ST. PAUL, Minn. (GRAY) – With the firearm deer hunting season set to begin on November 8, state officials and outdoor advocates gathered this week to spotlight the significant economic contributions of hunting in Minnesota. Governor Tim Walz (DFL-Minnesota) emphasized that outdoor recreation generates approximately $13.7 billion in economic activity, creating ripple effects across communities.
Sarah Strommen, Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), reported that around 200,000 hunting licenses have been sold so far this year. While this figure reflects a modest decline compared to previous years at the same time, it still indicates sustained public engagement in outdoor pursuits. Strommen highlighted that revenue from hunting licenses plays a vital role in supporting conservation initiatives, habitat preservation for deer, and overall funding for the DNR.
Jared Mazurek, representing the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association, pointed out that hunters contribute directly to rural economies. He encouraged participants to support local businesses by buying groceries, supplies, and ammunition within the communities where they hunt. This practice, he noted, strengthens regional economic resilience.
Strommen also addressed progress on the state’s upcoming digital licensing platform. She explained that transferring legacy data into the new system has proven complex and time-consuming. Rather than committing to a fixed launch date, the DNR is focusing on fulfilling predefined performance benchmarks. The goal remains to complete the transition by the end of the year, though the official rollout will only occur once all success criteria are satisfied.
Additional details about the 2023 deer hunting season, including regulations and safety guidelines, are available on the DNR’s official website.
— news from KTTC | Rochester, MN
— News Original —
Ahead of firearm deer opener, Minnesota leaders highlight economic importance of hunting industry
ST. PAUL, Minn. (GRAY) – Minnesota’s firearm deer opener is Nov. 8, and ahead of opening weekend, Minnesota state leaders and outdoor voices met to discuss the importance of the state’s hunting economy. n n“Outdoor activities in Minnesota are about $13.7 billion [in] investments,” said Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (DFL-Minnesota) at a roundtable discussion Wednesday, “They have a trickle effect.” n nAccording to Minnesota DNR Commissioner Sarah Strommen, the state has sold about 200,000 licenses so far this year. Sales are down slightly from past years at the same point, but the numbers still represent a consistent interest in recreation. n n“[Hunting] is a very important economic revenue to fund conservation and deer habitat work in Minnesota, to fund [the] DNR,” said Strommen. n nOutdoor recreation experts, like Jared Mazurek with the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association, say hunters play a unique role in their own ecosystem: that of local rural economies. n n“If you are heading north to deer camp or south to deer camp, I would challenge you to wait till you get to the community that you are recreating in to purchase your groceries, purchase your supplies, your ammo, whatever that might be,” he said. n nStrommen also provided an update on the state’s new electronic licensing system rollout. n nAccording to the Commissioner, there’s a lot of complicated data that’s taken time to migrate. Instead of a target date, Strommen says they’re waiting for the migration to meet a set of “success criteria.” n n“We will go live when those success criteria are met. It is our goal that those success criteria are met by the end of this year,” she said. n nYou can find more information about this year’s deer opener on the DNR’s website.