DNR Releases Firearms Deer Harvest Numbers

UNDATED -- More deer have been harvested at this point of the season compared to last year at this time. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says hunters shot and registered more than 118,000 deer through the second weekend of the firearms season, up from just under 105,000 last year during the two week period.

The DNR says with fewer antlerless permits issued again this year, hunters are seeing deer they can't shoot and that's growing the deer populations in the state.

Final firearms harvest numbers show a 13% increase from 2014 and the buck harvest is up 18%.

The DNR is projecting the total deer harvest to be between 140,000 and 155,000 deer. Last year's harvest was 139,000 animals.