Minnesotans interested in being more actively involved in deer management can apply to serve on a Deer Advisory Committee that will help foster dialogue between the public and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

“We’re following through on the commitment we made this past summer in our statewide deer management plan, which calls for us to form this committee,” said Paul Telander, wildlife section chief. “Committee members will play an important role in representing the breadth of deer management issues and discussing them with the DNR.”

The committee will be responsible for informing and advising the DNR about deer management issues, policies and programs.

The DNR wildlife section chief will appoint members to the committee for three-year terms. Membership on the committee will include representation from hunting organizations, unaffiliated hunting interests, non-hunting deer management values, and interests including agriculture, forestry, conservation, environmental, public health, local governments and others. The DNR will also coordinate with tribal representatives and partner agencies with knowledge about deer issues.

Previously, the DNR worked with a 20-member Deer Management Plan Advisory Committee that provided input and gave recommendations that helped in forming the statewide deer management plan. That committee finished its work after release of the plan in July 2018.

Anyone interested in applying for a seat on the new committee will have until Friday, Feb. 8, to submit applications. Information about the committee structure, functions, expectations of appointed members, and how to apply are available on the DNR website at mndnr.gov/deer or by calling 651-259-5204.

DNR hires new big game program leader

Beginning Feb. 1, Minnesota’s new big game program supervisor will be Barbara Keller, an experienced wildlife researcher and manager who will oversee the state’s deer, elk and moose populations with the Department of Natural Resources.

“Barbara has a strong background in all aspects of managing deer, moose and elk populations, which will be an asset here in Minnesota,” said Paul Telander, wildlife section chief. “We had an exceptional pool of candidates for this position and are looking forward to the skills and experience Barbara will bring to Minnesota’s big game program.”

Keller has over 12 years of experience in wildlife management, research and diseases. Since 2016, she was the cervid program supervisor for the Missouri Department of Conservation, where she oversaw management of Missouri white-tailed deer and elk populations, including the chronic wasting disease program. Keller also set statewide deer regulations and helped supervise the development of regulations for what will be the state’s first elk hunting season.

The primary responsibilities of the big game program supervisor are to manage deer and elk populations and harvest seasons and to work with groups and individuals interested in big game management to address the expectations of a diverse public.

“I’m excited to join the DNR and get to work on all aspects of deer, elk and moose management,” Keller said. “I’m especially looking forward to implementing the white-tailed deer management plan.”

Keller attended Northland College in Wisconsin and received a bachelor of science degree in natural resource management, a master’s degree in wildlife science from New Mexico State University, and a doctorate degree from the University of Missouri in wildlife science. Her research includes studies on bighorn sheep behavior in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado, on bison, pronghorn, elk, mule deer, and white-tailed deer populations in Custer State Park in South Dakota, and on a restored elk population in the Missouri Ozarks.

Keller takes over for Erik Thorson, who has accepted a temporary assignment to oversee the agency’s while-tailed deer and other big game programs.