New study of Northeastern Minnesota deer population begins in July

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will begin a new study of the Northeastern Minnesota Deer population starting in July. The study will take place over three years.

Unlike aerial surveys conducted in years past, this study will will utilize cameras placed on public and private land across the region.

“Traditional deer population modeling relies heavily on hunter harvest data,” explained a release from the DNR .”This project will provide additional data to increase confidence in making harvest decisions in the study area.”

The data should also help managers better understand if deer densities differ between private and public lands.

“A better understanding of changes in the deer population helps us to better allocate tags in the fall,” said DNR ungulate research scientist Eric Michel. “So, we go through this process and we know if that population is increasing and our goal is to increase the population, well, then we’re doing a good job.”

Data will be collected in portions of Cass, Beltrami, Itasca, Hubbard, and St. Louis counties. Final analysis of the data is expected to be complete in 2027.