Two Hunters Dead in Opening Deer Season Weekend

BEMIDJI, Minn. (AP) - A hunter has died of an apparent fall from his deer stand in Beltrami County in northwestern Minnesota.

The Beltrami County sheriff's office says it happened about noon Saturday near Saum. Hunters called for assistance after finding a member of their hunting party under his deer stand after an apparent fall.

Authorities identified the victim Sunday as 72-year-old Gene A. Berthiaume of St. Paul. Emergency medical personnel from Blackduck administered first aid, but authorities say Berthiaume died at the scene.

It was least the second fatality on Saturday, the opening day of Minnesota's firearms deer season.

An 84-year-old hunter in St. Louis County died when his clothing caught fire while he was trying to light a heater in his deer stand.

Arthur Knafla of Maple Grove died at the scene southeast of Hibbing, around 9:45 a.m. Saturday.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)