DNR: More Than 68K Deer Registered In First Weekend
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Officials with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources say more than 68,000 deer were registered after the first weekend of the hunting season in the state.
To be exact, hunters shot 68,401 deer during the firearms opener. DNR officials say the number of registered deer over the three days is up about 6.3 percent from last year. The number of bucks harvested was up about 8.5 percent from last year.
Hunters are seeing more deer this year as the population continues to grow across much of the state, according to Steve Merchant with the DNR.
DNR officials say they anticipate between 140,000 to 150,000 deer will be harvested in the 2015 season. That would be up from just more than 139,000 last year. For much fo the state, the deer season continues through this Sunday.
In certain areas, it continues through Nov. 22 and the muzzleloader season goes from Nov. 28 to Dec. 13.