ST. PAUL, Minn. - The slow harvest has Minnesota authorities concerned about the safety of deer hunters.

The firearms deer season opens Nov. 7, and Capt. Mike Hammer of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says the delayed harvest raises safety concerns for hunters who participate in deer drives. That's when a group of hunters walks through a field hoping to flush out deer.

Standing crops can reduce visibility, which is a safety issue when shooting at running deer.

To ensure safety, Hammer says, deer hunters should establish hunting plans that define who will shoot and when during drives. He says each hunting party member should have a predetermined zone of fire and always know the locations of all the others in their party.