Cook County deer hunters might be able to take more deer this fall under a plan by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to increase hunting permits in the state’s primary moose range, but any increase will probably be subtle, suggested Grand Marais DNR Assistant Area Wildlife Manager Dave Ingebrigtsen.
The plan for Northeastern Minnesota follows the 2014 deer population goal-setting advisory committee and 2011 moose management proposal.
But, said Ingebrigtsen, with a low deer density of about 3.4 deer per square mile throughout zone 126, which runs from the county line to Grand Portage and up to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, “Don’t expect big changes. We gave out 400 permits last year. I expect we will be close to that again this year, although nothing is official yet,” he added.
Deer will be managed for higher density outside of the primary range for moose.
The DNR cited two reasons for the change. One, fewer deer mean less chance for brain worm to spread from deer to moose. Brain worm kills moose but doesn’t kill deer, which carry and spread it. The second reason mentioned is that colder winters, which are good for moose, are hard for deer to survive in.
Of the deer hunters who would like to be eligible for antlerless (doe) permits, all they have to do is purchase their license before Sept. 7. “If you buy your license by that date you are automatically in the lottery for antlerless permits,” Ingebrigtsen said.
The county’s second deer permit area in zone 117, which is in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA), will likely not be affected by the changes, said Ingebrigtsen.
Leave a Reply