Minnesota hunters registered 54,000 deer during the first three days of firearms deer season, the DNR said Wednesday.
That's 30,000 less than on opening weekend in 2013. So far this year, including special hunts and the archery season, the total kill is 67,000 deer, down from 100,000 a year ago.
"Comparing this year's harvest to harvests in previous years doesn't't necessarily reflect hunter opportunity or the number of deer on the landscape in 2014," said Leslie McInenly, DNR big game program leader. This year's lower harvest is by design because regulations were implemented to place more deer – particularly does – off limits to increase Minnesota's deer population.
Throughout much of Minnesota, deer hunting continues through Sunday, Nov. 16. The northern rifle zone season continues through Sunday, Nov. 23; the late southeastern season, runs Saturday, Nov. 22, through Sunday, Nov. 30; and the muzzleloader season, begins Saturday, Nov. 29, and continues through Sunday, Dec. 14.
