MARSHALL — It could be a good year for deer hunting in southern Minnesota, representatives of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources said Thursday.

“We’re expecting pretty decent deer numbers,” said Joe Stangel, acting regional wildlife manager for southwest Minnesota. Southern Minnesota had a mild winter last year, which would be good for deer populations, he said. At the same time, harvest progress in the region could make it easier for hunters to find deer.

The firearm deer hunting season opens Saturday in Minnesota. So far, the number of deer permits sold this year has been similar to last year, said DNR big game program leader Barb Keller.

DNR representatives said the outlook was good for hunting in southern Minnesota.

“In the southern region, the last year our deer numbers have been really good,” Stangel said. Factors like having a mild winter last year and good amounts of precipitation during the growing season were good for deer survival and producing fawns, he said.

Keller said having a wet growing season was also positive for deer populations in the region.

Keller said there might be some localized areas with fewer deer in southern Minnesota. A study of fawns in 17 wildlife management areas in south-central Minnesota this year found the fawns had a three-month survival rate of 36%. “That was low,” Keller said. However, the results of the study didn’t necessarily apply to all areas across the region, she said.

Deer Permit Area 288, the DPA that includes most of Lyon County, had a total firearms deer harvest of 430, according to Minnesota DNR data. The firearms harvest included 277 adult male deer and 119 adult female deer.

This year, “People should have a really good opportunity to take deer,” Stangel said.

Most crops are out of the fields by now, which leaves less cover for deer to hide in.

Keller said it’s important for hunters planning on heading out for the deer opener to check the regulations in the areas they will be hunting. If hunters are using a ground blind on public land, the DNR requires the blind to have either a blaze orange safety covering, or a patch of blaze orange material that is at least 12 inches by 12 inches on each side of the blind.

Another important reminder is that the DPA in Lyon County is in a shotgun zone. Hunters can only use firearms like shotguns using slugs, muzzleloaders and handguns legal for big game, the DNR said. The DPA in Lyon County has a one-deer limit, as well as a lottery for antlerless deer permits. Some areas further east, in the Minnesota River valley, have a two-deer limit.

While the DNR does monitor for chronic wasting disease in some parts of Minnesota, CWD testing is optional in southwest Minnesota, Stangel said. There haven’t been known cases of CWD in the area, he said. However, hunters planning on traveling to other parts of the state should check for CWD testing requirements in that area, and plan ahead.

More information on individual DPAs, including the amount of land open to public hunting, and the location of chronic wasting disease management zones, can be accessed through an interactive online map at https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/hunting/deer/map.html.