The preliminary deer harvest numbers are closing in on the 2024 total of 170,679 harvested last year. As of Wednesday, Nov. 26, this year’s total is at 166,176 deer with nearly 60 percent of that total being male adults (99,455).

Female adults make up 28.6 percent of the harvest (47,525), while male juveniles totaled 10,982 (6.61 percent) and female juveniles 8,214 (4.94 percent).

According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), roughly 65,000 deer were harvested over the opening firearms weekend. That surpassed the state’s average of 59,000 over the last five years.

The total harvest in 2024 was 170,679 deer, a 7 percent increase compared to 2023’s total of 158,678. 

The total annual harvest has reached up to 200,000 deer at times. The all-time record harvest was set in 2003 at 290,525 deer.

The firearms deer hunting season continued in the 100-series deer permit areas through Sunday, Nov. 23. Muzzleloader deer season opens Saturday, Nov. 29 and continues through Sunday, Dec. 14.