Deer

Deer Lake is located south of the city of Buffalo in Wright County. The lake is 163 acres and has a maximum depth of 27 feet. Deer Lake has a large watershed with land use dominated by agriculture, development, and pasture. A public access is located on the south end near the outlet. Mill Creek flows through Buffalo Lake into Deer Lake via a navigable channel and flows out of Deer Lake to the North Fork Crow River. Deer Lake was last surveyed in 2013. Walleye are not stocked, but likely immigrate from Buffalo Lake and the North Fork Crow River. Walleye net catches were within the expected range of values for lakes similar to Deer and have increased since the last survey to a record high for Deer Lake. Walleye ranged in length from 10.4 to 25.0 inches , with an average length and weight of 16.0 inches and 1.7 pounds. Growth was fast compared to the statewide average, taking two years to reach 15 inches. Fifty-three percent of Walleye were longer than 15 inches, and anglers may find themselves encountering more Walleye in Deer Lake for the next few years. Northern Pike numbers were also higher than 2013, but both catch rate and size were still within the range of expected values for similar lakes. Northern Pike ranged in length from 13.3 to 32.8 inches with an average length and weight of 21.8 inches and 2.4 pounds. Forty-five percent of Northern Pike were longer than 21 inches with nineteen percent longer than 26 inches. Largemouth bass were sampled by boat electrofishing in the spring and the catch rate was similar to the Sauk Rapid's area average . Largemouth bass lengths ranged from 6.8 to 20.5 inches with an average length and weight of 14.0 inches and 1.8 pounds. Forty-six percent of Largemouth Bass were longer than 15 inches. Black Crappie net catches were within the range of expected values for lakes similar to Deer, but were higher than 2013 and 1993. Black Crappie lengths ranged from 5.8 to 12.8 inches with an average length and weight of 8.5 inches and 0.4 pounds. Seventy-two percent of Black Crappie were longer than 8 inches and fourteen percent were longer than 10 inches. Anglers may find a higher abundance of Black Crappie in coming years, and larger fish with more opportunity for harvest than in the past. The Bluegill catch was the highest on record for Deer Lake, consisting of many, smaller fish. Bluegill lengths ranged from 3.1 to 9.1 inches with an average length and weight of 5.4 inches and 0.2 pounds. Yellow perch numbers have been highly variable, possibly due to the fluctuation in Northern Pike numbers, but were higher in 2023 than in 2013. Yellow Perch lengths in 2023 ranged from 4.5 to 7.4 inches with a mean length of 5.9 inches. Other species captured included: Black Bullhead, Brown Bullhead, Bowfin (Dogfish), Channel Catfish, Common Carp, Golden Shiner, Green Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed, Bigmouth Buffalo, White Sucker, and Yellow Bullhead. The black bullhead numbers have increased from 2013 to 2023 but remain lower than previous surveys.

Deer Lake is located south of the city of Buffalo in Wright County. The lake is 163 acres and has a maximum depth of 27 feet. Deer Lake has a large watershed with land use dominated by agriculture, development, and pasture. A public access is located on the south end near the outlet. Mill Creek flows through Buffalo Lake into Deer Lake via a navigable channel and flows out of Deer Lake to the North Fork Crow River. Deer Lake was last surveyed in 2013. Walleye are not stocked, but likely immigrate from Buffalo Lake and the North Fork Crow River. Walleye net catches were within the expected range of values for lakes similar to Deer and have increased since the last survey to a record high for Deer Lake. Walleye ranged in length from 10.4 to 25.0 inches , with an average length and weight of 16.0 inches and 1.7 pounds. Growth was fast compared to the statewide average, taking two years to reach 15 inches. Fifty-three percent of Walleye were longer than 15 inches, and anglers may find themselves encountering more Walleye in Deer Lake for the next few years. Northern Pike numbers were also higher than 2013, but both catch rate and size were still within the range of expected values for similar lakes. Northern Pike ranged in length from 13.3 to 32.8 inches with an average length and weight of 21.8 inches and 2.4 pounds. Forty-five percent of Northern Pike were longer than 21 inches with nineteen percent longer than 26 inches. Largemouth bass were sampled by boat electrofishing in the spring and the catch rate was similar to the Sauk Rapid's area average . Largemouth bass lengths ranged from 6.8 to 20.5 inches with an average length and weight of 14.0 inches and 1.8 pounds. Forty-six percent of Largemouth Bass were longer than 15 inches. Black Crappie net catches were within the range of expected values for lakes similar to Deer, but were higher than 2013 and 1993. Black Crappie lengths ranged from 5.8 to 12.8 inches with an average length and weight of 8.5 inches and 0.4 pounds. Seventy-two percent of Black Crappie were longer than 8 inches and fourteen percent were longer than 10 inches. Anglers may find a higher abundance of Black Crappie in coming years, and larger fish with more opportunity for harvest than in the past. The Bluegill catch was the highest on record for Deer Lake, consisting of many, smaller fish. Bluegill lengths ranged from 3.1 to 9.1 inches with an average length and weight of 5.4 inches and 0.2 pounds. Yellow perch numbers have been highly variable, possibly due to the fluctuation in Northern Pike numbers, but were higher in 2023 than in 2013. Yellow Perch lengths in 2023 ranged from 4.5 to 7.4 inches with a mean length of 5.9 inches. Other species captured included: Black Bullhead, Brown Bullhead, Bowfin (Dogfish), Channel Catfish, Common Carp, Golden Shiner, Green Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed, Bigmouth Buffalo, White Sucker, and Yellow Bullhead. The black bullhead numbers have increased from 2013 to 2023 but remain lower than previous surveys.

