Minnesota deer hunters have a hot time

BRAINERD, Minn., Nov. 11 (UPI) -- Things took an unexpected turn for one northern Minnesota deer-hunting party this weekend when their deer stand caught fire, authorities said.

The Brainerd Fire Department said things started out fine for the hunters when one of them bagged a deer Sunday afternoon. But it turned bad when the hunters descended from their stand to gut the animal, the Brainerd Dispatch reported Monday.

The hunters left their guns in the stand but apparently accidentally knocked over the stand's portable heater. Not only did the stand catch fire and fall to the ground but a box of ammunition started exploding, the report said.

Brainerd firefighters had to hoof it into the woods with water-pump cans to put out the flames.

No humans were hurt in the incident.