NEW ULM – The Special Archery Hunt Deer Control program will continue in New Ulm after the City Council approved the program for another year.

The council agreed to re-authorize the deer control hunt after reviewing a report summarizing the 2025 hunt. The 2025 special archery hunt was the 34th consecutive year New Ulm has hosted the program. The idea behind the hunt is to manage the deer population from within New Ulm’s city limits. The large population of deer in the city can cause damage to property. By curbing the population, the city hopes to limit the problem.

City Manager Chris Dalton said based on the results, the special hunt has been successful at keeping the deer herd stable, but he would like to see the number of deer taken increase.

The most deer ever taken in a single year of the program was the 2020, which saw 81 deer harvested. In 2019, a total of 75 deer were harvested. In 2016, 2017 and 2018 it was common to harvest deer in the mid 60s.

Since the peak in 2020, the number of deer harvest has dropped into the 50s, with only 51 deer being harvested in 2024. There was a slight increase in 2025, with 58 harvested, but Dalton wanted numbers to return to at least the 60s.

For the 2026 hunt, Dalton recommended continuing the double earn a buck program for hunters, which should help attract more hunter. Dalton confirmed the city does fill each deer stand every year of the hunt. The stands are moved to new location based on where deer are being sighted.

In 2025, of the 51 hunters participating in the program, three hunters harvested three deer, 18 harvested two deer, 13 harvested one deer and 17 hunters did not harvest a deer.

Councilor David Christian made the motion to accept the deer hunt summary and re-authorize it for another year with a second from Councilor Eric Warmka. It was approved by the council.