![Deer Harvest Mixed on Opening Weekend](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2016/08/Deer.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Deer Harvest Mixed on Opening Weekend
UNDATED -- It was a mixed bag for deer hunters on the opening weekend of the firearms season.
Hunters in the northeastern region saw a 16% increase in the harvest over the first two days compared to last year. Zone 2 which covers a majority of the state was down 5% and southeastern Minnesota was down 20%.
In all, 71,724 deer were harvested on the opening weekend.
The number of bucks were down compared to last year with 57% of the deer harvested being bucks compared to 67% on the first weekend in 2016.
DNR officials say a large amount of standing corn is likely a big factor in the lower numbers. However, officials are still projecting a harvest of around 200,000 deer this year, which would be higher than last year.
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