Hampered by freezing temperatures and strong winds throughout much of the state, and with a significantly reduced number of antlerless permits in hand, Minnesota hunters on opening weekend of deer season harvested 36 percent fewer animals than they did a year ago.
Total kill for Saturday and Sunday was about 54,000 whitetails, fully 30,000 fewer than in 2013.
Including the archery kill and harvests from special hunts held earlier this fall, a total of 67,000 deer have been taken, compared to 100,000 a year ago during the same period, a reduction of about 33 percent.
The reduced kill was largely expected because the Department of Natural Resources cut the number of antlerless — doe — permits it issued, particularly across the state's north, in an attempt to boost the amount of breeding animals carried through to spring.
The past two severe winters, combined with what many hunters believe were overly liberal DNR harvest allotments in some portions of the state in recent years, have resulted in a diminished herd the agency is now attempting to rebuild.
Anecdotal hunter reports last weekend, as well as DNR conservation officer observations, confirm that hunting success was down significantly, particularly in the north.
Three hunters staying at White Eagle Resort on Lake Vermilion, for example, had seen only a single doe by day's end on Tuesday, after four days of hunting.
The lower harvest also is a result of relatively fewer hunters being afield on opening weekend.
