Archers bring in best deer opener harvest since 2007

Minnesota's archery deer hunters had one of the best openers in years, registering 1,800 deer Saturday through Monday -- a 28 percent increase over last year.

It was the best opening three days since 2007, when hunters registered 2,400 deer, said Lou Cornicelli, Department of Natural Resources big game coordinator. Last year, hunters killed 1,300 deer the first three days.

Could that foretell a big deer harvest this fall for hunters?

"It's too early to tell," said Cornicelli, who said there could be several reasons why the harvest is up. The weather was perfect, which might have enticed more hunters to head for the woods. And hunters might be registering their deer earlier because of changes the DNR has made to simplify registration. For the first time ever, hunters can register their deer via a phone or computer. Or the deer population might be up, due to the relatively mild winter last season.

"I think there are more deer out there than people initially believed," Cornicelli said. "We didn't really have a winter."

About 100,000 archery hunters are expected in the woods this season, which runs until Dec. 31.

Ruffed grouse reports Reports from the opening weekend of Minnesota's ruffed grouse season are encouraging.

"In general, people were pleased," he said.

Dick hunted in Lake of the Woods County with a new dog and had 15 flushes in about 31/2 hours Saturday.

"I shot a couple and had a blast," he said.

Jay Johnson, an avid grouse hunter and DNR hunting recruitment and retention coordinator, said he and a hunting partner and their pointing dogs flushed 20 grouse in about 31/2 hours Saturday and 27 grouse on Sunday in north-central Minnesota.

"It appears we had decent production," he said. "If this is any indication, I think it's shaping up to be a pretty good hunting season."