2014 Deer Regs Avail......

[DaveT]

Must have had some last minute changes they needed to throw in...

Do they ever do anything right...

I heard they throw a pretty good party...

[1eyeReD]

Yea they must've rushed it. Here is the 2014 MN Deer Map .pdf version of the actual regs map/brochure. 2nd Page, bottom left. Key makes sense there. I'm sure they've had enough questions by now. They'll have an administrator update the image on the site soon I would think.

[Fishalittle]

Lots of factors in that equation. First off all the gear to even go.....thousands. Once your that far the annual trip runs about 600 for a cow tag and food/fuel. 700-800 for bull and food/fuel. This is with a group of 4 guys and sharing food/fuel expenses on a do it yourself hunt in Colorado.

I have been going yearly but last year said I would skip this year and do a little more MN archery. So now that we can only shoot 1 deer......

Cheaper to go to town and buy beef but not as much fun or as tasty!

[smsmith]

Lots of factors in that equation. First off all the gear to even go.....thousands. Once your that far the annual trip runs about 600 for a cow tag and food/fuel. 700-800 for bull and food/fuel. This is with a group of 4 guys and sharing food/fuel expenses on a do it yourself hunt in Colorado.

I have been going yearly but last year said I would skip this year and do a little more MN archery. So now that we can only shoot 1 deer......

Cheaper to go to town and buy beef but not as much fun or as tasty!

That's what I was wondering. I do like elk, but that kind of money buys a bunch of beef and pork

[ANYFISH2]

First off, I am happy to see more HC and lottery areas. I thought changes would come, these were more drastic than I expected. I see it as a good thing for deer numbers.

I hunt area 246 and was shocked to see only 500 doe permits available! I have been hunting 246 for all 24 years of hunting and never has there only been 500.

[Fishalittle]

I see it taking a lot of young bucks out of the cycle so for those pushing for APR it will only get worse....or maybe their voice will get louder. People are gonna shoot a deer and if they can't shoot a doe then that forky buck....tastes good.

[smsmith]

You're probably right fishalittle...but I can't see our buck harvest getting a whole lot worse than it already is.

[hockeybc69]

APR people need to look at this for the long term good.....

Sure, they wont be getting what they want today, but when and if populations rise and the DNR allows for higher densities, then the "brown its down" people will have their fair share to harvest. This ultimately will lessen pressure on bucks as there is just simply more deer for all..... Again,,,, only if the DNR opts for higher overall densities for the long term.

[deerminator]

I think if its brown its down will still prevail and I don't think the harvest will fall all that considerably. I remember reading an article in Outdoor News years back where Lou C said that when bag limits increase, the number of phantom hunters drops considerably. Bottom line, look for a whole lot more wives, girlfriends, mothers and MILs to suddenly take up deer hunting this Fall. Last year, one grandmother in our community told me that her three men had nine tags and we're in a lottery zone.

[lakevet]

I see it taking a lot of young bucks out of the cycle so for those pushing for APR it will only get worse....or maybe their voice will get louder. People are gonna shoot a deer and if they can't shoot a doe then that forky buck....tastes good.

A few thoughts:

Bucks only helps retain hunters and license sales while allowing minimal impact on herd reproduction and growth. It is a time tested tool accepted by hunters to help herd rebuild numbers.

Having APR's combined with bucks only is unlikely to happen. Too great a risk of drop in license sales. Also hunters opinions on APR could change to being against APR,s when the chance of seeing and shooting a mature buck is slim, while watching does and other bucks go by. Especially if go several days without seeing any deer then the one you see you can't shoot.

Bucks only reinforces idea that "I gotta shoot a buck, any buck" even when opportunity to shoot a doe arises after herd rebounds. When the herd rebounds, the "brown it's down" hunter happily fills their tag with does or bucks, thus actually exerting less pressure on the buck population than the "buck only" hunter.

Up north WINTER TRUMPS EVERYTHING and can wipe out a significant portion of the deer herd, with rut weary mature bucks and fawns the first to go. Having good winter habitat, especially thermal cover ( such as cedar stands) is critical. Food plots didn't amount to much help for the deer around here last winter, but cedar did.

lakevet

[mntatonka]

I think if its brown its down will still prevail and I don't think the harvest will fall all that considerably. I remember reading an article in Outdoor News years back where Lou C said that when bag limits increase, the number of phantom hunters drops considerably. Bottom line, look for a whole lot more wives, girlfriends, mothers and MILs to suddenly take up deer hunting this Fall. Last year, one grandmother in our community told me that her three men had nine tags and we're in a lottery zone.

[smsmith]

I think if its brown its down will still prevail and I don't think the harvest will fall all that considerably. I remember reading an article in Outdoor News years back where Lou C said that when bag limits increase, the number of phantom hunters drops considerably. Bottom line, look for a whole lot more wives, girlfriends, mothers and MILs to suddenly take up deer hunting this Fall. Last year, one grandmother in our community told me that her three men had nine tags and we're in a lottery zone.

