MN deer hunters

[Jameson]

...I'm struggling to see how our kill could be higher than last year...

Open up some of the traditional lottery areas to managed hunting. Make the entire southern half of the state managed. We'd be in trouble next year, but this year I'd bet the statewide kill would be higher.

[PurpleFloyd]

In my travels this year from the 169/I 90 corridor to the South Dakota border I am seeing more deer than I did last year and more Pheasants as well. That being said I believe there will be a gradual decline in population as more habitat disappears and the land has less capacity to carry the deer it used to.

* Keep in mind I am commenting only specifically on the area stated above and in no way intend to indicate any of that is relevant to any other area in the state where any other individual has observed anything differnt than I have seen*

[laker1]

Many times you have preliminary numbers and they do go over them looking for errors etc..

It was much more common before they were computer registered. They were hand counted sometimes up to 3 times. Very time consuming and more apt to computer error.

Total harvest continues also after rife season. You still have 6 weeks of bow hunting and muzzel loading season.

[smsmith]

Here's what Steve Merchant says about the 2014 deer harvest...my guess appears to be right in line with what one of the DNR top dogs is predicting

"Merchant added that he suspects this year's harvest will fall between 120,000 and 150,000 deer. It could be the first time since 1997 that the state's deer take falls below 150,000 animals.

He compares this season to the 1996 season, which also offered bucks-only designation in some areas and very few antlerless permits in others. That year's deer harvest dropped by 60,000 animals from the previous season and Merchant expects "something in that ballpark" to happen again in 2014.

"We'll see a very significant reduction in harvest this year," he said. "It will be as low as we've seen in a long time, possibly as low as 120,000 deer."

[BuckSutherland]

I for one am disappointed that 172 was not included in the bucks only. I was up all last week and had to do lots of traveling. The count is way down from years before. Everyone in my group is applying for one of the 500 doe tags. I hope we all get drawn cause we have agreed not to use them. It was foolish to give bow hunters and kids the pass.

From the weather fools I listen to things are supposed to be brutal again this winter. I sure hope they are wrong.

[redneckdan]

I'll be the pessimist and say 99,000.

Seeing a few fawns up here. Does look to be in pretty good shape. Seeing about the same number of adult deer as late last summer. Didn’t do a garden this year so not as many eating in our yard this summer. They still raid the bird feeders and the chicken feeder though…. As far as weather I have been hearing rumors of el nino, the warm flavored kind. Possibly warmer than average into feb and then dropping to about normal march into april.

[hockeybc69]

They cant tell me what saturday will be like..... much less next march...

[jerkbait]

They have trouble predicting yesterday's weather.

[hoppe56307]

They have trouble predicting yesterday's weather.

[smsmith]

I'll be the pessimist and say 99,000.

I wouldn't be shocked. If our harvest falls under 100K after being nearly 300K a decade ago....that would be pretty indicative of some major management issues I'd say

[SmellEsox]

I think it will be closer to 150,000.

[smsmith]

I think it will be closer to 150,000.

Could be...I think its pretty safe to say that would be about the maximum this year. We could get there if opening weekend brings ideal conditions.

My guess of 140K is starting to look a bit optimistic to me right now.

[hockeybc69]

150k with the amount of lottery and HC permit areas?

VERY unlikely. Although, I suppose with the cut in permits you will see an increase in Moms, grandmas, or just family members in general buying licenses for the first time in their lives this year..... If you know what I am getting at.....

[WalleyMN17]

Unfortunately you are probably right. We NEED a season of under 100K to help right the ship thanks to years of DNR mismanagement.

[smsmith]

We NEED a season of under 100K to help right the ship thanks to years of DNR mismanagement.

Yup...I'd sure like to see deer groups here start encouraging folks to not shoot does this year..

[bowhunternw]

The deer population is going to go up and down depending on a few factors, there is still a very huntable population. It can bounce back very quick as long as they have the right living conditions. What you should be worried about and see as a real threat to hunting is the loss of habitat. I do have my fingers crossed that e15 doesn't become reality.

