Overview
- Mandatory CWD testing applies in designated management zones after last year’s detections in Hawley and Greenfield.
- Self-serve sampling stations are available only for opening weekend, with staffed check stations, partner taxidermists, mail-in kits, and local wildlife offices providing alternatives.
- The DNR says deer populations are up across most of the state after mild winters, and some permit areas allow harvests of three to five deer.
- Safety messaging led the opener, with Gov. Tim Walz urging clear target identification and caution when entering or exiting stands.
- Hunting groups highlight the boost to rural economies from local spending, as cold, November weather with pockets of rain or snow greets hunters.