Outlook favors hunters ahead of deer firearms opener

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The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources said the success of hunters who took part in earlier deer hunt seasons, like youth and archery, should carry over into the deer firearms opener. However, hunters in the northeast may experience some challenges because deer numbers there are still low.   

Minnesota's deer firearms season opens Saturday, marking the start of one of the state's most anticipated hunting traditions.

And the successful start of the archery and youth seasons, which opened earlier, augurs well for this weekend’s opener.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources reports the early deer hunt seasons saw a 30 percent increase in harvest numbers compared to last year.

“I expect that trend to continue into this weekend for the firearms opener, as people get in the field and get in their stands to go deer hunting,” said Paul Burr, deer coordinator for the DNR...