Minnesota Deer News
 Eh? Leave fawns alone May 21, 2013 Minnesota, Budgeteer ... Even if you don’t see the mother around, a fawn almost certainly has not been abandoned. Unlike human mothers that cling to their newborns, deer mothers often move away from fawns while feeding to avoid drawing any attention to newborns... The DNR notes that mama doe will come around every four or five hours to check on the fawn, and she is usually within earshot. .. Tough winter for deer April 21, 2013 Minnesota, Duluth News Tribune ... Up to 40 percent of last year's fawns are likely to die this winter in northern St. Louis and Koochiching counties, along with about 15 percent of adult deer ... In an average winter, 10 percent of last year’s fawns die ... Snow depths remain at 15 inches or more in the north ... No wild deer test positive for CWD April 15, 2013 Wisconsin, WDNR News Release None of the more than 2,300 deer tested for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in three specific areas of Minnesota have tested positive for the disease. Deer were tested in an area of southeastern Minnesota as part of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) ongoing CWD surveillance and disease management efforts in the Pine Island area. Deer also were tested as a precaution in east-central Minnesota because the disease was discovered in wild deer from nearby Wisconsin. Testing was done in the north metropolitan area because a captive European Red Deer herd in North Oaks tested positive for the disease... “The results are encouraging in southeastern Minnesota,” said Michelle Carstensen, DNR wildlife health program director. “To date, the only CWD positive deer we’ve found is the one discovered from the 2010 hunting season that prompted our surveillance.” In the southeast, 1,195 deer tested negative for the disease in the CWD management zone during 2012, marking the second consecutive year of no positives being detected... A helicopter survey conducted in early March within the CWD management zone indicated the objective of reducing deer population density in deer permit area 602 has been met. As a result, the area will be designated as intensive rather than unlimited for this fall’s hunt, allowing hunters to harvest up to five deer. “A shift away from unlimited antlerless harvest to an intensive designation reflects recent survey results but continues our focus on managing densities while the area is still under CWD surveillance,” said Leslie McInenly, DNR big game program coordinator. [managing deer density shown not to be effective in Wisconsin, see CWD page] Wildlife hurt -- and helped -- by cold, snowy winter April 6, 2013 Minnesota, Minneapolis Star Tribune ... Though wildlife biologists have yet to assess the impact to the deer population, the severe winter might have harmed whitetails in a large swath of northern Minnesota that was hammered with snow and cold, said Jeff Lightfoot, DNR regional wildlife manager in Grand Rapids. “We will see some fawn mortality,’’ ... Stressful Time for Deer April 1, 2013 Minnesota, WDIO-TV ... We followed wildlife enthusiast, Dick Bronson, out to one of his trail cameras in Hartley Park ... "Some of the first pictures I've had on it were deer that ran right past here, closely followed by a big black dog,” ... "The dogs can run on top of the snow, and the deer with their sharp hoofs break through,” ... Balzer says the sheer exhaustion from being chased through deep snow can even cause death... Schell's Brewery Deer Park Buck Found Killed March 22, 2013 Minnesota, CBS Local ... Authorities are investigating a case of apparent animal cruelty after one of the bucks at the popular deer park at the Schell's Brewing Company in New Ulm was found killed... Minnesota DNR counts the state's elusive wolves March 17, 2013 In-Forum ... “The last survey indicated a range of 2,200 to 3,500. They give us a broad range,” said Howard Goldman, Minnesota state director of the Humane Society of the United States. “We’re saying this is much too imprecise a process.” The Humane Society opposes wolf hunting and trapping in Minnesota. Mark Johnson of the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association believes the DNR is “still on the learning curve with its population estimates and surveys” of wolves... Minnesota Senate panel passes wolf hunt moratorium 7-7 March 14, 2013 Minneapolis Star Tribune ... The bill now goes to a Senate environment budget committee, where its prospects are uncertain... A Department of Natural Resources study in 2007 estimated the state's winter wolf population at about 3,000, and the DNR