If you’ve known me a long time you’ve seen quite a change on the topic of deer hunting. In the early 2000s I was writing columns about the woes of being a non-hunter on the Iron Range. I started visiting the family shack around that time so my kids could visit their grandpa and great-grandpa. As my sons grew up they fell in love with the place. And because they loved it, I loved it, too. When they wanted to learn how to hunt, I joined them.
Today’s column (gift link) argues that it’s worth the effort to try hunting as a rookie, even in adulthood. I share some personal experiences and thoughts from the president of the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association, who described today’s firearms opener as “Minnesota’s biggest and best holiday.”
Read, “Go on, try deer hunting this year,” in the Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025 edition of the Minnesota Star Tribune.
Aaron J. Brown is a columnist and member of the editorial board for the Minnesota Star Tribune. His new book about Hibbing Mayor Victor Power and his momentous fight against the world’s largest corporation will be out soon.
