In Minnesota, some hunting traditions will subtly change next year

Balsam Store Hunting License by Aaron J. Brown
PHOTO: Aaron J. Brown

The rifle season for deer hunting opens Saturday morning, subject of my latest column in the Minnesota Star Tribune.

I’ll be at our family’s hunting shack as you read this, hoping that no violent deer force me into an act of self-defense. I might even load the rifle. 

Deer hunting is a big fall tradition in rural Minnesota. The hunting hasn’t been very good in our far-northern forests in recent years. Nevertheless, my family goes out every year for the camaraderie and annual communion with ancient ritual and the natural world. We have four generations at our camp.

One hunting tradition is slated to change next year, however. The Minnesota DNR will implement a new system that will put hunting and fishing licenses on a smartphone app. You will still have access to paper licenses, but the convenience will likely create an all-digital license experience in due time.

I’m quite fluent in all things digital but, like the decline of other print media that will go nameless, I’m not excited for this particular change.

My column, “Hunting licenses in Minnesota will soon go digital — I get it. And I hate it,” runs in today’s Strib. Enjoy!

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