Minn. Firearms Deer Season Opens

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Hunters are taking to the woods and fields Saturday for opening day of Minnesota's firearms deer season.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources expects nearly a-half million people to take part in this year's season.

The DNR expects good hunting this season. Last year the harvest was 194,000 deer, with a success rate of 32 percent.

Hunters also should have a clearer view of deer this year. Most of the corn is expected to be cut down by opener, providing less cover for deer.

There are now three ways to register harvested deer: at walk-in big game registration stations, by telephone and on the Internet.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty is holding his eighth annual Governor's Deer Opener in the Little Falls area.