05-03-2007, 06:10 AM
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Section of Wildlife (DNR) will host a public meeting on deer and the future of deer management within the Bemidji State Game Refuge (refuge).
The meeting will be Monday, May 14, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Hampton Inn and Suites, 1019 Paul Bunyan Drive South, Bemidji.
Similar to many areas in north central Minnesota, white-tailed deer populations within the refuge and in surrounding deer area 184 reached peak levels in 2003-04. Beginning in 2000, complaints from landowners began to occur regarding deer damage to agricultural crops and gardens within the refuge.
In 2002, the DNR received a petition requesting action regarding the high deer population in the refuge. Following a public meeting, six and one-half square miles in the southeast portion of the refuge were opened to firearms deer hunting in the fall of 2003.
This coincided with a liberalized deer season in deer area 284 (now 184) where hunters were allowed to harvest up to five deer through the use of intensive harvest permits or bonus tags.
Citizen requests for expanded firearms deer hunting in the refuge prompted a June 2004 public meeting. The DNR authorized firearms deer hunting within the entire refuge for the 2004-2006 deer seasons and agreed to evaluate the three hunting seasons and hold a public meeting to review the results.
To fulfill this agreement, the DNR will review the past three seasons followed by a question and answer session. The DNR will also be seeking input in the form of a questionnaire that will be provided and completed during the last 30 minutes of the public meeting.
People unable to attend the meeting will be able to view a PowerPoint presentation and complete a questionnaire at the Bemidji Area Wildlife office, 2114 Bemidji Avenue, Bemidji, during regular business hours (8 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.) through Friday, May 18.
The meeting will be Monday, May 14, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Hampton Inn and Suites, 1019 Paul Bunyan Drive South, Bemidji.
Similar to many areas in north central Minnesota, white-tailed deer populations within the refuge and in surrounding deer area 184 reached peak levels in 2003-04. Beginning in 2000, complaints from landowners began to occur regarding deer damage to agricultural crops and gardens within the refuge.
In 2002, the DNR received a petition requesting action regarding the high deer population in the refuge. Following a public meeting, six and one-half square miles in the southeast portion of the refuge were opened to firearms deer hunting in the fall of 2003.
This coincided with a liberalized deer season in deer area 284 (now 184) where hunters were allowed to harvest up to five deer through the use of intensive harvest permits or bonus tags.
Citizen requests for expanded firearms deer hunting in the refuge prompted a June 2004 public meeting. The DNR authorized firearms deer hunting within the entire refuge for the 2004-2006 deer seasons and agreed to evaluate the three hunting seasons and hold a public meeting to review the results.
To fulfill this agreement, the DNR will review the past three seasons followed by a question and answer session. The DNR will also be seeking input in the form of a questionnaire that will be provided and completed during the last 30 minutes of the public meeting.
People unable to attend the meeting will be able to view a PowerPoint presentation and complete a questionnaire at the Bemidji Area Wildlife office, 2114 Bemidji Avenue, Bemidji, during regular business hours (8 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.) through Friday, May 18.