Minnesota hunters harvested nearly 270,000 deer during 2006, the second highest deer harvest ever recorded, according to a final numbers announced today by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
With nearly 500,000 deer hunters enjoying long seasons and liberal bag limits, DNR officials anticipated a strong 2006 deer harvest. In total, firearms hunters harvested 229,000 deer while archery and muzzleloader hunters harvested 25,000 and 13,500 deer, respectively.
Hunters who participated in the early antlerless season tagged 2,300 deer. Overall, the statewide firearm harvest was up 6 percent, archers enjoyed another record season and increased 8 percent, while muzzleloader harvest decreased 4 percent from their record 2005 harvest.
"Once again, Minnesota deer hunters enjoyed another great deer season," said Lou Cornicelli, DNR big game program coordinator.
Prior to 2003, Minnesota hunters had never killed 250,000 deer in any one season. Over the four years, total deer harvest exceeded 250,000 each year.
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"The last four years have yielded the top four harvests ever recorded, which not only indicates an abundant deer population, but also shows the great flexibility our seasons offer," Cornicelli said.
The all-season license, which allows people to hunt during the archery, firearm and muzzleloader season, has been increasing dramatically since 2002. In 2006, 75,000 people purchased the license, which likely contributed to the record archery and continued high muzzleloader harvest.
"We continue to see dramatic increases in muzzleloader hunters," Cornicelli said. "I think people are really grabbing on to the fact that they can extend their time in the field by getting into muzzleloader hunting, which overall isn't very expensive."
The final deer harvest number is computed using information provided by hunters when they register their deer. A final report, which includes more detailed harvest information, will be available online at in the coming weeks.
For the 2007 season, the deadline for the either-sex permit application is Sept. 6. Archery deer hunting will begin Sept. 15. The early antlerless deer season will be the weekend of Oct. 13-14. The statewide firearms deer-hunting season will open on Nov. 3. The muzzleloader season will open Nov. 24.
