After a record-setting year for archery harvests in 2025, Minnesota’s 2026 season is gearing up to be another strong one given the favorable winter that boosted the state’s deer population.
Paul Burr, deer coordinator for the DNR, said the beginning of the season generally starts slow. September these days usually means high temperatures even during the tail end of the month, which can squelch harvest. That said, the past few years, winter conditions have been favorable for producing more deer in the state.
Home » Home Page News » Recent favorable winters set the stage for Minnesota’s 2026 archery opener
Recent favorable winters set the stage for Minnesota’s 2026 archery opener
SUBSCRIBER CONTENT
Read this article now.
Create a free Outdoor News account.
Create a free account below to get instant access to this article, thousands of Outdoor News stories, and our digital editions. Your 1-month trial starts the moment you sign up.
No credit card required
No credit card required
Subscriber? Login Here.
Share on Social
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email
Hand-Picked For You
Minnesota’s Outdoor Calendar
Staff Report
October 21, 2026
Minnesota Cuffs & Collars: K9 Molly helps hunter find lost gun
Staff Report
October 21, 2026
Steve Carney: Minnesota fall turkey tag filled, and a great walleye bite on big minnows
Steve Carney
October 21, 2026
EHD drives North Dakota deer season changes
North Dakota Game and Fish Department Reports
October 21, 2026
Minnesota 16-year-old injured while duck hunting
Justin Runberg
October 21, 2026
Minnesota’s Voyageurs National Park has new leader in Jennifer Onufer
Site Staff
October 21, 2026
Related Articles

Short on walleyes, but long on muskies: Beers Lake in Minnesota’s Otter Tail County
Glen Schmitt
October 21, 2026
Otter Tail County’s Beers Lake is an excellent walleye fishery – nope. Beers is loaded with good-sized panfish and northern
Minnesota’s Outdoor Calendar
Staff Report
October 21, 2026
A look at upcoming outdoor-related events from across Minnesota published in the Oct. 23, 2026 edition of Outdoor News.

Minnesota Cuffs & Collars: K9 Molly helps hunter find lost gun
Staff Report
October 21, 2026
Minnesota cuffs and collars are field reports from DNR conservation officers. These reports are from the Oct. 23, 2026 edition