Deer hunters reminded to register deer
News | Published on November 8, 2022 at 3:22pm EST | Author: Chad Koenen
0Deer can be registered online
Hunters are required to register every deer they harvest before processing, before antlers are removed and within 48 hours after taking the animal.
Hunters can register deer online, via phone or in person. Information from deer registration is essential for the DNR to track and manage deer populations. Detailed registration instructions for all methods are available on the DNR website(mndnr.gov/Hunting/Deer/HarvestReg.html).
Deer carcass movement restrictions in 14 permit areas
Deer carcass movement restrictions are in place for 14 deer permit areas located in southeastern and north-central Minnesota and the south metro area.
DPAs 604, 605, 643, 645, 646, 647, 648, 649, 655, 661 and 679 together form the Chronic Wasting Disease management zone.
Hunters are not allowed to bring whole deer carcasses outside of the management zone until a “not detected” test result is received. DPAs 255, 343 and 344 form a control zone and whole deer carcasses cannot be moved out of a control zone or the adjacent management zone until a “not-detected” test result is received. Hunters are allowed to move whole deer carcasses in between contiguous management zone DPAs or from a control zone DPA into the management zone.
If hunters do not submit their deer for sampling or want to transport a deer outside of these zones before getting a test result, they must debone or quarter their deer, properly disposing of the head and spinal column inside the zones. The DNR provides dumpsters for hunters to use for this purpose.
These restrictions are part of a comprehensive strategy to keep Minnesota’s deer, elk and moose healthy by limiting the spread of disease. Hunters can find details for the DPA in which they hunt by visiting the DNR’s CWD page (mndnr.gov/CWD) and using the “find your requirements for your DPA” tool.
Deer harvest numbers available online
Hunters, media and anyone interested in deer harvest data can find current deer harvest figures and harvest reports for past years on the DNR deer reports and statistics page (mndnr.gov/Mammals/Deer/Management/Statistics.html). The page also features an interactive map and graph that visualizes the data.