The season: Nov. 5-20 (100 series units, Northeastern Minnesota)
Shooting hours: One-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset
The hunters: About 425,000 firearms deer hunters are expected to go afield
The licenses: Resident firearm (age 18 or over), $26; resident youth firearm (ages 12-17), $13; bonus permit, $14; non-resident firearm (age 18 and over), $140; non-resident youth firearm (age 10-17), $13.
Peak of the rut: Mating season for deer in northern Minnesota typically peaks Nov. 11-12, according to Department of Natural Resources research.
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New this fall: "Hunter Choice" management areas, in which hunters will be allowed to take one either-sex deer. Also, the 16-foot height restriction for elevated stands has been removed.
The outlook: Deer population is good from the Iron Range south, but across the northern part of Northeastern Minnesota, it's down as a result of recent tough winters, DNR biologists say.
Venison donation: Hunters may donate their deer at processors who have registered with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. For more information, go to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources website ( www.mndnr.gov ) and go to the deer hunting page.
Registration stations: Listed by city or by county on the DNR website, www.mndnr.gov . Go to "hunting and trapping," then "deer."
The deer hunter's daypack: A suggested list of items you might want to take to the stand with you:
License
Matches
Compass
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Emergency food
Knife
Hand warmers
Scents
Calls
Drag rope
Gutting gloves
Plastic bag for heart/liver
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First-aid kit
Flashlight
Field-dressing kit
String or tie for tagging
Binoculars
Thermos
Water bottle