says monitoring since then shows the population is stable... Good turnout for revised Deer Classic, but congestion may force move March 13, 2013 Minnesota, Minneapolis Star Tribune ...About 8,500 whitetail enthusiasts attended the revised Minnesota Deer Classic, held over the weekend at the National Sports Center (NSC) in Blaine. “We were hoping for 8,000 to 9,000 people, so we're very happy with that,'' said Barclay Kruse ... Minnesota's crash in moose population remains mystery March 8, 2013 77Square.com ... Minnesotans might never again hunt moose. The last time the state closed the hunt with no timetable for return was 1923, when moose numbered 3,000 statewide ... the northeastern herd peaked at 8,840 in 2006, but generally suffered gradual, fluctuating declines since 2002...The population estimate this winter was 2,760 ... Biologists speculate it’s a deadly combination of chronic health woes and physical stress linked to warmer, shorter winters and hotter, longer summers... APRs [antler point restrictions] help the next generation of deer hunters March 7, 2013 Minnesota, Post-Bulletin ... Preliminary data from the hunter survey following the 2012 season indicates 64 percent of Zone 3 hunters approve of APRs and want the regulations to continue... a buck needed to have at least four points on one side ... During the past three years, we have witnessed an astonishing shift in the number of bucks picked up by the cameras... Minnesota deer hunting: Antler restrictions poised to continue March 5, 2012 TwinCities.com ...The antler-point restrictions, known as APR, prohibit anyone older than 17 from killing a buck that doesn't have at least four points on at least one side of its rack... The rationale behind the restrictions is to allow a more balanced, healthier deer population that includes more mature bucks... a bill was introduced this week at the Legislature that would allow the DNR to make the call on its own, without legislative action... Shed Dog Competition February 28, 2013 Minnesota, nscsports.org Tom Dokken will be conducting the World Qualifying Shed Dog Hunt Trial on Saturday, March 9 from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. The hunt will take place on field U2 at the National Sports Center ... Deer faring well so far this winter February 24, 2013 Minnesota, Grand Forks Herald This winter, so far, has been easy on white-tailed deer in Minnesota and North Dakota. With little snow on the ground and a warmer-than-normal January ... The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources keeps a Winter Severity Index, which helps biologists estimate how many deer will make it through a northern winter. Under the WSI system, one point is accrued each day the temperature drops below zero, and another point is added for each day the snow depth is greater than 15 inches... DNR suspends deer testing for bovine TB February 23, 2013 Minnesota, St. Cloud Times ... Minnesota regained its TB-free status in cattle in 2011, but the DNR continued testing wild deer until the goal of three consecutive years of negative findings for the disease was met... they will no longer test hunter-harvested deer for TB in the 164-square-mile disease management zone in the northwest... DNR meeting Wednesday in Winona on possible deer-hunting restrictions February 23, 2013 Minnesota, La Crosse Tribune ... a public meeting Wednesday .. The DNR is looking for feedback on antler point restrictions ... An antler restriction of four points on one side for all hunters older than 17 during the archery, firearms and muzzleloader seasons... Inver Grove Heights : City weighs 'don't feed the deer!' ordinance February 22, 2013 Minnesota, Pioneer Press ... following complaints from residents, the Inver Grove Heights City Council is considering an ordinance banning the intentional feeding of deer. An initial reading will be held Monday, Feb. 25... Several metro-area cities ban feeding deer and other wildlife, including St. Paul, Oakdale, Bloomington and Sunfish Lake... Those who violate the ordinance would be given a misdemeanor citation, although that would be a "last resort," ... said Janelle Teppen, assistant city administrator. Bovine TB eradication ends painful chapter for hunters, cattlemen February 17, 2013 Minnesota, Grand Forks Herald ... the Department of Natural Resources declared bovine tuberculosis appears to have been eradicated from the region’s deer herd. ... the DNR’s decision to contract with federal sharpshooters to eradicate deer in the 164-mile TB management zone met opposition that at times bordered on hostile... Duluth city bowhunt seems to be thinning deer herd? February 17, 2013 Minnesota, Duluth News Tribune ... city bow hunters took 574 deer in last year's city hunt, according to a final report from the Arrowhead Bowhunters Alliance, which conducts the hunt for the city... down slightly from 587 in 2011 ... [effectively a recreational hunt with a stable harvest and stable deer population] ...  