News - DNR to implement northeast deer permit area changes in 2017

[Rick]

Public response to a proposal to re-align a handful of deer permit areas in the northeast part of the state has prompted the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to wait to implement the change in 2017.

“We remain committed to the boundary changes, which benefit both deer and moose,” said Adam Murkowski, DNR big game program leader. “However, it is important that we take the time needed to do more outreach with the public about the proposal, the specific changes being proposed, and what the proposal means for deer and moose.”

He added that the DNR does not want to implement any changes until after completion of an ongoing evaluation of the state’s deer management program by the Office of the Legislative Auditor in case any findings would influence the roll-out of the new boundaries.

The agency made the proposal and asked for public comment about it earlier this year, with possible implementation as soon as this fall. However, comments on the proposal showed that the information presented did not clearly explain the reasons for the proposed changes, implications for deer populations and potential health benefits for moose.

“We could have been clearer about the reasons behind the proposal, and the additional time prior to implementation will allow us to better address concerns and questions,” Murkowski said.

Prior to the 2017 deer hunting seasons the DNR will:

• Clarify the agency’s overall goals for moose management and how the proposal supports that work.
• Provide detailed deer population estimates and trends, detailed deer harvest reports by permit area, public survey information, and 2015 deer goal setting process and outcomes.
• Describe how the proposal would maintain current deer populations in the moose emphasis areas, and increase deer populations elsewhere in the region.
• Better explain the relationship of habitat, winter weather and predation to both deer and moose. In addition, data being collected from ongoing studies at the University of Minnesota investigating deer and moose, as well as wolf and moose interactions, will be integrated into these efforts.

Information about deer can be found on the DNR’s deer management and deer hunting Web pages.

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