left to right.... Hannah Holsten, Mark Holsten, Governor Pawlenty

This was the sixth year of Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty’s deer opener and, unfortunately not as productive as a couple of years ago.

The Governor told media and supporters that he didn’t even get a glimpse at a deer on opening morning. The Governor was hunting in the Isanti-North Branch-Cambridge area. Mild temperatures may have had an affect on keeping the deer from meandering from their home turf.

Part of the Governor’s Deer Opener hunting contingent were 12 year old Hannah Holsten. Hannah was making her first hunt with her father Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Commissioner, Mark Holsten.

Hannah said she was thrilled and excited to be on her first hunt. She said she didn’t get an opportunity to harvest a deer herself, although she did see a couple of deer early in the morning. Hanna said they were too far away to safely shoot.

Hannah had completed her gun safety training in preperation for her first hunt and says she looks forward to continuing her hunts with her father.