Minnesota: DNR offers easy way to plan for safe, successful deer season
Oct. 14—ST. PAUL — As archery deer hunters enjoy the current hunting season and 400,000 hunters prepare for firearms deer hunting seasons, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources reminds hunters to plan ahead for a safe and enjoyable hunt.
"Enjoying the hunt is a lot easier after doing some simple planning. To that end, we've added a wealth of information for hunters on our website to assist in preparing for deer hunting," Barb Keller, Minnesota DNR big game program leader, said in a statement. "Using these planning tools is easy and can open up some breathing room for hunters once the season arrives so they can focus on having a safe and successful hunt."
The Minnesota DNR's online
make a plan tool — mndnr.gov/deerhunt — provides a comprehensive step-by-step list of information hunters need to consider before heading to deer camp. Hunters can walk through the steps to consider, including knowing the hunting regulations, planning for deer processing, getting their deer sampled for CWD, being safe and making the most out of their hunt. To use the online tool, all hunters need to know is the deer permit area number or DPA numbers where they intend to hunt, which they can find on an interactive deer map.
In Minnesota, archery deer season began Saturday, Sept. 16, and continues through Sunday, Dec. 31. Youth and early antlerless seasons are Thursday, Oct. 19, through Sunday, Oct. 22, and firearms deer season opens Saturday, Nov. 4, with various closing dates depending on a hunter's DPA. Muzzleloader is Saturday, Nov. 25, through Sunday, Dec. 10. — staff report
ST. PAUL — Minnesota's statewide youth deer season will take place statewide Thursday, Oct. 19, through Sunday, Oct. 22. The season coincides with state teacher workshops, so many Minnesota students will be out of school during the youth season.
To participate, young hunters must be 10 to 17 years old and have a regular deer license. Youth ages 10 to 13 must be accompanied by an adult parent, guardian or mentor 18 or older; accompanying adults do not need to be licensed. Youth may not tag antlerless deer or legal bucks taken by another hunter. Crossbows are allowed during the youth season.
All hunters and mentors, regardless of whether they are participating in youth deer season, must follow blaze orange/pink clothing requirements. Fabric or synthetic ground blinds on public land must have a blaze orange safety covering on top of the blind that is visible from all directions, or a patch made of blaze orange that is at least 144 square inches (12x12 inches) on each side of the blind.
Adults may not hunt, unless they are in an area open during the early antlerless season and have the corresponding license. Complete youth season details are available on the
Minnesota Department of Natural Resource youth deer season webpage
at
mndnr.gov/hunting/deer/youth.html
. — staff report
ST. PAUL — Hunters in many parts of Minnesota can participate in an early antlerless-only deer season from Thursday, Oct. 19, through Sunday, Oct. 22. The season increases opportunities for hunters in deer permit areas where deer populations are above population goals or where there is an increased risk of chronic wasting disease. Permit areas open during the hunt are 214, 215, 218, 219, 221, 222, 223, 225, 227, 229, 236, 277, 341, 342, 605, 643, 645, 646, 647, 648, 649, 661 and 701.
The Minnesota DNR offers the antlerless hunt as a way to enjoy the outdoors and help manage local deer herds. The bag limit is three antlerless deer, and deer taken during the early antlerless-only season do not count against the statewide bag limit. Youth may not tag antlerless deer or legal bucks taken by another hunter. Fabric or synthetic ground blinds on public land must have a blaze orange safety covering on top of the blind that is visible from all directions, or a patch made of blaze orange that is at least 144 square inches (12x12 inches) on each side of the blind.
Before participating, hunters should review the specific license and permit requirements available on page 88 of the
Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations
booklet, available online at
. — staff report