I'd certainly hope that most deer hunters in this state aren't poachers. If a guy is buying a tag for his wife, girlfriend, mother, MIL, whatever and she isn't in the field actively hunting while that tag gets filled....that guy is a poacher....plain and simple.

[1eyeReD]

Do you guys think the new bag limits in most these units will reduce the amount of hunters in the field? As a bowhunter, I personally chose to hunt only managed units to get a crack at a doe early on then spend the rest of the season chasing a buck. Haha looks like I'll be doing more duck hunting this season. Even considering out of state hunts now that my ol' haunts less than 2 hrs from home are all 1 deer only allowing no bonus permits.

[lichen fox]

Although it really doesn't pertain to my hunting....I'm just curious about area 602 the regs say it's been reverted back to the original zone numbers...

WELCOME TO THE 2014 MINNESOTA HUNTING SEASONS.

New regulations are listed below. Have a safe and enjoyable hunt.

NEW NEW REGULATIONS FOR 2014

General hunting

• Persons age 60 or over may take deer or turkey by crossbow under an archery

license during the respective regular archery seasons. See pages 23, 61 and

76.

Bear hunting

• Bear licenses for resident and nonresident youth ages 10-12 are now free

(does not include $1 agent issuing fee) and bear licenses for resident and

nonresident youth ages 13-17 are $5.

Crow

• Crow season dates have changed. See page 43.

Deer hunting

• A bucks-only management strategy has been implemented in a number of

northern permit areas this year. No antlerless deer may be taken in any of

these areas by any hunters during any season with all license types (including youth, bow hunters, and individuals with disabled permits).

• There are no disease management areas in Minnesota this year. Deer permit

area 602 has reverted back to the former permit areas (341 and 343).

• Telephone and internet registration will be available in series 300 permit

areas, except areas subject to CWD surveillance sampling during the

firearms season.

• An early antlerless season will be held in sub-permit area zones within

permit areas 346 and 349 (consult large fold-out Dear Season Map).

Trespass

• A person may not remain or return within one year to any land for outdoor

recreation purposes after being personally notified not to do so by the owner,

occupant or lessee.

• On another person’s private land or a public right-of-way, a person may not discharge a firearm within 500 feet of a building occupied by humans or livestock without written permission of the owner, occupant or lessee of the building. See page 6.

Dogs or other domestic animals

Dogs or other domestic animals that are incidentally caught in traps may

now be reported to a conservation officer. See page pages 38 and 47.

[lichen fox]

Never mind...I figured it out

[mrklean]

I'm a little surprised the area I hunt went form Managed to Lotto I always thought the population was pretty strong population at least from what we were seeing. I cant remember do you have to pay to apply for a doe tag?

[laker1]

I'm a little surprised the area I hunt went form Managed to Lotto I always thought the population was pretty strong population at least from what we were seeing. I cant remember do you have to pay to apply for a doe tag?

No,just apply when buying license.

[laker1]

I have looked at the stats and if under a certain percent of individuals will receive lottery permits,deer harvest will definitely drop as intended. That is what most hunters want. Now some will complain they can't just keep shooting everything they see.

[hockeybc69]

Do you guys think the new bag limits in most these units will reduce the amount of hunters in the field?

Possibly could... But doing nothing and letting the herd get hit hard for years to come would do no different. People would just give up on hunting if they didn't see any deer too.

6 of one or half dozen of the other as the old saying goes....

[Jameson]

Do you guys think the new bag limits in most these units will reduce the amount of hunters in the field?...

not significantly.

It may reduce hours afield per hunter, but I don't think many folks are going to pass up on going deer hunting entirely.

[BLACKJACK]

People would just give up on hunting if they didn't see any deer too.

I agree, whether its ducks, pheasants, deer, a person needs to have some success now and then or they'll find something else to do. Nice sunrises and sunsets only go so far.

[BLACKJACK]

I'm a little surprised the area I hunt went form Managed to Lotto I always thought the population was pretty strong population at least from what we were seeing. I cant remember do you have to pay to apply for a doe tag?

Just curious, what area do you hunt??

I hunt 277, it was Managed a few years back but the last several its been lottery, I see a lot of deer but its a big area with a lot of black farmland so looks like they're trying to balance it out.

Miss that Managed designation though, was nice to be able to shoot that early doe for the freezer and then hunt thru the rut, now if you shoot a deer in Oct - you're done

[woody1975]

So how does area 601 work? Can you use a bonus tag with your bow?

The below statement has me a little confused

"Metro Deer Management Area (601)*** (Any 2014

firearms or muzzleloader.) Nov. 8–30"

DL

[woody1975]

Disregard....I found my answer in the regs!

DL

[BRULEDRIFTER]

So, if ya stick a buck with your bow, can ya still buy a firearms tag and party hunt with your group or are you completely done?