A year of fewer deer October 29, 2011 Minnesota

 Grand Forks Herald

... The DNR estimates the state’s deer population at about 1 million ... Minnesota’s deer harvest peaked at 290,000 in 2003, the result of liberal hunting regulations enacted to control high deer populations that occurred after a series of mild winters that began in the late 1990s…

Numbers looking good for Minnesota deer November 3, 2011 Duluth News Tribune

... After deer populations skyrocketed across much of the state a decade ago, the DNR used public and hunter input, social tolerance and outside factors — such as forestry concerns, danger to motorists and the effect of deer on moose populations — to justify a broad reduction in deer numbers, up to 25 percent in some areas... Deer numbers had soared to more than 1.3 million statewide, so doe permits were doled out freely, and hunters killed up to 290,000 deer in 2003 and 2004... deer numbers have dropped to about 1 million statewide...