The Minnesota firearms deer hunting season open this Saturday, but hunters in Northeast Minnesota should beware of CWD rules, now with zones around the Grand Rapids-Nashwauk areas, Brainerd and Bemidji.

The Grand Rapids-Nashwauk area is back to a one deer zone.

“Testing for CWD for the rifle opener in the CWD zone is mandatory the first three days,” said Brad Trevena, a former Minnesota Deer Hunters Association Board Member. “There are check stations throughout the areas. Nashwauk is one. What you do is you bring your deer in and they will take lymph nodes and they will send them in for testing.”

There are also test kits hunters can use to submit samples to the DNR themselves.

You can find more information on the Minnesota DNR’s website.