The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources announced Monday that hunters will have extra hunting opportunities this fall as deer numbers have reached or exceeded goal numbers in many areas of the state. Deer license sales begin Wednesday, August 1.

Some permit areas will issue bonus permits to allow hunters to harvest more than one animal. Fewer areas will require the need to apply for the lottery to shoot an antlerless deer. Erik Thorson with the DNR stated in a news release, "Deer populations have responded well to favorable winter weather and our generally conservative harvest levels in recent years. So we have been able to expand hunting opportunities once again in much of the state."

September 6 is the deadline to apply for an antlerless permit. The archery season opens September 15. The firearms season opens November 3.

Many permit areas in southern Minnesota will enforce mandatory testing for chronic wasting disease. CWD was discovered in farmed deer in Winona County and wild deer in Forestville State Park and in Eau Claire County in Wisconsin.

The DNR recently announced a new statewide deer management plan.

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