Locked and Loaded: Your Guide to the 2011 Deer Hunting Season

Hundreds of thousands of hunters will be taking aim at Minnesota's deer herd this weekend, as the firearm season opener begins at dawn Saturday morning.

It'll be breezy, but forecasts for the 2011 deer hunting opener are more favorable than they've been in years—with temperatures expected in the mid to upper 50s Saturday and Sunday.

Four generations of Eric Knutson's family will be at deer camp this year.  Eric and his son will travel up north from Golden Valley, his dad and granddad will head up north from St. Paul.

"First we waited for football season," said Knutson. "But with the Vikings this year, it seems like months and months that we've all been counting down the days to go deer hunting."

Kirby Ellingson owns Kirby's Bait in Mound and said early Thursday afternoon that he was bracing for the usual rush of hunters looking for a license, supplies and a little chitchat before heading to their deer shack. Many, he said, come back each year to his shop along Commerce Boulevard in Mound.

"They've been trickling in and out, but I expect a rush before I close tomorrow," Ellingson said. 

Kirby's Bait has seen more than a decade's worth of deer hunting seasons, and Ellingson said that hunters in Zone 601, which encompasses the Lake Minnetonka area, have a good chance of success due to the area's robust deer numbers.

"I think you can pretty much shoot as many deer as you want and keep buying tags for them," Ellingson said. "There's so many deer around here. So basically anywhere you can shoot would be a good spot."

Patch has packaged a compilation of information and data gathered by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Where you can buy your deer hunting license

In addition to an online option, there are nine licensing agents in the Lake Minnetonka area. We have complete details.

By the Numbers

Did you know a deer's home range is about 1 square mile? Or that the average weight of a deer is the same as that of a human? Learn more.

New This Year: Register Your Deer via Smart Phone

Hunting has gone high-tech in Minnesota. Hunters can now register their deer with their phone right at the kill site. We have complete details.

How to Donate Your Deer to Those in Need

Food shelves throughout Minnesota are partnering with state agencies and local meat processors to make donation an attractive option for hunters. Here's how.

Conservation officers cite hundreds of hunters each year for a wide variety of infractions. Find out what they are and how to avoid trouble.

Nominees sought for Minnesota Deer Hunter Ethics Award

Hunters who exemplify outstanding hunting ethics are being sought for nomination for this year's MDHA Ethics Award. Find out how to submit a nominee.

Hunters Asked to Help Conservation Officers Take Aim at Poachers

Game wardens will be dramatically outnumbered by hunters this weekend, and the DNR is asking for help in tracking poachers who harvest deer illegally.