Beginning today, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is asking for public input on deer population goals in 28 of 130 deer permit areas (DPAs).

“We’re continuing with an online questionnaire this year and adding webinars for those who wish to connect directly with area wildlife managers on this topic,” says Barbara Keller, the DNR big game program leader. “We’re excited to have people participate and encourage anyone who has an interest in deer management to give feedback on deer population trends in the areas where they live, work and recreate.”

The DNR establishes deer population goals — how much of an increase or decrease is desired in a deer population in a particular DPA — as part of managing the state’s wild deer.

Population goals established in this process will provide direction for management in each goal-setting block for a 10-year period, with a midpoint review at the five-year mark. Goal blocks and the DPAs that comprise them are established based on similar habitat, land uses, deer populations and deer hunter distribution.

Relevant areas

The targeted DPAs this year are:

• DPAs 117, 118, 126, 130, 131 and 133 in the Superior Uplands-Arrowhead block

• DPAs 169, 184, 197, 210 and 298 in the North Central Plains Moraines block

• DPAs 241, 246, 251, 258, 259 and 287 in the Pine Moraines block

• DPAs 341, 342, 343, 344, 643, 645, 646, 647, 648, 649 and 655 in the Blufflands Plateau block

Online feedback opens today and concludes Feb. 13. Participants will be asked to complete an online questionnaire and indicate whether the deer population in a particular area should increase, decrease or stay the same — and provide their rationale.

Webinars during the last week of January will present information about each goal-setting block, seek participant input and allow DNR wildlife staff to answer participants’ questions. Webinars will be recorded and posted online for those who can’t participate in the live events.

“We strongly encourage people to join us for these webinars,” Keller says. “Anyone may participate, regardless of affiliation or knowledge of the process, and we’ll present useful information and answer questions that will help participants formulate their online responses.”

Details about each goal block, how to participate in the process, the webinar schedule and how to access the questionnaire are listed on the DNR website.

Source: Minnesota DNR, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all of its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.