Deer populations & goals

Engage with us in 2022

Opportunities to help use shape deer population goals for 28 of Minnesota's 130 deer permit areas begin Monday, Jan. 24. That's when we'll have our online questionnaire available to complete.

Questions we'll be asking will allow participants to indicate whether the deer population in a particular DPA should increase, decrease or stay the same and provide their rationale.

We'll close the questionnaire on Sunday, Feb. 13.

We're strongly encouraging people to attend a webinar before formulating their questionnaire responses. At each webinar, the DNR will present additional information about each goal-setting block, seek participant input and answer questions. The seminars are scheduled for:

For those who can't participate, webinars will be recorded and posted for online viewing.

Anyone who has an interest in deer management is invited to give feedback on deer population trends in the areas where they live, work and recreate. Regardless of your affiliation or interactions with deer, we want to engage with you so please join us.

For those who wish to connect directly with area wildlife managers on deer population goals for 2022, click on the area of Minnesota where the DPA in which you're interested is located and contact the area manager listed.

Northeast
DPAArea officeArea manager
117Two HarborsNancy Hansen
118TowerPenny Backman
126Two HarborsNancy Hansen
130TowerPenny Backman
131Two HarborsNancy Hansen
133Two HarborsNancy Hansen
North central
DPAArea officeArea manager
169Grand RapidsMark Spoden
184Park RapidsErik Thorson
197Grand RapidsMark Spoden
210Thief River FallsDoug Franke
241Park RapidsErik Thorson
246BrainerdChristine Reisz
251Park RapidsErik Thorson
258Park RapidsErik Thorson
259Park RapidsErik Thorson
287Park RapidsErik Thorson
298Park RapidsErik Thorson
Southeast
DPAArea officeArea manager
341RochesterBrandon Schad
342RochesterBrandon Schad
343RochesterBrandon Schad
344Whitewater WMAJamie Edwards
643RochesterBrandon Schad
645RochesterBrandon Schad
646RochesterBrandon Schad
647RochesterBrandon Schad
648RochesterBrandon Schad
649RochesterBrandon Schad
655OwatonnaJeanine Vorland

Join a webinar

Audio conference

For any meeting listed, call one of the numbers below and enter the access code.
  • Within the U.S.: 1-855-282-6330
  • International: +1-415-655-0003
If the device you use to view the webinar doesn't support audio, provide your phone number when you join the webinar for a call back with listen-only audio.

Goal setting information

What is a goal?

The DNR sets deer population goals – how much of an increase or decrease is desired in a deer population in a particular deer permit area – as part of managing the state’s wild deer.

Deer population goals are updated in 15 regional goal-setting blocks comprised of multiple deer permit areas. The population goals established in each block provide direction for long-term management during the next 10 years, with a formal review every five years to assess if the goals are still headed in the right direction.

Goal-setting blocks and the DPAs that comprise them are established based on similar habitat, land uses, deer populations and deer hunter distribution. Discussing goals by blocks of DPAs informs management by grouping similar characteristics on which management decisions are based within specific areas.

These goals serve as reference points each year when DNR sets the deer hunting designation of each DPA. During that process, the DNR assesses whether the deer population in that DPA is above, below or at goal and sets bag limits and other regulations that will move the deer population toward that desired goal.

Map, indexed by colors, indicating the year deer permit area goals in each goal-setting block will be assessed

The color of each goal-setting block indicates the year in which deer population goals for each deer permit in that block will be assessed

2022 goal-setting blocks
DPAs: 117, 118, 126, 130, 131, 133
Webinar: 6-7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 26
Exploded view of the Superior Uplands goal-setting block in the Arrowhead region of northeastern Minnesota

Exploded view of the Superior Uplands goal-setting block in the Arrowhead region of northeastern Minnesota. The block's DPAs are numbered on the map.

DPAs: 169, 184, 197, 210, 298
Webinar: 6-7:30 p.m., Monday, Jan. 24
Exploded view of the North Central Plains Moraines goal-setting block in north central Minnesota

Exploded view of the North Central Plains Moraines goal-setting block in north central Minnesota. The block's DPAs are numbered on the map.

DPAs: 241, 246, 251, 258, 259, 287
Webinar: 6-7:30 p.m., Monday, Jan. 24
Exploded view of the Pine Moraines goal-setting block in north central Minnesota

Exploded view of the Pine Moraines goal-setting block in north central Minnesota. The block's DPAs are numbered on the map.

DPAs: 341, 342, 343, 344, 643, 645, 646, 647, 648, 649, 655
Webinar: 6-7:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 27
Exploded view of the Blufflands Plateau goal-setting block in southeastern Minnesota

Exploded view of the Blufflands Plateau goal-setting block in southeastern Minnesota. The block's DPAs are numbered on the map.

Goal setting history

Information about deer population goals established for other goal-setting blocks in previous years can be found on the history page.