Deer Hunt Success Down

Lower deer populations and a windy first weekend of the firearms season resulted in Minnesota's deer harvest dropping 7 percent in 2011, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Minnesota hunters harvested 192,300 deer during the 2011 season, a drop of 15,000 from the 207,000 deer harvested in 2010.

"Upwards of 50 percent of the annual deer harvest occurs during opening weekend," said Lou Cornicelli, DNR wildlife research manager. "The high winds hunters experienced opening weekend hindered deer activity and the associated harvest."

Deer densities were lower in many areas because of hunting regulations designed to bring populations to goal levels, and because of a harsh winter in 2010.

Now that many areas are at the established goal levels, there is a general dissatisfaction among hunters with the current deer population. As a result, the DNR will develop a process in the near future to reassess deer population goals. Although that process may not be complete for several months, DNR staff will examine population densities and trends in all permit areas and begin making adjustments in time for the 2012 season.