Gear up for the firearms deer season in Minnesota with some knowledge, too

From muzzleloader to youth hunters, nearly 460,000 licenses were bought last year for the firearms deer season in Minnesota. A new season across the state begins Nov. 4 (Wisconsin's opener is Nov. 18).

The Department of Natural Resources issued its annual preview. Here is a snapshot of useful information:

CWD and your permit area

Testing for chronic wasting disease is required for deer one year and older, depending on the deer permit area (DPA). The DNR has a helpful interactive map to explain requirements at mndnr.gov/cwd. Also, some DPAs have changed numbers, owing to the discovery of CWD and to expanded work to mitigate its spread.

Previews, by region

Northeast: Deer are struggling after another harsh winter, when deep snow limited their forage supply and made them susceptible to predation.

Northwest: The report is better in parts of the region, with a more stable population. Still, there are lower harvest limits in some deer permit areas because of back-to-back severe winters.

Central: Deer numbers are strong, according to the DNR, and bolstered by a bumper acorn crop. Hunters can take as many as three deer in many DPAs and in some CWD management zones.

South: The deer population is healthy, and habitat conditions are prime in some areas, like floodplains, which haven't had major flooding like previous years.

Some new rules

Tags: The DNR says a youth in a hunting party cannot tag an antlerless deer or legal buck taken by another individual in that group.

Stands can stay: Portable stands may be left overnight in some wildlife management areas in northwestern Minnesota.

Nontoxic ammunition: It's required for hunters participating in a special hunt or disease management hunt in a state park or Scientific and Natural Area (SNA). Likewise for a regular hunt in an SNA where hunting is allowed.

What else is new? Go online to dnr.state.mn.us/hunting/deer.