Minnesota Deer Population:  Nearly one million whitetail deer in 2023 with about 950,000 deer in 2020, 935,000 in 2019, and 960,000 in 2018.  Good weather into 2024 increased some populations, but a harsh 2022-23 winter reduced populations in the north.  DNR's 2024-25 deer forecast.  Mild winters in 2020-21 and 2021-22 except in the north with overall populations about stable, but weather contributed to lower populations in 2022.  


A modest downward trend from an estimated population of 1 million deer in 2016 and 2017.  Up from about 850,000 deer in 2015, 800,000 in 2014.   A hard 2018-19 winter dramatically reduced the population in the north  Mild winters and fewer antlerless permits account for the upward trend into 2018, numbers still down in the northeast.   The deer harvest peaked in 2003 and the population trended down from then into 2013.  The 2024-25 deer outlook.


Minnesota Deer News