Minnesotans prepare ahead of firearms deer season opener

Saturday morning will mark the start of the firearms deer hunting season in Minnesota and Friday, people were gathering supplies before heading out.

It was an exciting morning for deer hunters.

They say "Orange Friday" is their version of Black Friday, and more than 100 hunters lined up outside a Fleet Farm store in Lakeville to gear up ahead of this weekend.

"Just enjoying the outdoors, that’s all I go for," Tyler Robling said. "It’s not even the hunting. It’s just being outside and enjoying what God gave us."

"It’s just kind of fun to get kind of primed for deer hunting," Greg Anderson, who was the first person in line Friday morning, said. Anderson said he couldn’t sleep so he arrived at Fleet Farm early, at 4:15 a.m.

Anderson is one of about 400,000 hunters who will be heading into the woods for the firearms deer season opener this weekend.

It’s a time-honored tradition for many families in the state, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is asking hunters to do their part to stay safe.

The season officially starts a half hour before sunrise Saturday morning.

KSTP’s complete hunting season guide