Deer Lake is located south of Buffalo Lake and the city of Buffalo in Wright County. The lake is 163 acres and has a maximum depth of 27 feet. Deer Lake has a large watershed with most land use in agriculture or development. A public access is located on the south end near the outlet. Mill Creek runs through Buffalo Lake into Deer Lake via a navigable channel and flows out of Deer Lake to the North Fork Crow River. Deer Lake was last surveyed in 1993. Eleven aquatic plant species were found; sago pondweed and coontail were the most common, but curly-leaf pondweed and Eurasian watermilfoil (invasive species) were also widespread. Curly-leaf pondweed covered 1.3% of the lake surface area in June. No water lilies, bulrush or cattail were found. Walleye are not stocked, but likely immigrate from Buffalo Lake and the North Fork Crow River. Walleye net catches were within the expected range of values for lakes similar to Deer, but have declined since 1993. Walleye ranged in length from 18.5 to 23.5 inches with an average length and weight of 20.6 inches and 2.8 pounds. Growth was average; age five Walleye reached almost 20 inches. Northern Pike numbers were much higher than in 1993, but both catch rate and size were still within the range of expected values for similar lakes. Northern Pike ranged in length from 18.6 to 35.4 inches with an average length and weight of 22.9 inches and 2.8 pounds. Growth was average; Northern Pike reached 21-22 inches at age four. Nineteen percent were longer than 24 inches. Largemouth Bass were sampled by boat electrofishing in the spring and the catch rate was below the Montrose area average. Largemouth Bass ranged in length from 8.2 to 20.2 inches with an average length and weight of 13 inches and 1.4 pounds. Thirty percent were longer than 15 inches. Black Crappie net catches were within the range of expected values and similar to 1993. Black Crappie lengths ranged from 3.9 to 10.4 inches with an average length and weight of 7.4 inches and 0.26 pounds. Growth was average; Black Crappie averaged 7.8 inches at age three. The Bluegill catch rate was lower than expected, but higher than 1993. Bluegill ranged in length from 3.5 to 8.4 inches with an average length and weight of 6.8 inches and 0.25 pounds. Bluegill growth was average, reaching 6.7 inches at age five. Yellow Perch numbers were very high historically, but low in 2013, perhaps due to increasing numbers of Northern Pike. Yellow Perch lengths ranged from 5.9 to 8.7 inches and averaged 7.2 inches and 0.16 pounds. Other species captured included: Bigmouth Buffalo, Black Bullhead, Bowfin, Channel Catfish, Common Carp, Hybrid Sunfish, Smallmouth Bass, and White Sucker. Black Bullhead numbers declined dramatically in 2013 and a possible explanation is an increase in the Channel Catfish population. Water quality has also improved in recent years, favoring other species.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Walleye, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, White Crappie, and Black Crappie in Deer. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Minnesota DNR records list public access for Deer. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for the launch type and directions before you go.

Deer has a maximum depth of 27 feet and a mean depth of 9 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Deer is from 2023.

Yes — Deer has confirmed Eurasian watermilfoil and zebra mussel. Clean, drain, and dry your equipment to avoid spreading invasives to other waters.