[fullwidth background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”0″ padding_right=”0″ hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][title size=”1″ content_align=”left” style_type=”underline solid” sep_color=”#000000″ margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” class=”” id=””]DNR establishes new deer population goals[/title][fusion_text]Thursday, June 11th 2015
Despite objections from the Minnesota’s largest deer hunters group, new deer population goals have been established by the Department of Natural Resources for large portions of northeastern, north-central and east-central Minnesota. The goals, which cover 40 of 128 deer permit areas in the state, were set despite complaints this spring by the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association that the process was flawed. The 20,000-member group had asked the DNR to delay the plan. The agency declined but will postpone similar work on 54 remaining deer permit areas scheduled to be examined in 2016, pending the outcome of a legislative audit of the state’s deer population management program. In the DNR goal-setting process, citizen advisory teams weren’t allowed to make recommendations for population increases of more than 50 percent. The Deer Hunters Association argued that in many cases, population increases of greater than that amount were warranted. The DNR said that of the 40 deer permit areas with new goals, 26 will be managed for deer densities higher than those established by the previous goals. The goals are intended to be in place three to five years. This is the third year the DNR has worked with citizens and stakeholders to reassess and re-establish deer population goals in portions of the state. Goals for southwestern and portions of northern Minnesota were set in 2012. Goals for southeastern Minnesota were set last year.
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