Up in the Northland, it's never too early to start getting prepped for hunting season.
Minnesota deer hunters of all skill levels to gathered today in Mora to learn the tricks for tracking your kill and being safe while doing it.
Here on this normally peaceful farm just outside of Hinckley, long- time and future hunters got busy building their skills as hunters.
The Minnesota D- N- R has hosted the Deer Day hunting clinic three years in a row, at the Wilken's farm.
Betty Wilkens is a hunting instructor herself.
She says hunting is a great life-long sport, but it can be intimidating to many, "The assumption is wherever you go that you already know how to do it if you're an adult that you know how to do it so it is very difficult to get into these sports you don't even know the questions to ask."
Brian Johnston is one of those adults who didn't know anyting about hunting when he started.
He says this is a great opportunity for people like him who've had to learn as they go, "I think its really great because you get a lot of people involved and you learn things that you know takes a lot of years to learn, you learn it quicker and you get the opportunity to try things."
Tiffany Tarrolly got to try things out for herself... the muzzle loader and the rifle.
She took a bullseye on her first try!
Along with target practice, participants learned about the anatomy of the deer, so they get a good idea of proper arrow and shot placement.
And here's a handy little trick, if you want to make sure you're not mistaking leaves for blood make sure you bring along some peroxide and when you spray it on it, the blood should foam.
Everyone also learned the importance of deer stand safety, as well as blinds and survival techniques.
And for people like Danika Hoffman, The best part is knowing you wont have to sit and watch when the rest of your family is hunting.
Hoffman laughs, "I thought I could handle a shotgun but I guess not!"
Maybe she can't handle a shotgun, but like many if not all of the participants, she's ready for a muzzle loader, rifle or bow and arrow.
More than a dozen people were got their gun safety certification after all the practice and learning today.
The deer hunting firearm season in Minnesota opens November 11th.
In Wisconsin, the season begins November 21st.
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