Posted by Melissa Burlaga

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Wildlife Office in Tower is forecasting a reduced deer population for northern St. Louis and Lake Counties.

Wildlife managers report a smaller deer herd and “lottery” drawings for either-sex permits in six out of seven deer permit areas in our area.

The local deer herd has been thinned by two consecutive moderately-severe winters, and by predators and aggressive antlerless deer harvest during the past five years.

Fawn production has been reduced.

Most units now are at or slightly below population goals set for each permit area in 2005.

The DNR has achieved the designated population levels in this area.

The 16-day season in northeastern Minnesota will straddle the peak of the annual white-tail breeding period.

Hunters should see good deer movement as the annual rutting season progresses.

Hunters will find wet field conditions following eight-plus inches of rain in August, September and October, compared with last summer. Swamps and wetlands are wet, after being bone dry.

Liberal antlerless regulations have produced the five all-time highest deer harvests in the past six years.

Last year marked the third consecutive year that antlerless harvest topped buck harvest in our area.

Winters are the biggest factor in increasing or decreasing deer populations in the area.

Most local areas are showing population reduction.

Overall, the deer population has trended downward to goal levels during the last two to three years.

Tower Area Deer Harvest Summary
YEAR BUCKS ANTLERLESS TOTAL
2008 4,400 4,922 9,322
2007 5,717 5,751 11,468
2006 5,198 5,476 10,674
2005 5,041 3,983 9,024
2004 5,772 4,315 10,087
5-Yr AVG 5,225 4,889 10,115

Rutting activity should be good by opening weekend.

Buck movement generally peaks between Nov. 5 and Nov. 15.

Hunters can expect to see increased rutting activity as the season progresses.

Field conditions:

Hunters will find field conditions wet following a damp September and October.

Swamps, creeks, rivers, lakes and wetlands have received significant precipitation in the last eight weeks.

The DNR advises hunters to plan ahead because normal ATV and vehicle travel may not be practical.

Hunters may need to prepare for alternate access plans to stands, hunting areas and for deer retrieval.

Some roads and trails are in tough driving condition and will get worse with additional rain.

It is illegal to drive on or damage these wetland areas.