Hunting Plan Aims to Reduce Deer Human Conflict in Duluth Area

DULUTH - Reducing deer and human conflicts in Duluth and surrounding communities by extending the firearm deer season for one week each fall will be discussed from 7-9 p.m. on Thursday, May 8, in Duluth, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources said.

The meeting will be at the Environmental Protection Agency's Gitchee Gumee Conference Center, 6201 Congdon Boulevard.

"Deer-human conflicts are common in the area, while hunter access is limited," said Chris Balzer, DNR area wildlife manager in Cloquet. "Designating the area a metro deer management area emphasizes just how different this area is from other permit areas and gives local governments more flexibility to manage deer populations."

The DNR would allow unlimited harvest of antlerless deer during any open deer season in the area that now comprises deer permit area 182.

Communities affected by the change would include Duluth, Hermantown, Proctor, Esko and Cloquet.

Local governments would determine whether hunters could use bows, firearms or both within their jurisdictions.

Deer populations and hunting are managed the same way in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, which is designated as deer permit area 601.

The area in question in and around Duluth would become the state's second metropolitan deer management area.

Hunter access is limited in the area because most land is privately owned or located within city boundaries, creating refuge-like areas where deer can isolate themselves from hunters.

"Despite a change in 2005 that altered boundaries so deer harvest could be set higher in this area, deer populations remain high," Balzer said. "The hope is that allowing hunting for an additional week and directly involving local governments will result in more deer being harvested."

City officials from Duluth and representatives of the Arrowhead Bowhunters Alliance will provide additional details and discuss their perspectives at the meeting and public comments will be recorded.

Additional information about the proposed change and an online comment form will be available beginning Friday, May 9, on the

DNR's deer management web page at www.mndnr.gov/deer. Written comments may be mailed to Chris Balzer, Cloquet area wildlife manager, 1604 Highway 33 South, Cloquet, MN, 55720 or sent via email to christian.balzer@state.mn.us.

The deadline for comments is Monday, May 19.