Fergus Falls Hosting 11th Governor's Deer Hunting Opener

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Gov. Mark Dayton will head to the northwestern Minnesota town of Fergus Falls in a few weeks for the 11th annual Governor's Deer Hunting Opener, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Officials said the event will start Friday, Nov. 8, with Dayton hosting community and youth hunting activities. The DNR said there are nearly 500,000 deer hunters state-wide that contribute close to a half-billion dollars to Minnesota's economy. The firearm season for deer hunting starts Nov. 9.

The weekend will kick off with a Big Buck Lunch at the West Otter Tail County Fairgrounds and Prairie Wetlands Learning Center on Friday. Guest speakers there include Dayton, DNR Commissioner Tom Landwehr, John Edman with Minnesota Tourism and Mark Johnson, the executive director of the Minnesota Deer Hunter's Association.