Deer populations & goals

Goal setting begins January 2020

The statewide goal-setting process will span four years, starting with the northwestern/western region of the state. Find more details below about how to get involved, including workshop meeting dates and RSVP information.

About the goal setting process

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 herd.

Deer population goals will be updated in 15 regional goal-setting blocks that are made of multiple deer permit areas. The population goals established in this process will provide direction for management over 10 years, with a midpoint review every five years.

2020-2023 goal setting

The DNR is beginning its statewide goal-setting process again in 2020. The process will take four years, with a separate group of blocks addressed annually.

Block groups

First year of goal setting (2020)

The first year focuses on the following blocks in the northwestern and western parts of the state, which include the following deer permit areas:

  • Agassiz-Littlefork goal block – 101, 103, 105, 108, 110, 111, 114
  • Northwest Parkland-Prairie goal block – 201, 203, 208, 209, 256, 257, 260, 261, 263, 264, 267, 268
  • West Central Prairie goal block – 262, 265, 266, 269, 270, 271, 272, 297
  • Central Hills Prairie goal block – 213, 214, 215, 218, 239, 240, 273, 276, 277

Second year of goal setting (2021)

  • Minnesota River goal block – 274, 275, 278, 279, 280, 281, 282, 283, 284, 290
  • South Central goal block – 230, 232, 233, 253, 254, 255, 291, 292, 293, 299
  • Blufflands Plateau goal block – 234, 237, 238, 250, 252, 279, 286, 288, 289, 294, 295, 296
  • Border Uplands/St. Louis Moraines goal block – 119, 132, 171, 173, 176, 177, 178, 179, 181, 199

Third year of goal setting (2022)

  • Superior Uplands Arrowhead goal block – 117, 118, 126, 130, 131, 133, 180, 182
  • North Central Plains Moraines goal block – 169, 172, 184, 197, 210, 298
  • Pine Moraines goal block – 241, 246, 248, 251, 258, 259, 287
  • Coteau-Plains goal block – 341, 342, 343, 344

Fourth year of goal setting (2023)

  • East Central Uplands goal block – 152, 155, 156, 157, 159, 183, 221, 222, 225, 249
  • Sand Plain/Big Woods goal block – 219, 221, 222, 223, 224, 227, 229, 235, 236, 285, 338, 339

Map showing the DPAs that will be assessed annually during the 2020-2024 goal-setting process.

The following areas are not included in the goal-setting process: Twin Cities metro area, Duluth area, Red Lake Reservation, disease management areas.

The following areas are not included in the goal-setting process: Twin Cities metro area, Duluth area, Red Lake Reservation, disease management areas.

How to participate

Attend a workshop

The DNR is using a new workshop format that will use small group discussions to both scope issues and create recommendations. (The workshops replace the citizen advisory committees and public meetings that were used during the last round of deer goal setting in 2017.)

There will be a pair of workshops for each block. In addition, concurrent workshop locations will also be provided in the Twin Cities metro area as an alternative location for each block.

Each workshop is three hours in length and will be led by big game program staff. Regional and area wildlife managers will also be present.

During the first workshop, participants will work in small groups to identify key issues of interest and priorities to guide management of the deer population, using DNR information, including background information about the particular area; hunter and landowner survey results; and public input results. In the second workshop, participants will discuss solutions to the issues in small groups and create recommendations for the deer populations in those blocks.

Anyone may attend these workshops, regardless of affiliation or knowledge of the process. Background information will be provided. Attendees are highly encouraged to RSVP using this form.

2020 workshop details

Agassiz-Littlefork goal block (DPAs 101, 103, 105, 108, 110, 111, 114)

Main location: International Falls (Rainy River Community College, 1501 US-71)
Satellite locations: Waskish (Big Bog State Recreation Area, 55716 Highway 72 NE); Warroad (DNR Warroad Area Office, 804 Cherne Dr. NW); St. Paul (DNR Central Office, 500 Lafayette Road)

Time: 6-9 p.m.

  • Workshop 1: Jan. 29 
  • Workshop 2: Feb. 27

Northwest Parkland-Prairie goal block (DPAs 201, 208, 209, 256, 257, 260, 261, 263, 264, 267, 268)

Main location: Thief River Falls (Quality Inn, 1060 Hwy 32 S.) 
Satellite location: St. Paul (DNR Central Office, 500 Lafayette Road)

Time: 6-9 p.m.

  • Workshop 1: Jan. 30
  • Workshop 2: Feb. 26

West Central Prairie goal block (DPAs 262, 265, 266, 269, 270, 271, 272, 297)

Location: Moorhead (Minnesota State Community and Technical College, Oscar Bergos Center Northwest Room, 1900 28th Ave S.)
Satellite location: St. Paul (DNR Central Office, 500 Lafayette Road)

Time: 6-9 p.m.

