WINONA — Gov. Mark Dayton will be in scenic southeastern Minnesota for the 10th annual Minnesota Governor’s Deer Opener.

Dayton will be a lunch speaker at the Winona Sportsmen’s Club as part of today’s festivities before the firearms deer season opens on Saturday morning. Other events include an archery competition, a shooting exhibition, and several exhibits.

Dayton’s a pheasant hunter, not a deer hunter, so he won’t be about the nearly 500,000 people heading into the Minnesota woods this season. But he’s otherwise carrying on the tradition started by his predecessor, Tim Pawlenty.

Dayton will be joined at today’s events by Natural Resources Commissioner Tom Landwehr, Director of Explore Minnesota Tourism John Edman, Minnesota Deer Hunters Association Vice President Denis Quarberg, legislators, local leaders and other guests.