Northeast archery deer harvests remain low as the Nov. 9 firearm opener nears

With less than 24 hours until Minnesota’s firearm deer season opens, hunters across the state are gearing up for a time-honored outdoor tradition. 

While many hunters will take to the woods on the morning of Nov. 9, some archery hunters have already been hard at work since archery season began on Sept. 14.

Statewide, as of Nov. 7, there have been 25,927 deer harvested, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). A portion of the harvested data is attributed to youth deer season which ran from Oct. 17 to Oct. 20. 

The Minnesota DNR sets a statewide harvest target of 200,000 deer per year. Before dawn of firearm season, hunters have harvested nearly 13% of the statewide harvest goal. 

Compared to other regions in the state, harvest data shows that northeast archery hunters have had minimal success so far. Particularly, in the Superior Uplands – Arrowhead region, encompassing Cook and Lake Counties. The region is divided into six deer permit areas (DPAs): 117, 118, 126, 130, 131, and 133.

Despite recent conservative management practices and a mild 2023-24 winter, white-tailed deer populations remain low in the northeast region. 

Leading up to the 2024 deer season, the DNR kept the same bag limit designations for DPAs 118, 130, 131, and 126. The four DPAs are bucks-only for 2024, the same bag limit designation as the previous season. 

DPA 117, which sits inside the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and generally has low hunter participation, will remain one deer limit: either sex, and DPA 133, closer to the Lake Superior shore, near Two Harbors, is designated as one deer limit with 25 antlerless lottery permits.

Superior Uplands – Arrowhead region Deer Permit Areas

Here’s a breakdown of 2024 archery harvest data for the Superior Uplands – Arrowhead region as of Nov. 7:

DPA 126: 0

DPA 117: 1 adult male

DPA 131: 1 adult female, 1 juvenile female, 2 adult males

*This DPA is designated as a one-deer limit: bucks only. No anterless permits were offered. 

DPA 118: 1 adult female, 26 adult males

*This DPA is designated as a one-deer limit: bucks only. No anterless permits were offered. 

DPA 130: 2 adult males, 1 juvenile male

DPA 133: 25 adult males, 2 juvenile males, 15 female adult, 1 female juvenile

With a total of 78 harvested deer, the Superior Uplands-Arrowhead region comprises .30% of the statewide harvest data as of Nov. 7.  

Archery hunters are allowed to continue hunting using a vertical bow or crossbow throughout the remainder of the season, which ends on Dec. 31. While plenty of season remains and the rut has just begun in recent days, according to anecdotal reports from Cook County hunters, including this reporter, the archery harvest data may increase this week. 

The firearm deer season for Minnesota’s northeast region runs from Nov. 9 to Nov. 24.

Breakdown of 2023 total harvest data for the Superior Uplands-Arrowhead region:

DPA 126 – 62 total harvested deer

• 99 registered archery hunters in 2023
  • 8 deer harvested by archery hunters: 3 by vertical bow and 5 by crossbow
• 778 registered firearm hunters in 2023
  • 54 harvested by firearm

DPA 117 – 8 total harvested deer

• 16 registered archery hunters in 2023
  •  1 deer harvested by crossbow
• 91 registered firearm hunters in 2023
  • 7 deer harvested by firearm

DPA 131 – 19 total harvested deer

• 64 registered archery hunters in 2023
  • 2 deer harvested using vertical bow
• 447 registered firearm hunters in 2023
  • 17 deer harvested by firearm

DPA 118 – 366 total harvested deer

*Does not include early antlerless, or special firearms hunts.

• 207 registered archery hunters in 2023
  • 19 deer harvested: 7 by vertical bow and 12 by crossbow
• 2293 registered firearm hunters in 2023
  • 332 deer harvested by firearm
• 5 deer harvested during youth deer season

DPA 130 – 106 total harvested deer

*Does not include early antlerless, or special firearms hunts.

• 84 registered archery hunters in 2023 
  • 4 deer harvested by crossbow
• 984 registered firearm hunters in 2023
  • 98 deer harvested by firearm 
• 2 deer harvested during youth deer season

DPA 133 – 351 total harvested deer

*Does not include early antlerless, or special firearms hunts.

• 308 registered archery hunters in 2023 
  • 41 deer harvested: 20 by vertical bow and 21 by crossbow
• 1596 registered firearm hunters in 2023
  • 302 deer harvested by firearm
• 5 deer harvested during youth deer season  

Kalli Hawkins November 8, 2024