2024 Minnesota Deer Harvest Sees 7% Increase, Archery Hunts Reach Second-Highest Ever

(KNSI) – Deer hunters had more success in 2024 compared to the year before.

More than 170,000 deer ended up in the freezer, up 7% statewide from the 2023 season. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources attributed the uptick to favorable weather during the peak of firearms season. Anecdotal reports by wildlife managers suggested that opening weekend lined up well with deer activity during the height of the mating season. The mild winter of 2023-2024 also helped the deer population recover.

The central region had a 9% increase from the previous year and a 2% increase compared to the five-year average. Hunting opportunities remain robust in the area, with bag limits as high as three to five deer.

This year was incredibly successful for archery hunters, with archery harvest up 16%. Preliminary harvest results suggest this might be the second-highest archery harvest ever in Minnesota, only surpassed by the 2020 season.

Hunters can take the DNR Survey about their experiences by clicking here.

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