UNDATED -- When the firearms deer hunting season opens November 8th, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has announced the harvest will one of the lowest in years.

DNR Big game Program Leader Leslie McInenly says their deer management plan is calling for fewer deer to be taken this year to ensure higher population numbers over the next few years.  McInenly says the lower harvest numbers are not a reflection of low deer populations, but rather a part of their management plan to increase deer numbers overall.

The DNR says because hunters can only harvest bucks in some areas and fewer doe permits were offered, the 2014 harvest could be as low as 120,000 deer. Last year, hunters harvested 170,000 deer.

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