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REGIONAL—Back-to-back mild winters have helped the region’s whitetail deer population rebound, and that’s prompted the Department of Natural Resources to loosen the reins on permits for this …
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REGIONAL—Back-to-back mild winters have helped the region’s whitetail deer population rebound, and that’s prompted the Department of Natural Resources to loosen the reins on permits for this fall’s firearms deer season.
Unlike last year, when the DNR limited most permit areas in the region to bucks- only, this year, all but one will offer at least some antlerless permits. “We’re still in rebuilding mode,” said Tom Rusch, DNR Area Wildlife Manager in Tower. “The process is in motion, but it doesn’t happen in one year. We’re being conservative by starting with the lottery.”
That means hunters who want the opportunity to take an antlerless deer will need to buy their license by Thursday, Sept. 8, so they can be entered in the lottery for the available tags.
The numbers of antlerless tags being offered varies significantly by permit area. In the western and southern portions of DNR’s Tower work area, where the deer herd recovery is well underway, more antlerless permits are being issued. That includes permit areas 177, where 900 permits will be issued as well as 176 and 178, where 500 permits will be allotted in each area. Other permit areas will offer significantly fewer antlerless tags.
Meanwhile, permit area 119, located east of the Vermilion River, will remain bucks-only for this season. To the east, permit areas 117 and 127 will allow hunters a choice of one deer of either sex. While the deer recovery in those zones has been limited, Rusch notes that they coincide with primary moose range, where the DNR is intentionally managing for lower deer numbers. Deer are uncommon in those zones in either case, which sharply limits hunter numbers there, according to Rusch.
Barring a return to severe weather this coming winter, the deer recovery should remain on track. Rusch said there’s a healthy crop of yearling deer in the woods right now, and many does are sporting twin fawns as well. “It’s nothing magic,” said Rusch, referring to the recovery. “It just takes good fawn reproduction and some time.”