This is ironic, but not for the reason you think.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has issued a statement that the 2014 MN deer hunt rifle season will include mostly bucks, including no doe or antlerless permits for much of the northern part of the state.
The conservative restrictions will allow the deer to recover from lower numbers reported during last year’s MN deer hunt, particularly after a tough winter this past year.
“Many hunters voiced concerns about current deer densities and their hunting experiences in recent years. We heard from hunters at the listening sessions we conducted, in the online comments we solicited and by contacting us directly,” [the DNR’s Leslie] McInenly said. “This past winter only added to those concerns so this year’s conservative approach will protect more antlerless deer, reduce the statewide harvest and allow the population to rebound.”
Northeastern Minnesota hunters will feel the greatest impact from a bucks-only season. In bucks-only areas, no antlerless deer may be harvested by any hunter, including those with archery or youth licenses. McInenly said that most of these areas are now below goal and that this year’s conservative approach is consistent with the DNR’s long-term commitment to manage deer populations at established goal levels.
You can see the MN deer hunt zones in the DNR map below:
MN Deer Hunt zones for 2014 rifle season
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