Make a safe plan before heading out to the fields

As 400,000 hunters prepare for deer hunting this firearms opening weekend, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is telling them to plan ahead for the 2021 hunting season.

“A safe and enjoyable hunt starts with good preparation. To assist hunters with that preparation, we’ve put a wealth of general and area-specific information on our website,” said DNR Commissioner Sarah Strommen. “We hope these tools contribute to a safe and successful deer season with family and friends.”

A successful hunt requires planning no matter which deer permit area hunters are in. All you need is your DPA number to use our online make a plan tool, which provides a comprehensive list of information hunters need to consider before heading to deer camp.

Buy a license

It starts with deciding which deer permit area you will be hunting so you can buy the appropriate license.

Control CWD

Get your deer tested if required. Invest in the health of Minnesota’s wild deer by participating in chronic wasting disease check-ins. If you’ll be hunting in a CWD surveillance, control or management zone, sampling is mandatory on this opening weekend for all deer one year of age or older.

Know the regs

Read up on the regulations for your deer permit area, including how to register deer and how harvested deer must be handled and transported in certain areas to help prevent the spread of disease.

Process plan

Know where you will have your deer processed. If you plan to use a meat processor, contact them ahead of time to be sure they’re accepting whole deer from hunters this year. If you plan to butcher your own deer, you must properly dispose of the carcass (head and spinal column). We have videos to help you process your own deer and assist those hunting in a CWD control or management zone.

Be safe

Practice the four tenets of firearms safety, know how to set up and use the tree stand safely, wear a safety harness and wear blaze clothing.

Minnesota has enjoyed two firearms deer seasons and nearly three years without a hunting-related firearms death — that’s the longest stretch since the DNR has been tracking these tragedies. And when the firearms deer season opens Saturday, every hunter needs to prioritize safety to keep the trend going.

While the number of hunting-related firearms fatalities has dropped significantly since the 1960s and 1970s, when it wasn’t unusual for 10 or more hunters to die each year, safety officials say even one incident is one too many. In the past 10 years, a total of 14 people have died in firearms-related hunting incidents.

Many of them happened during the firearms deer season. By following the basic rules of firearms safety, hunters can avoid most hunting-related firearms incidents:

• Treat every firearm as if it’s loaded.

• Always control the muzzle.

• Be sure of the target and what’s beyond it.

• Put finger on the trigger only when ready to shoot.