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TOWER—While last winter was about as mild as you’re ever going to see in Minnesota—and a muchneeded reprieve for the deer herd in the northeastern portion of the state— the 2024 hunting season is going to look a lot like last year, with many Deer Permit Areas (DPA) sporting a bucks-only or lottery designation.
And with the antlerless lottery permit deadline fast approaching (Sept. 5), the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is reminding hunters to take a look at the newest Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations handbook to see what changes are in store for this fall.
Hunters reviewing the 2024 Minnesota hunting regulations will find season details in most areas of Minnesota similar to what they were last year, including northern areas with lower bag limits intended to increase deer populations, according to DNR officials.
“Harvest designations remain conservative in the north as deer populations continue to recover from several severe winters.
Northern deer populations need time and multiple mild winters to recover to goal levels,” Jessica Holmes, Tower Area Wildlife Manager for the DNR, said this week. “We will not get a population rebound after one mild winter here in NE Minnesota.”
Total deer harvest during the 2023 season was down across Minnesota, particularly in the northern half of the state.
The DNR reported that hunters statewide harvested 158,678 deer during the 2023 hunting season— which includes archery, firearms andmuzzleloaderseasons—alower total harvest than in recent years.
Harvest was down 8% compared to the 2022 season and 14% less than the five-year average.
The greatest decreases were in the northern part of the state, where deer harvest compared to 2022 was 21% lower in the northeast region and 8% lower in the northwest region.
The most dramatic declines could be found in Permit Areas (PA) 176, 177, and 178.
Hunters harvested 576 deer in PA 176 compared to 714 in 2022 (a 19% drop); 1,272 deer in PA 178 compared to 1,474 in 2022 (a 14% drop); and 562 deer in PA 177 compared to 647 in 2022 (a 13% drop).
Harvest this past season was down 11% in PA 132 and 5% in PA 118. It was up slightly in PA 119 (2%) and 130 (3%).
Hunter numbers were also down 8% across the Tower Wildlife Area, but that is the continuation of a trend across the state and nation.
Holmes said overall deer hunters can expect to see similar or more conservative bag limits in Minnesota this year.
“Ninety-nine deer permit area designations will remain the same as the previous season, with 30 deer permit area designations (primarily in the northern portion of the state) reducing the harvest of antlerless deer. No deer permit areas are increasing bag limits this year,” she said.
Locally, DPA’s 118, 119, 130, 132, 169 and 176 are all bucks-only and DPA’s 177 and 178 are lottery.
Holmes added that reports from the field have been positive thus far, but the herd has a ways to go to recover.
“With the mild winter and early green up of 2024, we are seeing higher reproductive success. These conditions allow for does to come out of winter healthier resulting in some twin fawns,” she said. “Mild winter conditions this past season were favorable for white-tailed deer, but northern deer populations will need multiple mild winters to recover after the severe winters in 2021-2022 and 2022-23.”
Holmes said bag limits are set every spring after recommendations from area wildlife managers, stakeholder input, tribal coordination, hunter observations, and taking into consideration Winter Severity.
Also, the Tower Area DNR will be hosting a “Talk about Wildlife” open house August 15 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information call 218-3007860 or see https:// www. dnr.state.mn.us/wildlife/ talk-about-wildlife.html.
For more information on winter severity’s impact on deer, visit mndnr.gov/mammals/ deer/management/ wsi.html or watch our recorded webinar: https:// www.youtube. com/ watch?v=IoLi-juOE3o& feature=youtu.be. — The following are some key dates from the DNR for this deer season:
• Deer hunting licenses can be purchased now.
• Archery season: Saturday, Sept. 14, through Tuesday, Dec. 31.
• Antlerless lottery deadline: Purchase your license by Thursday, Sept. 5.
• Youth and early antlerless season: Thursday, Oct. 17, through Sunday, Oct. 20.
• Firearms season: Saturday, Nov. 9, various closing dates depending on location.
• Muzzleloader season: Saturday, Nov. 30, through Sunday, Dec. 15.
Deer season specifics for each deer permit area can be found on the Minnesota DNR website. Electronic copies of all 2024 Minnesota hunting regulations are available now online and printed copies will be available by mid-August wherever licenses are sold.
