The sharpshooting effort to remove deer in the bovine tuberculosis (TB) area of northwestern Minnesota, which began in February 2008, concluded on May 9. Sharpshooters, hunters and landowners have taken 1,207 deer since the fall hunting seasons closed as part of Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) efforts to stop the potential spread of bovine tuberculosis (TB) in northwestern Minnesota.

The deer population in the 164-square-mile core of the bovine TB disease management area was estimated at 800 animals during an aerial survey conducted in January before sharpshooting efforts began. Aerial sharpshooters took 416 deer and ground sharpshooters took 546 deer in and near the core area, bringing the 2008 sharpshooting total to 962 animals.

During the regular deer seasons, 1,449 deer were harvested in the bovine TB deer permit area. Hunters harvested an additional 120 deer during a January special hunt. Since the close of the deer hunting seasons, landowners have taken an additional 125 deer in an area that was expanded to include private lands to the north of deer permit area 101. In total, 2,656 deer have been taken from September 2007 to May 2008.