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| 12/1/2009 3:20:00 PM | Email this article • Print this article | Deer hunters find it a tough go
By Chad Koenen
A lower deer population, made more difficult by a late harvest, has forced area hunters to put the hunt, in hunting this fall.
While the exact number of deer harvested in the state won't be known until the conclusion of the bow hunting season on December 31, Conservation Officer Kurt Nelson said he wouldn't be surprised if the number of deer's harvested in Pope County is down significantly from last year.
"I wouldn't be a bit surprised if we were down double digits from what it has been, just from the hunters I've talked to," he said.
In addition to a late harvest which provided shelter for deer, Nelson said less bonus tags were issued in Pope County and in a number of areas throughout the state. The decrease in antlerless bonus tags was meant as a way to help increase the number of antlerless deer in the state.
According to the Minnesota DNR, preliminary results show that hunters have harvested 151,000 deer since November 7, down by approximately 20,000 deer from last year. So far this year, hunters have harvested approximately 19,000 fewer antlerless deer from last year and have harvested 1,200 fewer bucks than last year. Statewide the number of deer harvested during the firearms season this year is 11.6 percent lower than in 2008.
While Nelson said some "people might be disappointed by not getting a deer" he said there is nothing wrong with having a down year like 2009. With less deer harvested in the state, there is a better chance the deer population rebounding next year.
Since 2000, hunters have harvested an average of nearly 246,000 deer's a year. Last year a total of 221,837 deer were harvested during the archery, firearm and muzzeloader season. In 2003 hunters enjoyed their best hunting season harvesting a total of 290,525 deer across the state. The final number of deer harvested during the 2009 hunt will be known after the conclusion of bow hunting season on December 31.
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