Minnesota wildlife

The DNR has set new deer population goals that reflect Minnesotans’ diverse perspectives about deer.

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.

There are new goals for 36 of the state’s 130 deer permit areas, generally those located in northwestern and western Minnesota. The goals set in 2020 provide the framework for annual decisions on deer season regulations and are intended to be in effect for the next 10 years, with a midpoint review at five years.

The DNR gathered information and feedback from over 700 online survey respondents, online comments, and conversations with area wildlife managers. People also participated in a new workshop format to facilitate eight small group discussions to both scope issues and create recommendations.

Recent law changes have simplified beaver management in Minnesota.

During spring beavers become more active, and the DNR reminds landowners, renters and land managers that removal of a beaver dam causing damage no longer requires a permit if the course, current or cross-section of the waterway is not changed.

If removal of a beaver dam changes the waterway, a public waters work permit from a DNR hydrologist is still required.

Beavers causing damage on private property may be removed without a permit by landowners, renters or an authorized agent. Government entities and road authorities only need a permit to remove beavers if the removal occurs two weeks before or after the beaver trapping season or within the season if removal is done by an unlicensed trapper. Additional requirements and more information are available on the DNR website.

Hunters can apply through June 12 to hunt elk in northwestern Minnesota.

Seasons will be from late August to early December, and the DNR is allowing hunters more opportunities to harvest antlerless elk.

In all, 44 elk licenses are available this year; last year there were 27 available. More seasons and license options are also available this year.

The DNR is allowing hunters to choose from three options when they apply to harvest elk: a license for a bull elk; a license for an antlerless elk, which can be a female or a young male; or a license for either a bull or antlerless elk.

More information is available on the DNR’s elk hunting page.

Deer fawns are being born this time of year and the DNR asks that people avoid disturbing or touching them.

Most fawns are born in mid-May to mid-June, and fawns do not attempt to evade predators during their first few weeks of life. Instead, they remain still to avoid being seen. During these times, fawns are learning critical survival skills from their mothers but are often left on their own while their mothers are foraging nearby.

Be assured deer fawns do fine even if they look abandoned or fragile. For more information about what to do if you find fawns or other species of baby wild animals, visit the DNR website.

As bears emerge from hibernation, the DNR reminds homeowners to check their property for food sources that could attract bears.

As bears emerge from hibernation, their metabolism gradually ramps up and they will begin looking for food at a time when berries and green vegetation are scarce. People should remove or secure attractants such as birdseed, garbage, livestock feed, or compost to reduce potential conflict. Read more tips from the DNR.

A wild deer in Dakota County was confirmed positive for chronic wasting disease.

The deer, an adult male, was reported by a local resident near Farmington as displaying neurological symptoms and was tested as part of the DNR’s risk-based disease surveillance program.

It is the first detection of the fatal neurological disease in a wild deer in this county, and this deer was found nearly 100 miles from the state’s primary CWD area near Preston, Minnesota.

For more information on chronic wasting disease, including maps of CWD surveillance areas, frequently asked questions and hunter information, visit mndnr.gov/cwd.