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Preliminary numbers reflect increase in deer harvestBy Danielle Strenke Local taxidermists have been extremely busy following the opening weekend of firearms deer hunting in Minnesota. Les Cleveland, owner of Fish Lake Bait & Tackle in Harris, said the numbers of bucks and does coming in for processing is ìway upî over last yearís opening weekend. ìAs of Monday, weíve registered 405 deer,î he said. ìThatís way up ñ itís 150 more than this time last year.î Fish Lake Bait hosts an annual Big Buck contest each year, with prizes for mens, ladies and youth categories. So far, leader in the youth contest is also leading the menís contest. Matt Carlson, a 15-year-old hunter from Kost, registered a 216 and one-half pound, 12-point buck. Although the contest continues through the next two weeks of deer hunting, Cleveland believes Carlsonís deer will be one of the big prize winners. ìThat deer will definitely hold up for the youth category and possibly the menís as well,î Cleveland said. The other top ten bucks entered in the contest so far are 186 pounds or heavier. The current leader in Fish Lakeís big buck contest for ladies is Chris Tuckner of Harris, with a 187 and one-half pound, 11-point buck. Jason Lofgren of Harris has the largest buck taken by bow at 220 pounds. A total of 417 hunters pre-registered for the contest. ìIt looks like it will be a pretty good year,î he said. ìWeíre expecting at least 200, which is what we had last year, but it could be double.î He said many of the hunters he has spoken with have seen trophy buck in the woods, but most customers bringing in deer have harvested the animals in other areas of the state. ìTheyíre hunting up north ñ Sandstone, Hinckley areas and over into Alexandria,î he said. ìLast year it was the opposite ñ everything coming in was from around here.î The largest buck brought to Duchaineís studio so far was a large 8-point buck. Heís not sure what the deer weighed in at, but said ìitís definitely a record book deer.î He has also spoken with several local meat processors, who say they are processing more deer than after last yearís opening weekend. Unfortunately, the mild weather that has reached the area this week is not a good thing for deer hunting. ìNow the deer will slow down,î Duchaine said. ìThey wonít want to be up and running around. Hopefully it will cool off again and the deer will start moving around.î Dan Walton, owner of Waltonís Wildlife Studio in Harris, said it looks to be a good harvest this year. ìThey started coming in with deer Saturday morning,î Walton said. ìThe deer have all been good animals ñ it looks like a healthy herd.î Walton said the necks of the bucks being brought to his studio have been very rutted, indicating healthy, strong animals. He has seen several nice size bucks, but said the champion bucks will come in later in the season. ìZones one and two are still open,î he said. Walton said he has seen a good mix of does and bucks being harvested. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will not complete data on the 2003 deer hunt until the season is finished. In the DNRís 2002 deer hunting report, it shows a total of just over 222,000 deer were harvested in Minnesota. ©ECM Post Review |