Minnesota DNR Provides Information Ahead Of Firearms Deer Season

Firearms deer season begins this weekend in Minnesota and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is offering important information for hunters.

Minnesota’s firearms deer season begins half an hour before sunrise on Saturday, November 7, with nearly half a million hunters expected to participate.

With the hunting season taking place during the surging pandemic, the DNR advises all hunters to plan ahead.  Planning ahead means that not only should hunters get licenses ahead of time, but they should also figure out where to hunt, whether they will be providing a sample for chronic wasting disease testing, and how they will process their deer.

Hunters who are traveling are advised to do the following to help minimize the spread of COVID-19:

• Travel as directly to your destination as possible, and minimize stops along the way.
• Attempt to bring all needed supplies with you.
• If you do need to stop for gas or supplies, wear a cloth face covering.
• Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer after touching common surfaces (gas pumps, door handles, shared bathrooms, etc.).
• Do not travel if sick.

Click here to access the Minnesota DNR's outdoor recreation guidelines.

There is good news for hunters when it comes to harvest opportunities as the DNR says hunters in general will have more opportunities to harvest deer because deer populations have increased in much of the state. Opportunities in southeastern Minnesota have also been increased as part of the DNR’s response to chronic wasting disease.

You can click on the button below to see complete Minnesota deer opener information, including CWD management, safety tips an how hunters can get answers to questions they may have.