REGIONAL— Deer hunters will have more opportunity in much of northern St. Louis and Lake counties this fall, thanks to a series of mild winters that have allowed the deer population to recover from severe losses in 2013 and 2014.

In several permit areas, including 177, 118, 117, and 130, hunters will have the choice of shooting one deer of either sex. According to Tower DNR Area Wildlife Manager Tom Rusch, agricultural activity in the Cook area has helped deer numbers rebound in permit area 177, allowing for the return of the “hunter’s choice” designation. While deer numbers remain lower in permit areas 117, 118, and 130, these areas are within the moose management zone, where the DNR seeks to maintain lower deer numbers to reduce the spread of deer parasites that are often deadly to moose. “Everything in moose range is hunter’s choice,” said Rusch.

Elsewhere, the DNR is boosting the number of available antlerless permits in some cases, while still maintaining a lottery system. In northern St. Louis County, that includes permit areas 176, where the DNR is increasing the number of available permits from 500 last year to 1,500 for 2017. In permit area 108, the DNR will issue 100 antlerless permits, the same number as last year.

Hunters wishing to enter the lottery for an antlerless tag have until Thursday, Sept. 7, to purchase their license.

The one holdout is permit area 119, located generally between Hwy. 53 and the Vermilion River, where hunters will continue to be restricted to bucks only. Rusch said the area has been subject to intensive timber harvesting in recent years, which has eliminated critical winter cover for deer, slowing their population recovery. “When there is no winter cover, there is an effect,” said Rusch. Indeed, permit area 119 is that last permit in the state still subject to a bucks-only designation. Permit area 108 is experiencing a similar situation, according to Rusch, which accounts for the very limited number of antlerless permits being issued in the very large permit area.

The regulations for each of Minnesota’s deer permit areas are set to manage deer populations toward goals established for each area. These goals are based on information from the DNR and local citizens through a periodic goal-setting process. 

Deer hunting licenses, lottery applications and special hunt applications are available at any DNR license agent, by telephone at 888-646-6367 or online at mndnr.gov/buyalicense. Lottery winners will be notified in October.

The 16-day regular firearms deer season gets underway on Saturday, Nov. 4. The archery deer season gets underway on Saturday, Sept. 16.