The start of the 2025 firearms deer season highlights economic benefits and raises awareness for CWD precautions.

BRAINERD — The weather should be just about right as hundreds of thousands of deer hunters make their way into the woods Saturday, Nov. 8, for the opening of Minnesota firearms deer hunting season.

Crossbow users clearly have contributed to the recent pulse of new archery tag sales the past three years in Minnesota.

Jeff Pritzl, who has worked full-time at the Department of Natural Resources since 1991, including as deer program specialist ...