Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge registered only 12 deer during its firearms deer season, nine bucks and three does.  Deer taken may have been registered elsewhere; it is not required hunters register at the refuge headquarters. 

A major portion of the refuge was open to this high quality hunting opportunity.  This year, 70 either-sex and 40 bucks-only permits were available, however we did not fill the limit of permits for either category.  

The refuge firearms deer hunt ran from Nov. 12 through 20, 2005.