Pawlenty wants to try hunting luck again, picks LF

Maybe the thinking is that 30 miles south and seven years later Gov. Tim Pawlenty's chances are better.

Or what better area to end what has proven to be a successful tradition started by the governor?

Whatever the reasoning, Pawlenty's final Minnesota Governor's Deer Hunting Opener - he's not running for re-election in 2010 - is scheduled in the Little Falls area Nov. 5-6, the opening weekend of the 2010 firearms deer hunting season.

That's just a few days after the election that will decide his replacement.

"The opening of deer hunting season is a special time, and Little Falls is a picturesque area of the state with deer hunting near and dear to the hearts of locals," Pawlenty said in a statement Wednesday. "Little Falls provides an ideal setting for friends and families to come together and celebrate this long-held Minnesota tradition."

Pawlenty started the opener in 2003 - in the Brainerd lakes area - to showcase Minnesota's deer hunting heritage and the economic benefits to the state.

That year, Pawlenty failed to harvest a deer. In fact, he didn't even see a deer. In last year's Governor's Deer Hunting Opener in the Thief River Falls area, he reportedly shot a small buck but was unable to find the wounded animal.

Figures released in Wednesday's announcement indicated Minnesota's nearly half-a-million deer hunters spend at least $260 million in retail sales every year and create nearly 5,300 jobs in greater Minnesota. The governor's office also said the seven previous deer openers have raised thousands of dollars for wildlife habitat and conservation projects.

Other Governor's Deer Hunting openers have been in areas around Grand Rapids, Perham, Rochester, Hibbing and Cambridge/North Branch/Isanti.

BRIAN S. PETERSON may be reached at brian.peterson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5864.