Northeast Minnesota deer harvests decline dramatically

The winters of 2013, 2021 and 2022 were extreme, with the Winter Severity Index reaching 120, its highest, in many parts of the northeast. Whitetail harvests in years immediately following those winters dropped significantly.

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Population drop-offs show effects of tough winters
Total Minnesota whitetail harvest by year
Shaded areas indicate severe winters in Zone 100. 2023 numbers are preliminary.
Mark Boswell , Star Tribune Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources