes more detailed harvest information, is available online at www.mndnr.gov.
Hunters should pay close attention to the hunting synopsis, which comes out in early August, to see if they need to apply for a lottery either-sex permit.

For the 2010 season, the deadline for the either-sex permit application is Thursday, Sept. 9. Archery deer hunting will begin Saturday, Sept. 18. The statewide firearms deer-hunting season opens Saturday, Nov. 6.. The muzzleloader season opens Saturday, Nov. 27.

This post is for informational purposes only.

 

[bowmaker]

This sounds a lot like what I have been predicting for Iowa in the next couple of years. It still seems to me that the IDNR is making some big mistakes that will lead to huge revenue decline from lack of licenses sales. Maybe they are counting on the sustainable funding package.

 

[Hardwood11]

Minnesota

Minnesota is now considering antler point restrictions and disallowing cross-tagging (party hunting) for bucks. Although, I want them to do SOMETHING!
The best option would be to move the gun season back two weeks and we would see more mature bucks and we could still offer plenty of doe tags in areas with higher doe populations.

MN used to be one of the best for big bucks, but not anymore. A recent study showed that 63% of the buck harvest in MN was 1 1/2 year old deer or younger.

Personally, I wouldn't mind seeing all three---move the season back, antler point restrictions and a limit of one buck per person (no cross tagging). Then we would have some big mature bucks!

 

[JNRBRONC]

A recent study showed that 63% of the buck harvest in MN was 1 1/2 year old deer or younger.

I was informed that since Iowa does not require check stations, there are no real number for how many 1.5 year old bucks are taken in Iowa each year. An educated guess might be that they compromise somewhere around 30, maybe approaching 40%. I stand corrected.

I agree that gun hunting during the rut isn't helping.

 

[dc240nt]

Minnesota is now considering antler point restrictions and disallowing cross-tagging (party hunting) for bucks. Although, I want them to do SOMETHING!
The best option would be to move the gun season back two weeks and we would see more mature bucks and we could still offer plenty of doe tags in areas with higher doe populations.

MN used to be one of the best for big bucks, but not anymore. A recent study showed that 63% of the buck harvest in MN was 1 1/2 year old deer or younger.

Personally, I wouldn't mind seeing all three---move the season back, antler point restrictions and a limit of one buck per person (no cross tagging). Then we would have some big mature bucks!

Its not all doom and gloom. we still produced the biggest Typical buck in all of north America in 2009. The knisley buck is another example of whats out there. I do agree we could do better. But with that said you cant complain about a 25-30 B&C per year average. You have to remember, Minnesota hunters are a very lazy bunch. The guys that want to get big deer seem to find them every year. Now consider how much of this State is actually unhunted and you can see there are deer that are not getting any kind of pressure at all. Also, as a measurer for the State for over 25 years, I'll promise you we are killing big deer but more and more people dont want you or me to know about it. We dont have an outdoor writer hiding behind every tree waiting to write an article about every giant that gets taken. I've seen outragous deer that have never been entered or taken outside of the family farm. We arnt known for our Non Typicals, but its only Saskatchewan that can hang with our Typicals, we just took our 4th official 200+ incher last year, and lets not forget about the poached 8 point. A member of Minnesota Official Measurers just completed a three year compilation of known B&C heads that have been scored but not entered. He found close to 700 (thats not a misprint!) Whitetails alone! And these are just the ones that we know of. If we could get them all entered, we would literally rewrite the record book. I see thousands of pictures a year while traveling with my display, I'll promise you that Minnesota is doing very, very, well. And that is a "little known" fact. The system may not be perfect or work for everyone, and it doesnt work for me or the area's I'm allowed to hunt. but when you really look into it and dig deeper then just the surface, you'll find there are many bucks reaching a ripe old age. I'm for any changes that will bring us more big deer. but at the same time, the current system, as much as we crow about it being flawed, it has been working pretty good.

 

[JNRBRONC]

Its not all doom and gloom.

A member of Minnesota Official Measurers just completed a three year compilation of known B&C heads that have been scored but not entered. He found close to 700 (thats not a misprint!) Whitetails alone! And these are just the ones that we know of.

Forget Iowa people, Minnesota is the place to go!!!:grin:

 

[Hardwood11]

Dc240nt: I guess I agree with you that we do produce a lot of high scoring bucks and many are never entered. However, think what it could be. Will the antler point restrictions help, probably. I still think moving the gun season back even one week would help, moving it two weeks would be even better.

I have shot a 150+ with the bow and a 130" both which I never entered in the books... I've also missed a 175" inch plus at 10 yards and a 155" inch at 15 yards both with the bow (choke) so yes we have nice deer, but all I am saying is that it could be much better!

 

[dc240nt]

Dc240nt: Will the antler point restrictions help, probably. I still think moving the gun season back even one week would help, moving it two weeks would be even better. yes we have nice deer, but all I am saying is that it could be much better!

I agree completely. But it has to be done unilaterally. The northern part of the state produces as many if not more B&C deer then SE corner. Yet its always the SE getting special regs and changes. They need to make changes that will benefit the entire state, such as points restrictions on all state lands including forests. This will give the northern boys some incentive as well.