  • Workshop 1: Jan. 21 
  • Workshop 2: Feb. 24 

Central Hills Prairie goal block (DPAs 213, 214, 215, 218, 239, 240, 273, 276, 277)

Location: Alexandria (Alexandria Technical & Community College, auditorium and classroom, 410 18th Ave.)
Satellite location: St. Paul (DNR Central Office, 500 Lafayette Road)

Time: 6-9 p.m.

  • Workshop 1: Jan. 22 
  • Workshop 2: Feb. 25 

Participation outside of workshops

Those who do not wish to participate in or cannot commit the time to the workshops can still participate in the goal-setting process. There will also be online comment opportunities supplementing the workshops, including an online questionnaire that will be available on the DNR website in January and opportunities for the public comment to comment on draft population goals that result from the goal-setting process.

In addition, as in prior years, anyone can provide input by talking directly with area wildlife managers or attending deer open houses.

Historical goal-setting information

2015 goals

Goals listed below reflect the desired change in deer population from 2014 levels. Click the block heading or permit area for more information. Additional resources related to goal setting are listed after the goal listings.

Goal-Setting Block 1

AreaGoal
117Stabilize
122↑ 25%
126↑ 25%
127Stabilize
180↑ 25%
2015 deer goal map
Click to expand map

Goal-Setting Block 2

AreaGoal
169↑ 50%
172↑ 25%
184↑ 50%
197↑ 50%
210↑ 50%
298↑ 50%

 

Goal-Setting Block 3

AreaGoal
241Stabilize
242↑ 25%
246↑ 25%
248↑ 25%
251↑ 25% *
258↑ 25%
259↑ 25%
287Stabilize
* Communicate desired goal to U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service refuge managers

 

Goal-Setting Block 4

AreaGoal
152↑ 50%
155↑ 25%
156↑ 50%
157↑ 25%
159↑ 50%
183↑ 50%
221↑ 50%
222↑ 50%
225↑ 25%
247Stabilize
249↑ 50%
* Communicate desired goal to U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service refuge managers

Goal-Setting Block 5

AreaGoal
219↑ 25%
223↑ 25%
224↑ 50% *
227Stabilize
229↑ 25%
235↑ 25%
236↑ 25%
285↑ 25%
338↑ 25%
339↑ 25%
2014 goals

2014 goal setting

More deer in much of southeastern Minnesota is the anticipated outcome of a citizen-led deer population goal-setting process that increases deer numbers in five of the nine permit areas under review. DNR increased goal densities in deer permit areas 341, 342, 345, 347 and 348. Permit areas 343, 346 and 349 will maintain existing goal densities. Whitewater Wildlife Management Area, permit area 344, will maintain current densities.

Goal-setting resources

Minnesota map showing outline of deer goal-setting blocks

 •G3 survey conducted summer 2014
 •G1, G2, G4, G5 surveys conducted fall-winter 2014-2015
 •G7, G8, G9 surveys conducted fall-winter 2015-2016

Hunter and landowner survey results

Reports include information about hunter satisfaction

 •Full report (includes all blocks from all years)

2015-2016

 •Sand Plain-Big Woods - Block 7
 •Sand Plain-Big Woods - Block 8
 •Sand Plain-Big Woods - Block 9

2014-2015

 •Superior Uplands Arrowhead - Block 1
 •North Central Plains Moraines - Block 2
 •East Central Uplands - Block 4
 •Sand Plain-Big Woods - Block 5

2014

 •Pine Moraines - Block 3

2013

 •Southeastern Minnesota landowner survey
 •Southeastern Minnesota deer hunter survey

Background information

 •Superior Uplands Arrowhead - Block 1
 •North Central Plains Moraines - Block 2
 •Pine Moraines - Block 3
 •East Central Uplands - Block 4
 •Sand Plain-Big Woods - Block 5

 

Advisory team recommendation

 •Superior Uplands Arrowhead - Block 1
 •North Central Plains Moraines - Block 2
 •Pine Moraines - Block 3
 •East Central Uplands - Block 4
 •Sand Plain-Big Woods - Block 5

 

Final 2015 deer goal setting reports

 •Superior Uplands Arrowhead - Block 1
 •North Central Plains Moraines - Block 2
 •Pine Moraines - Block 3
 •East Central Uplands - Block 4
 •Sand Plain-Big Woods - Block 5

2014 deer harvest report

Public comments & response

A complete summary of DNR response to public comments.

Materials DNR wildlife staff provided to advisory team members and the public during the goal-setting process are available for public review. Contact Barbara Keller, DNR big game program leader, at 651-259-5198 or send an email to [email protected] to receive these materials.