Minnesota DNR Revives Mandatory CWD Testing for Deer Hunters
- The firearm deer opener in Minnesota starts this Saturday, with about half a million hunters expected to participate.
- The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources indicated increased deer populations in some regions but ongoing challenges in northern areas.
- Hunters must follow new regulations, including mandatory chronic waste disease testing, to ensure the conservation of deer resources.
Hundreds of thousands of hunters in Minnesota are preparing for the firearm deer season starting just before sunrise on Saturday. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources reported an increase in deer numbers, particularly in central and southern regions, mainly due to the mild winter experienced last year. However, northern Minnesota continues to face challenges from harsh winters that have impeded recovery. This season will also see changes in deer movements since there is no bumper acorn crop this year. Hunters are advised to locate areas with leftover acorns to adjust their strategies. New regulations this year include clearer blaze orange requirements for ground blinds and updates to chronic waste disease management efforts. Hunters can now transport deer harvested out of state, provided they bring the carcasses to a taxidermist within 48 hours. The DNR emphasizes the importance of adhering to regulations to preserve deer populations for future hunting seasons. The firearm season will conclude with the muzzleloader season on December 15, and there has been a slight increase in the number of licenses sold compared to the previous year.