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Environmental News
Mathew Holding Eagle III

Minnesota DNR reports successful firearms deer hunting opening weekend

Friends haul a deer up from the river.
From left, Travis Smith, William Goettl, Joe Williams and Zach Johnson haul a doe out of the banks of the Blue Earth River near Amboy, Minn.
Jackson Forderer for MPR News | 2015

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The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources reports firearm deer harvest numbers for the season opener are up by about 4 percent from last year. The biggest increase was in the northeastern part of the state with a 6 percent gain over the previous season. However, after a strong Saturday the numbers dipped slightly on Sunday due to the weather in some areas.  

Todd Froberg, the DNR big game program coordinator, said about 55,000 deer were harvested over the first two days of the season. 

“On a statewide basis we are down still 12 percent relative to the five year mean,” he said. “But all in all, better year than last year.” 

Froberg said mandated chronic wasting disease testing results from surveillance and maintenance areas will not be available for about 10 days.  

After two hunters were shot in separate incidents, one of them critically, Froberg reminds everyone to exercise caution while out in the field. 

“It’s important to keep in mind that hunting is a relatively safe sport, but in general, just think about the major tenants of firearm safety and handling all guns like they’re loaded,” he said. “And then knowing what you’re shooting and identifying your target, knowing what’s behind your target, so extremely important.” 

Froberg also said to be mindful about tree stand etiquette. 

“A lot of those accidents happen climbing in and out of tree stands, you know, getting to and from your deer stand,” he said. “So just making sure that you’re making efforts to stay safe. That’s what’s going to make sure that everybody has an enjoyable hunt.”  

Froberg said the increase in harvest numbers could mean deer populations are on the mend. 

“Coming off several severe winters, we are trending upwards, but it’ll be somewhat of a slow increase,” he said. “But using that extremely mild last winter to our advantage with conservative bag limits, it’s trending in the right direction.”