States Initiating Research on Moose Declines; Minnesota Halts Hunt February 15, 2013, Wildlife Management Institute ... in recent years managers have seen declines in moose across most of their range in the lower 48 states causing concern and spurring new research efforts, and hunting restrictions. This increased focus should help managers better understand what factors are contributing to the population declines ... Hallock, Minnesota to start own hunting season February 13, 2013 Grand Forks Herald City fathers recently voted to hold a bow-hunting season... [City Clerk Hank Noel and Police Chief Mike Docken] ... said the impetus for the urban deer season has been residents' complaints about damage the whitetails are doing to vegetable and flower gardens and evergreen bushes... some deer are semi-tame... DNR says bovine TB 'undetectable' in NW Minn. deer February 11, 2013 Minnesota, San Francisco Chronicle ... Minnesota regained its TB-free status for cattle in 2011 by eliminating affected cattle herds, and working with hunters to sharply reduce the deer population in the affected area ... Minnesota moose hunt is history February 7, 2013, Duluth News Tribune ... the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources announced Wednesday that it will not offer a hunting season this fall or consider future seasons until the population recovers ... According to aerial surveys, the moose population dropped 35 percent — from an estimated 4,230 to 2,760 — between 2012 and 2013.. Biologists don’t know exactly what’s killing Minnesota’s moose. While climate change is considered a factor, moose also die from disease, parasites and predation... Minnesota deer harvest declines 4 percent January 28, 2013 Post-Bulletin Leslie McInenly, the big game program leader at the Department of Natural Resources, says the decline was expected because the DNR issued fewer permits to take antlerless deer in a move to build up the deer population. Minn. deer harvest drops 4 percent in 2012 January 28, 2013 Minnesota, KARE Minnesota hunters harvested 184,649 deer during the 2012 season, down 4 percent from the previous year according to numbers released Monday by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) ...[see video below] St. Louis Park, Deer hunt causes controversy in St. Louis Park January 26, 2013 Minnesota, FOX 9 News The city of St. Louis Park has cut ties with its deer hunting contractor, calling the company's actions "inexcusable." Meanwhile, over in Minneapolis, a neighborhood is going even further, describing what happened as a reckless, dangerous ... In a written statement, the city manager explained, "the contractor [Superior Whitetail Management Company] removed a deer in an area where it was not directed to perform its operations ... Helicopters to count deer in many areas of Minnesota January 14, 2013 Minnesota, Redwood Falls Gazette Pending suitable snow cover, low-flying helicopters will be conducting whitetail deer population surveys from January through March in northwestern, central and southeastern Minnesota. “Good wildlife management decisions are based on good science,” said Lou Cornicelli, wildlife research manager for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR)... DNR reminds four-county residents of deer feeding ban January 10, 2013 Minnesota, Southernminn.com .. In Dodge, Goodhue, Olmsted, and Wabasha counties it is illegal to put out food that may attract white-tailed deer, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. The ban was put in place early in 2011 to reduce the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease, which was found in one deer harvested late in 2010 near Pine Island. Extensive sampling since then has found no other deer in the area with CWD. Duluth, Despite some frustration, Duluth bowhunters take 570 deer January 6, 2013 Minnesota, Duluth News Tribune Duluth city bow hunters took 570 deer in the city's 2012 hunt ... In eight years, including this year’s preliminary figures, 4,340 deer have been taken in the city hunt, about 84 percent of them antlerless... West Lakeland, Bowhunting scheduled to thin deer population December 22, 2012 Minnesota, Minneapolis Star Tribune The township has sought Urban Deer Management's