Permit areas in the northwest corner of the state formerly known as permit areas 401 through 409 are now part of the adjoining Zone 2. While hunters in these areas might miss their old number, they definitely won't miss the shorter, split season that existed in Zone 4. Whereas Zone 4 has a two-day and a four-day season, Zone 2 features a continuous nine-day season. Johnson might be executive director of the MDHA, but his hunting grounds are in Permit Area 406, and he's eager for the opportunity of a longer window of time to hunt.

The permit area map changes even more for Zone 2 with the loss of five areas to Zone 1. Permit areas 205, 211, 214, 283 and 284 -- which roughly cover the area from Lake of the Woods down to Bemidji -- will now be part of Zone 1, thus giving hunters in those areas a 16-day season rather than the old nine-day season.

An expanded opportunity hunt, the deer-rich Twin Cities metro area is also part of the changes. The DNR created a metro deer zone by combining permit areas 228 and 337 encompassing significant portions of Hennepin, Scott, Dakota, Carver, Anoka, Ramsey and Washington counties and a very small portion of Sherburne County. The firearms season in this zone will be a continuous 23 days, extending from the Nov. 5 opener to the end of 3B season on Nov. 27. To sweeten the pot, anyone with an unfilled permit from another part of our state can use it in the metro zone.

This metro zone does not require a special permit, but hunters are required to register their deer. This new zone is very developed, but it is in the shotgun and muzzleloader zone, thus providing many options for hunters willing to do some homework and knocking on doors for permission. The homework would be determining which cities and townships in the area have restrictive firearms ordinances, and the door knocking is necessary because a great deal of the land is privately owned. "The firearms ordinances and access issues are the major hurdles hunters in this area have to deal with," said Tim Bremicker, DNR regional wildlife manager.

Bremicker said the time and work invested by hunters interested in this metro permit area could pay large dividends. "There are some pockets with a very high deer density, and hunters who know where to go usually do extremely well," he said.

EXPANDED OPPORTUNITIES
Back during the first week of June, the DNR announced a fleet of changes in the deer hunting regulations. Permit area adjustments were already listed, but other changes include the opportunity to hunt a few weeks early and the chance to fill multiple tags.

"We need to find a way to lower deer populations, so we're offering hunters more flexibility with deer licenses and more opportunities," Cornicelli said.

MINNESOTA'S TOP FIVE PERMIT AREAS BY ZONE IN 2004
*2004's Permit Area 284 is now Permit Area 184. **2004's Permit Area 409 is now Permit Area 241.
County or Counties	Permit Areas	Total Harvest
Zone 1
Mille Lacs/Kanabec	157	7,606
Itasca	170	7,154
Cass	172	5,490
Cass	178	5,267
Aitkin	154	5,176
Zone 2
Hubbard/Beltrami	284*	10,947
Cass/Wadena	246	6,782
Hubbard	245	6,377
Crow Wing/Morrison	249	3,800
Becker	244	2,390
Zone 3
Houston	349	3,607
Winona/Houston	346	2,870
Olmsted	343	2,626
Goodhue	341	2,341
Fillmore	348	2,321
Zone 4
Otter Tail/Clay/Becker	410	5,145
Otter Tail/Todd	411	4,984
Otter Tail	409***	4,449
Todd	414	4,125
Douglas/Pope	412	3,387

I have traditionally hunted in the same zone and permit area during the firearms hunt. There are tons of deer in the area, and it's the only place my favorite hunting partner is willing to hunt. My dad may not like to move around, but I may purchase an All-Season License this year to take advantage of the metro zone that encompasses my home turf in northwest Anoka County.

One of the most welcomed changes is the opportunity for hunters to fill both their archery tag and their firearms tag, though only one can be a buck. Hunters in the past could only fill one of those tags.