ST. PAUL — Deer hunting restrictions will be eased a bit in Minnesota this fall.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says one-deer limits are still in place for much of the state. But, there will be nine fewer zones where hunters can take only bucks.

DNR big game program leader Adam Murkowski tells the Star Tribune a couple of mild winters have improved the deer population. The whitetail herd is estimated at about 1 million.

Licenses for this deer season went on sale Monday. Last year, about 159,000 deer were taken by hunters. Bow hunting season is 47 days away.