GRAND RAPIDS — The Minnesota Deer Hunters Association is about to wrap up its emergency deer feeding for the season.

It’s been a tough winter for deer, especially in northeastern Minnesota, so the Department of Natural Resources agreed in February to release state funds to the association for deer feeding despite its concerns about the costs and its questionable effectiveness.

The deer hunters association says Saturday will mark the final day of feed distribution. The group says just over 1,000 volunteers have put out feed pellets at just over 1,000 sites over the past six weeks, feeding about 15,000 deer per week. The association has spent just over $200,000 to buy and distribute 528 tons of feed.

Wildlife managers have gotten frequent reports of dead and struggling deer in recent weeks.