deer management history

[Eskimoman]

When was minnesotas first official deer season? When did management start?

[Musky Buck]

reading the outdoor news they talked about management in the last 30 years.

[machohorn]

Management had to be closer to 40 yrs,, They had the split season for many years before I was able to hunt, when I was 12 I could shoot anything (late season) then it was closed 1 year then it went bucks only with a zone system. maybe 1974 or so. so yes 35 years ago if my memory is right

[lichen fox]

There were commissions and departments set up to manage the states resources in the late 1800's...in 1931, four of these departments...(forestry, game & fish, drainage & waters and lands & timbers), were combined to form the "department of conservation"...that name was changed in 1971 to the "department of natural rescources"...I'm not sure when the actual "first deer season" and dates were established...but I think the first time you had to pay for license was sometime in the 50's....so, since they combined those 4 departments it's been almost 80 years!

OK...did some more research...in 1858 the legislature set dates you "could not harvest" deer-elk-moose...as Feb 1 to Sept. 1

In 1949 I think a sportsman's license was established although I couldn't find out what the fee was, if any....

In 1951 the sportsman's license was abolished and license fee's established for various species...These license were available to "Residents ONLY"

small game $2.00

Deer 3.50

Fishing 1.50

(husband & wife fishing) $2.00

Moose $5.25

This is the "first" info on "hunting license fee's" I found on the legislature web site...so, I'm guessing 1951 was the first time actual fee's were set for these activities...I think they also established the Deer "tagging" requirement that year, although it "could have been" earlier as the statute was amending one from 1949 and I wasn't totaly clear on just what "other than license fees" had been added...

So, if you consider setting laws that say when you "cannot" shoot deer as management...they've been managing for 151 years!!

[Musky Buck]

Deer management, when I hear that I think about the things my hunting group and our QDM area/go-grow hunting parties do. We manage our area just fine, years with abundant deer we buy the extra doe permits, like this year, lower deer numbers we bought zero bonus tags. The locals know the strength of the herd or the weakness. Just need to have the DNR set the season/limits and the rest in our area is taken care of. Good Luck to all of you trying to better our mature buck herd.

[lichen fox]

More info....

1858 First big game laws established: taking of elk and deer prohibited

between February 1 and September 1 (five month hunting season, no limit).

1887 Deer, moose, and elk hunting restricted to the month of November.

1895 Season limit of five deer per person established.

1899 Big game license introduced, $ 0.25 for residents, $25.00 for

nonresidents.

1905 Season limit of two deer. No license required if hunting in home county.

1911 Coupons, provided with license, must be attached to deer and/or moose immediately after killing.

1919 All big game hunters required to have license, Hunting restrited to daylite hours, and to rifles or shotguns which were to be encased when carried in a motor vehicle...

1929 Bow and Arrow legalized for taking big game (during regular season)

1943 Early bow & arrow season for deer, (Oct.)..."coupons" replaced with metal tags...and Hunters must wear Red (50% of jacket and hat) during firearms deer season...

[BuckKiller]

Deer management, when I hear that I think about the things my hunting group and our QDM area/go-grow hunting parties do. We manage our area just fine, years with abundant deer we buy the extra doe permits, like this year, lower deer numbers we bought zero bonus tags. The locals know the strength of the herd or the weakness. Just need to have the DNR set the season/limits and the rest in our area is taken care of. Good Luck to all of you trying to better our mature buck herd.

why would you want that... mature bucks don't taste as good

[Musky Buck]

Mature bucks taste fine, been eating 1 all winter, just get less steak, keep the straps,tenderloin,chops and burger the rest and it's fine. Locker plants add 1/3 beef or pork to it anyway. For 120 bucks filled my freezer with a 1/3 beef added and if the taste isn't what you hoped for there's a thing called seasoning or Lawry's and you're good to go. BuckKiller, sounds like you enjoy a shoebox of meat from a fawn, better change your slogan, just kidding I know you are just razing me, you want more 3 1/2 year old bucks around too.

[pinkfloyd4ever]

More info....

1858 First big game laws established: taking of elk and deer prohibited

between February 1 and September 1 (five month hunting season, no limit).

1887 Deer, moose, and elk hunting restricted to the month of November.

1895 Season limit of five deer per person established.

1899 Big game license introduced, $ 0.25 for residents, $25.00 for

nonresidents.

1905 Season limit of two deer. No license required if hunting in home county.

1911 Coupons, provided with license, must be attached to deer and/or moose immediately after killing.

1919 All big game hunters required to have license, Hunting restrited to daylite hours, and to rifles or shotguns which were to be encased when carried in a motor vehicle...

1929 Bow and Arrow legalized for taking big game (during regular season)

1943 Early bow & arrow season for deer, (Oct.)..."coupons" replaced with metal tags...and Hunters must wear Red (50% of jacket and hat) during firearms deer season...

I swore it was bear, but then above I read about Moose. I recall stories from my grandpa about the days where you got a metal clip as your license and could use it to shoot either a deer or a bear. That was replaced because people got wise to registering then removing the metal band, pounding it back striaght and taking another animal.

[lichen fox]

Here's some info on the history of bear management in mn...

Up until 1917 the black bear was unprotected in Mn...here's the skinny...

1917 black bear protected March 1 - Oct 15. Steel trap outlawed for taking bear.

1925 protection removed from black bear

1927 Black bear given big game status, big game license required for hunting or taking,(no closed season however)

1931 Black bear season open during fall deer season, plus spring bear season (April 15 - May 15)

1945 Bounty autorized for Black bear

1954 Black bear protected in Cook, most of Lake and part of St. Louis Counties

1965 Bounty removed from Black Bear

1971 Black bear season reestablished: Firearms Sept 18 - Oct 31

Archery Sept 18 - Nov 14....cubs protected...$5 - bear only license availble...(bear could also be taken on $7.50 deer license)

1979 Black bear may be taken by bow and arrow on a hunter's archery deer license but NOT on a firearms deer license.

1980 cubs may be taken by bear hunters

1981 Black bear can only be taken on bear license, cubs protected.

1982 Black bear hunting permits limited in number and issued by lottery.