People that hunt on a decent sized property and aren't seeing deer well then you either got a habitat problem or too much pressure.

[smsmith]

People that hunt on a decent sized property and aren't seeing deer well then you either got a habitat problem or too much pressure.

Define "decent sized" and "seeing deer" please

I have neither a habitat or a pressure problem. I do "see deer" but nowhere near the number I should be seeing in an area that has this quality of habitat.

The problem is DNR mismanagement...too liberal of antlerless tag allocation. Secondarily the problem is that too many MN deer hunters are happy to buy and fill those tags. Just because the DNR sells antlerless tags it doesn't mean hunters have to buy and fill them.

[hockeybc69]

We are not shooting does except,,,,,,, my daughter who will be hunting her first year and will get her choice of what to do with her tag. Hell if I am going to have her pass a doe to run over to the neighbors and get shot... Hard enough for the rest of us to pass on deer every year and hope they live. My daughter is going to go out and have a good experience, however she would like it to be.

[BuckSutherland]

What you should be worried about and see as a real threat to hunting is the loss of habitat. I do have my fingers crossed that e15 doesn't become reality.

Yep, blame it all on ethanol. Nothing to do with wolves, poaching, brutal winters, urban sprawl and a federal govt that is not renewing CRP contracts. SE MN is full of corn, and guess what?? They have high deer density and giant bucks.

You think the NE part of the state can blame the lack of deer on ethanol?? I didn't think so take your garbage somewhere else.

[hockeybc69]

... you forgot the MN DNRs liberal tag policy to date.... That's the single biggest factor by far.

[LandDr]

I'm not picking sides...but I think it is fair to say that SE Minnesota has a total different landscape than most of the rest of MN. The slopes, contours and soils often do not allow intensive row cropping like you see in other parts of the state. Also, you often see fields not tilled in the fall or only lightly tilled for the sake of soil conservation...this leaves a lot of food out there for wildlife. The ravines, etc. provide a lot of cover and protection from winter elements. It is very different from the intensively cropped areas of other parts of the state.

Ethanol did push the price of crops up...I am not sure how anyone can argue that it didn't. But maybe there is an argument for that case.

But that fact is that if you want to see more deer and healthier deer, then you need to provide thermal cover, food, water, etc...and fewer wolves and fewer cougars for your northern deer hunters.

As I have expressed in the past, we see 20 to 30 deer per stand every time we go out to sit. Why? We have had the same winters as everyone else...BUT...I have implemented fantastic thermal cover on the property with adjacent and protected food sources with ample water, etc. It is like laying in bed with your fridge at your side stocked with your favorite beverages and sandwiches, heater is on and you are set...bring on the inclement weather!

I give seminars daily at Game Fair at 1pm...stop by for some great discussion. Seminar is called "Small Property Management for Whitetails".

[hockeybc69]

How many acres do you have to see that number of deer per sit? I haven't seen 20-30 deer total in probably the last 3-4 seasons total in Ottertail county. Which is kinda sad.

Our area gets lambasted with hunting pressure. That's what I cant control beyond our 120 acres and have done a ton of habitat work on our land.

[LandDr]

This demonstration farm is 160 acres. I have approx 60-70 does and approx 15 bucks. Of these, I usually have 7 doe groups with 5 dominant bucks. One or two dominant bucks are usually 170+, and then so on down.

Come to the seminar...it is an eye opener and it will really get you thinking in a different direction. I discovered this philosophy completely by accident...but it makes all the sense in the world.

I don't worry what my neighbors are doing...if they shoot 5 deer a year per person or farm everything fence row to fence row...it still won't affect my property.

[LandDr]

You will have tough years...but with the proper design, you will at least not go down. On the good years you will gain...but then not go down from there, etc. The design reduces the risk so you don't go back to square one.

The other agencies and organizations have had 20 to 30 years to figure it out, how about try something different?

[BuckSutherland]

You should make a U tub video of the seminar. I would like to hear it. We planted all kinds of trees up north for thermal cover this spring. Also trying to establish some food plots. Resources limited.