How will Minnesota deer hunters define a successful 2026 firearms season? A shackful of buddies? A 10-point buck hanging from a tree? A freezer full of venison?
All those things and more, of course. “But at the end of the day, the hunt was successful if it was safe for every hunter and the people around them,” as Lt. Col. Robert Gorecki, assistant director of the Enforcement Division at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, reminded in a
statement
ahead of the Saturday, Nov. 7 Minnesota deer opener. “Our goal is that everyone who heads into the fields or woods leaves with positive memories.”
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That means no accidental shootings, no trips and falls, no hitting a deer on the drive to the stand, no overdoing it to the point of a medical emergency, and no mishaps of any kind. Hunting is supposed to be “a safe, lifelong activity” — “so long as hunters prepare and make safety their top priority,” as the DNR stated.
Hunters can start by ensuring that
firearms
are in good working order, according to the DNR. Also, treat every firearm like it’s loaded; keep fingers off the trigger until it’s time to shoot; be sure of the target and beyond before shooting; inspect tree s...