Locked and Loaded: Your Guide to the 2011 Deer Hunting Season

Hundreds of thousands of hunters will be taking aim at Minnesota's deer herd this weekend, as the firearm season opener begins at dawn Saturday morning.

It'll be breezy, but forecasts for the 2011 deer hunting opener are more favorable than they've been in years—with temperatures expected in the mid to upper 50s Saturday and Sunday.

Terry Hennen, owner of the in downtown Shakopee, was busy early Friday selling hunting licenses.

Hennen has owned the business with his wife Marilyn for 33 years, and said the biggest difference in local deer hunting since then has to do with Shakopee’s population growth.

“We’re not rural, we’re suburbia,” he said about Shakopee. “The hardest thing around here now is getting permission to hunt.”

That said, Hennen believes this year’s hunt should be a good one in the area because all the crops have been harvested, making it easier to spot the deer.

He also pointed out that with warmer temperatures expected, deer meat can spoil more quickly.

“People don’t realize they have to get the hide off the animal right away,” he said.

Patch has packaged a compilation of information and data gathered by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Where to buy your deer hunting license

There are three ways to purchase a deer hunting license: online through the DNR website (extra fee applies), via phone by calling 1-800-665-4236 and in person at a designated licensing agent.

By the Numbers

Did you know a deer's home range is about 1 square mile? Or that the average weight of a deer is the same as that of a human?

New This Year: Register Your Deer via Smart Phone

Hunting has gone high-tech in Minnesota. Hunters can now register their deer with their phone right at the kill site.

Hunters interested in trying electronic registration can call 888-706-6367 or visit www.mndnr.gov/gameregistration on the Internet. They will be prompted to provide the nine-digit harvest registration number printed on the deer license.

How to Donate Your Deer to Those in Need

Food shelves throughout Minnesota are partnering with state agencies and local meat processors to make donation an attractive option for hunters.

Visit http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/hunting/deer/donation/index.html.  

Deer Hunting Violations

Conservation officers cite hundreds of hunters each year for a wide variety of infractions. Visit http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/hunting/deer/donation/index.html

Hunters Asked to Help Take Aim at Poachers

Game wardens will be dramatically outnumbered by hunters this weekend, and the DNR is asking for help in tracking poachers who harvest deer illegally.

Those who witness poaching are asked to contact a conservation officer or other law enforcement officer with as much detail as possible including the time the incident occurred, characteristics about the people involved, the type of vehicle used, the license plate number, and direction they were heading.

The Turn In Poachers (TIP) program offers rewards to citizens who report poachers or other resources violations. People can report a violation by calling 800-652-9093, or #TIP on most cell phones.

To find a Minnesota conservation officer, go to www.mndnr.gov/officerpatrolareas.

Related Topics: DNR, Minnesota Deer Hunting, and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources