REGIONAL— There’s growing evidence of a recovery of deer populations in the area, but it won’t be translating into greater opportunity for hunters in the North Country this fall.
The DNR has set its 2026 bag limits for white-tailed deer and hunters will once again be largely limited to bucks only in northern and central St. Louis and Lake counties.
Tower Area DNR Wildlife Manager Jessica Holmes said it’s a conservative approach, one that reflects the fact that the deer populations in most permit areas in northeastern Minnesota remain below goal.
That’s the bad news for deer hunters. The good news, said Holmes, are the consistent reports of more deer sightings throughout the region than in recent years. Holmes forms that view by talking to conservation officers, DNR forestry staff, the public, retired wildlife managers, and through her own observations as she works outside the office on wildlife projects throughout the region.
“I’m probably seeing more fawns than I have in the past four or five years,” said Holmes. “It’s not anywhere near the golden years, but what we’re seeing is better than before.”
Increasing hunter success in 2025, which was up nearly 20 percent over the 2023 hunt, points to the impact of three mild winters in a row, which helped to reduce winter mortality and left does in better physical shape. Healthier does are more likely to birth twins in the spring.
DNR wildlife managers insist that winter severity is the primary driver of the region’s deer population. While many in the public point to wolf predation, which certainly is a factor, wildlife managers note that deer in the region have shown the ability to withstand substantial predator pressure in the past, while still maintaining robust numbers. Recent estimates by the DNR and other wolf researchers in the region suggest a modest decline in wolf numbers in northeastern Minnesota, likely a reflection of the lower deer numbers.
Wildlife managers have increasingly pointed to changes in forest habitat, particularly the increase in the coverage of middle-aged aspen (15-30 years) forests. That age classification provides less valuable deer habitat than very young aspen (which offers quality forage) or older aspen stands, which tend to be more diverse and offer better winter cover.