The Firearms Deer Hunting Opener is November 4th and the DNR predicts a good deer season barring any unforeseen unusual weather. Deer numbers are up following three years of conservative harvest regulations designed to rebuild the population, coupled with three relatively mild winters.
As a result, more antlerless permits are available this year, and hunters in many parts of the state will have additional opportunities to harvest more deer.
This year there is going to be a massive Chronic Wasting Disease testing effort on the opening weekend of hunting season and that covers a large area around Brainerd – reaching almost to Grand Rapids and Park Rapids.
This morning we talked with MN DNR Wildlife Health Program Supervisor Michelle Carstensen. She told us about prions - chronic wasting disease and the mandatory testing that is coming up Deer Hunting Opener weekend. Here are the affected areas:
Affected deer permit areas
- North central: 155, 171, 172, 242, 246, 247, 248 and 249
- Central: 218, 219, 229, 277, 283 and 285
- Southeast: 343, 345, 346, 347, 348 and 349
Dr. Carstensen also filled us in on some new research from the CDC on new research with primates that raised some human health concerns as well.