help controlling the deer population every year since 2006, said Dan Kyllo, town board chair ... "What we found out through the DNR is that they claim that a healthy population of deer is seven to 10 deer per square mile [who at the DNR would make this kind of statement]," Kyllo said. "In counts by hunters, we were approaching 30 deer per square mile." Officials say stiffer penalties haven't detered deer baiting December 15, 2012 Minnesota, Minneapolis Star Tribune A law change requiring Minnesota hunters convicted of baiting deer to lose their hunting privileges hasn't discouraged that illegal activity, say Don Bozovsky and other law enforcement officials. "I've had more cases this year than last year," ... Deer baiting is placing food near deer stands or clearings with the intent of luring a deer into shooting range. The practice has been illegal in Minnesota since 1991. Northwest Minnesota deer kill declines December 8, 2012 Grand Forks Herald ... a reduction in antlerless permits led to fewer deer being shot during this fall’s firearms deer season ... According to John Williams, assistant regional wildlife supervisor for the DNR in Bemidji, the total deer kill for the Northwest Region was down 8.4 percent from last year. Hunters shot 21 percent fewer antlerless deer, Williams said, but the buck harvest increased about 15 percent. ... Adjusting the number of antlerless permits ... can help keep deer numbers near goals that were set more than a decade ago. Bloomington, Three Rivers parks tries to outfox deer in Bloomington December 8, 2012 Minnesota, kMinneapolis Star Tribune ...a six-foot electrified fence around 30 acres of parkland. Their aim is to teach deer to avoid an area that next spring will be planted with 55,000 seedlings in a reforestation project [deer can jump a 6 foot fence, why not 8 feet?] ... about $15,000 for the fence ... "Deer, if they want to, could easily jump this fence," he said. "We've already gotten a few reports of deer inside." They likely will be taken by sharpshooters hired to keep the park's overall deer population under control ... Paul Kortebein, manager of forestry and horticulture for Three Rivers Park District ... APR (antler point restrictions) has been good for state December 8, 2012 Minnesota, St. Cloud Times It's been three deer seasons since antler point restrictions (APR) ... APR means that before a buck can be shot, it must have at least four points on one side of its rack... I was in the camp that opposed APR three to four years ago, but my mindset has changed as well. ... a few guys in Central Minnesota that have started implementing APR voluntarily. They too have seen what a difference can be made when bucks get a chance to walk into their second or third year of life... Minnesota father, son allegedly had live, untagged deer in pickup December 3, 2012, Park Rapids Enterprise A traffic stop last month in Steele County has resulted in charges ... When Rankin [game warden] arrived on the scene about 45 minutes later, he said he noticed the deer, a whitetail doe, still was alive... dispatched the deer ... Minnesota Deer harvest numbers drop November 28, 2012 Alexandria Echo Press ... 151,400 deer have already been harvested during the firearm season... The overall antlered buck harvest increased 9 percent, while the antlerless harvest decreased by 21 percent compared to 2011. That led to a total firearm harvest that dropped about 7 percent compared to a year ago. ... lower number of antlerless deer permits issued as compared to a year ago... Preliminary 2012 firearm deer harvest numbers released November 26, 2012 Minnesota, Dairyland Peach Minnesota hunters harvested 151,400 deer so far during the 2012 early firearm season ... antlered buck harvest increased 9 percent and antlerless deer harvest decreased 21 percent compared to 2011. In total, firearm harvest was off 7 percent, which was expected given the conservative allocation of antlerless deer permits. “The increase in buck harvest and decrease in antlerless deer harvest is a reflection of slightly higher deer populations statewide, yet a more conservative harvest philosophy this year,” said Lou Cornicelli, DNR wildlife research manager... Online tool helps hunters, wildlife watchers November 26, 2012 Minnesota, Alexandria Echo Press ... A new feature of the online WMA information tool provides a habitat management report, which allows users to see the primary species at which WMA management activities are directed, what types of habitat wildlife managers are working to create and the management strategies and activities being pursued.... on the Minnesota Department Natural Resources (DNR) website at www.mndnr.gov/wmas. Duluth Bowhunters Seeing Fewer Deer In City November 25, 2012 Minnesota, WDIO-TV ... Arrowhead Bowhunters Alliance President Phillip Lockett said ... "They learn if they go into the woods, in a certain area, they might not come out," ... Many hunters also said they are seeing more bucks than does, which makes bagging a buck difficult. Within the city, hunters must take a doe first. This has been frustrating for many ... Deer harvest down both statewide and locally November 25, 2012 Minnesota, Herald Review ... from Nov. 3 -18 ... 