(Undated) -- Minnesota hunters harvested nearly 185-thousand deer during the 2012 season, down about four percent from 2011. D-N-R big game program leader Leslie McInenly (muh-KIN'-lee) says the deer population is "getting pretty close" to the goals they set a few years back. She says the D-N-R was aiming to reduce the population a bit and so there have been higher harvests -- and this year's reduction was anticipated. A final report, which includes more detailed harvest information, will be available in the coming weeks on the D-N-R's website.