Photo courtesy of Karen Beebout Derek Bloedow shot a 10-point buck while hunting in the Wabasso area during Minnesota’s deer hunting opener. Statewide, the deer harvest was up from last year, according to data from the Minnesota DNR.

The 2024 deer hunting opener was a successful one for many Minnesota hunters. Redwood Falls resident Derek Bloedow said he didn’t have to wait very long before he got a 10-point buck.

“It was about 10 minutes after shooting time,” Bloedow said. The buck was chasing after a doe near Bloedow’s blind, and not paying any attention to hunters. “I was pretty much in the right place at the right time,” he said.

Bloedow said one of his friends also shot his first buck while they were hunting during the deer opener weekend. “He was pretty stoked.”

Data from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources said roughly 55,000 deer were harvested statewide in the first two days of the firearms hunting season. The numbers were up 4% from last year, but the harvest on opening weekend was still 12% below the five-year average.

As of Tuesday, the overall deer harvest, which included archery, youth and special hunts, was more than 89,000. DNR data said a total of 345 deer have been harvested in the Deer Permit Area that includes most of Lyon County. A neighboring DPA that includes parts of Yellow Medicine and Redwood Counties had a total harvest of 235 deer.

Bloedow shot his buck while hunting on public land in the Wabasso area, along with his dad and a couple of friends. Over the years, “It’s been a pretty good spot,” he said. Their group got a total of three deer on opening weekend.

It was exciting to get a 10-point buck, Bloedow said. “He had a lot of mass on him,” Bloedow said. “You don’t see that a lot in younger deer.”

It was also “kind of surprising” to get a deer so early on opening weekend, he said. On public land, it can be hard to tell if there have been other hunters or activity in the area that might have scared the deer away.

Bloedow said he’s loved hunting ever since he was 12 or 13 years old. He shot his first deer on a hunt together with his dad. “Ever since then, that’s been the thing to do,” Bloedow said.

Getting a chance to get together with friends and be outdoors was also a big part of the appeal. “Even when we don’t see deer, it’s nice to be outside of town for a while,” he said.

While Minnesota deer harvests were up this year, the opening weekend didn’t go without incident. Two hunters were shot in separate incidents in Clay and Norman Counties. In a Tuesday report by MPR News, DNR big game program coordinator Todd Froberg urged hunters to exercise caution in the field, and when climbing in and out of tree stands.