Brainerd Area Deer Hunters Expect Changes

Gary Drotts, Brainerd Area Wildlife Supervisor for the Department of Natural Resources, says area deer populations have come down. He tells KLKS, through intensive harvest programs, numbers of white tail deer are more where they want them. As a result, he says they are considering reverting some intensive harvest and management areas back to a lottery system. One area that could see the change is area 249 in zone two located south of Brainerd, but north of Pierz. Recently, hunters could purchase anterless permits over the counter. Now, Drotts says they may have to register for the lottery in May.
Drotts says the ruffed grouse population appears to be up a little over last year. He says the heavy winter snows have been good for the upland game, and drumming counts seem to be reflecting that. He's not ready to say this will be a peak year, but numbers do appear to be on the upswing.