Detroit Lakes, Minn. (KDLM) – On Friday, the Voyageurs Wolf Project, a research group which studies wolves in and around Voyageurs National Park released report on the effect of wolves on the deer population in Minnesota.
The group stated the reason they released their findings was to combat online calls from groups and individuals from around the state that claim increased wolf populations have led to a decline in the state’s number of deer and the total number of deer harvested by hunters.
Deer hunter harvest rate by year.
The project found that prior to wolf hunting and trapping seasons from 2012 to 2014, deer hunter success rates were some of the highest in recent decades. And after three years of annual wolf culling, which averaged a 16% reduction in the total number of wolves each year, hunter success rates plummeted to an all-time low during firearms season in 2014.
The project also pointed out that in 2017 and 2018, when wolf populations returned to higher population levels, deer hunter success in the northeast Minnesota achieved its highest success rate in more than a decade.
Deer hunter harvest rate compared to total wolf population in Minnesota.
The group stated hunter success rates are driven by deer population size, not the wolf population size. And, in fact, wolf populations are tied the deer population.
They concluded that hunters are more successful, by the numbers, when there are more wolves around.
Adding, that the primary drivers of deer population size are long, cold winters and habitat.
Total number of hunters per area compared to total deer harvested in Minnesota.
The project also pointed out that in 2014, 2022, and 2023, when hunters had some of their lowest success rates, the deer population was also at a low level and each of those winters were especially long and snowy
Since the Voyageurs Wolf Project published their findings on Friday, the post has nearly 1,000 comments and also nearly 1,000 shares on Facebook.
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