DPS Urges Deer Hunters to Keep an Eye Out for More Than Deer

By
Keith Lusher
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OutdoorHub
DPS Urges Deer Hunters to Keep an Eye Out for More Than Deer

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety has issued a sort of “hey, while you’re at it” request for hunters this season. As thousands of sportsmen take to the woods for the firearm opener, the department’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives Office (MMIR) is asking hunters to keep an eye out not only for deer, but also for signs of missing people.

Hunters who venture into remote areas are asked to be alert for anything that seems out of place, such as articles of clothing, camping gear, or bones that don’t appear to be from animals. The office reminds hunters that while it’s easy to overlook these things during the excitement of a hunt, taking a moment to investigate from a safe distance could make a real difference.

The start of deer season brings hunters into remote parts of Minnesota like here in the Boundary Waters backcountry where new clues could help solve missing person cases

The MMIR Office recommends the following steps if hunters come across something suspicious:

  • Do not touch or move any items or remains.

  • Take photographs if possible.

  • Mark the location with GPS coordinates, drop a pin on a map app, or note landmarks.

  • Report your findings to local law enforcement and share the saved coordinates along with a detailed description.

Posters from the Minnesota Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives Office show dozens of people who remain missing across the state. Photo:MMIR Office

The MMIR has published an updated list of open missing person cases on its website, and additional active investigations can be found through the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

This year’s reminder comes as several long-term cases remain unsolved in northern Minnesota, including those involving Leech Lake band member Damon Boyd, last seen in 2014, and Nevaeh Kingbird, last seen in 2021. As hunters fan out across the backcountry this weekend, the Department of Public Safety hopes that a few extra sets of eyes might be the key to bringing closure for families still waiting for answers.

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