Watch CBS News

Minn. Deer Hunters On Pace To Exceed '09 Harvest

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- Minnesota firearms deer hunters are on pace to exceed last year's harvest.

The Department of Natural Resources says hunters have registered 171,000 deer since the firearms season opened Nov. 6. The DNR says 107,000 deer were registered during opening weekend.

DNR big game program coordinator Lou Cornicelli says hunters are on pace to exceed the 195,000 deer harvested in 2009.

This year Minnesota hunters can use new online and toll-free phone options to register their deer. The DNR says 54 percent of this year's successful hunters have registered their deer by computer or phone instead of bringing the deer to a registration station.

The northeast Minnesota firearms season and late southeast firearms season have ended. The muzzleloader deer season ends Dec. 12.

(© Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.