Governor's Deer Opener celebrates Minnesota's deer hunting tradition
ST. PAUL, Minn., Oct. 31, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Each November, Minnesota hunters come together at remote cabins and hunting shacks to share in the excitement of the opening weekend of Minnesota's white-tailed deer hunting season. For some it is a serious pursuit of tablefare, and for others it's a time to re-tell stories of past hunts and reconnect with family and friends away from the everyday grind.
It's a tradition carried on each season by nearly 500,000 firearms deer hunters in Minnesota. Since 2003, a community in the state has hosted the annual Minnesota Governor's Deer Hunting Opener as an opportunity to showcase its hunting opportunities and outdoor recreation offerings. This year, the event will be held in Hinckley from Thursday, Nov. 1, through Sunday, Nov. 4, and features a Welcome to Camp Celebration with deer hunting at the center.
The event is coordinated by the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Explore Minnesota and Hinckley Convention & Visitors Bureau.
"Hunting is a big deal in Minnesota," said DNR Commissioner Tom Landwehr. "Hunters contribute to the bottom line of businesses across the state and hunters help fund conservation efforts on our public lands that benefit wildlife, habitat for wildlife and pollinators, and our air and water quality."
Minnesota has a rich hunting heritage and ample room to hunt on 11 million acres of public hunting land. Hunting is a favorite fall activity in many families and part of the culture of many communities across the state. Overall, hunting and wildlife watching generate more than $1.3 billion in annual economic expenditures in Minnesota.
The Minnesota Governor's Deer Hunting Opener began in 2003 and happens at a different location around the state each year. This year's event in Hinckley includes a banquet, hunting exhibits and vendor fair, six educational seminars, a demonstration from a butcher about how to turn a harvested deer into venison for the freezer, and opportunities for media to sign up to hunt deer with local hosts when the Minnesota firearms deer season opens on Saturday, Nov. 3.
Visit mngovernorsdeeropener.com for more information about the event, and follow along on social media using #DeerCampMN and #OnlyinMN.
SOURCE Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
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