151,400 deer have been harvested statewide... the state reported firearm harvest was off 7 percent – an expected development, as the DNR increased the number of areas where taking antlerless deer required a permit... “What drives total harvest is how we manage antlerless deer.” ... Lou Cornicelli, DNR wildlife research manager. Minnesota's wolves are a conservation success story November 25, 2012 Duluth News Tribune ... Minnesota’s wolf population was estimated in 2008 at between 2,200 and 3,500. Research indicates wolves eat 15 to 19 adult-sized deer yearly, and with about 3,000 wolves, that would be 45,000 to 57,000 deer. An estimated 450,000 deer populate the state’s forested wolf range, meaning wolves are killing 10 percent to 13 percent. Hunters kill about 100,000 deer in that same region. Despite high wolf numbers, hunters have harvested record numbers of deer since 2003, five times exceeding 250,000... Deer tests show no signs of bovine TB November 18, 2012 Minnesota, Grand Forks Herald According to Dr. Michelle Carstensen, wildlife health program supervisor for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, tests of 325 deer this fall in the affected area near Skime, Minn., found no clinical signs of the disease... The DNR since 2005 has sampled nearly 11,000 deer, most of them in northwest Minnesota, with 27 of those deer testing positive. All of the TB-positive deer came from the Skime area... | Search for news and information by keyword above or find links to state news stories organized by topic. Minnesota Data: About one million wild deer in 2012 - 2010, but up slightly in 2012 from better weather and hunting restrictions in some parts of the state. Too many deer were taken during the 1960s and rebuilding of the deer herd began in 70s, 80s and 90s. Now DNR is managing the herd on population goals based, in part, on public input. As a result, the harvest peaked in 2003 at 290,000 during a time of liberal hunting regulations. In 2012, the DNR is restricting antlerless deer hunting permits in a effort to grow the herd. About 500,000 hunters in 2011. A whitetail's home range is about one square mile. Adult males weight about 170 pounds, adult females about 145. The state's wolf population was last estimated at about 3,000 with a range of 2,200 to 3,500 The state's moose population has dropped from a peak of about 8,800 in 2006 to an estimated 4,230 to 2,760 — between 2012 and 2013. Biologists are studying the cause of the decline. Other useful links: - Minnesota Deer Facts from DNR - Minnesota Division of Fish and Wildlife - Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Scroll down to see more tweets Mission Statement: The mission of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is to work with citizens to conserve and manage the state's natural resources, to provide outdoor recreation opportunities, and to provide for commercial uses of natural resources in a way that creates a sustainable quality of life. Deer Managment Objectives: The primary objective of the deer management program has been, and will continue to be population management. The Minnesota DNR is committed to managing deer populations within goal ranges that were established through a collaborative public process. Any regulatory changes will be evaluated first on the basis of how they affect total deer numbers. Other metrics, such as satisfaction, opportunity, or changes in sex ratios, while also important, are secondary to our need to manage deer populations...., a statewide survey of deer hunters conducted in 2005 indicated that 66% (69% in Zone 3) of hunters supported the concept of enacting regulations for managing for mature bucks. However, no proposed regulation garnered more than 50% support ... Concurrent with hunter interest to manage for mature bucks is the agency’s desire to manage deer populations at goal densities that were established through a public participatory process. |
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