Minnesota Wildlife

Statewide youth deer season returns Oct. 20-23

Minnesota?s youth deer season will take place statewide Thursday, Oct. 20, through Sunday, Oct. 23. The season coincides with statewide teacher workshops, so many Minnesota students don?t have school during the youth season. To participate, youth must be 10-17 years old and have a deer license. An adult parent, guardian, or mentor must accompany youth ages 10-13. Find other important regulations and information about the season on the DNR youth deer hunting webpage.

Reminder: Other hunters and trappers out during these hunt dates, including archery deer hunters, are required to wear blaze orange or pink. Check the blaze clothing requirements on page 33 of the Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations.

Early antlerless deer season is Oct. 20-23 in selected permit areas

Hunters can participate in an early antlerless-only deer season from Thursday, Oct. 20, through Sunday, Oct. 23. The season increases opportunities for hunters in 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 209, 213, 214, 215, 218, 219, 221, 222, 223, 225, 227, 229, 236, 240, 277, 341, 342, 343, 604, 605, 643, 645, 646, 647, 648, 649, 661 and 701.

The DNR offers this opportunity to hunters in an effort to manage local deer herds. In changes this year, the bag limit has been reduced from five to three antlerless deer and hunters are no longer required to obtain an early antlerless permit to participate in the early antlerless season.

To participate, hunters must hunt in one of the 28 open deer permit areas and use a deer license that matches the weapon used during the season (for example, using a firearm for a firearms season license or archery equipment for an archery license). Hunters have the option of using their regular season parent license or can use early antlerless permits, bonus permits, or disease management permits (only in 600 series permit areas) to fill the limit.

Full information on the early antlerless season is available on?page 84 of the Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations.

Photo courtesy of?David Riewe

Make a plan for deer season?

The DNR is reminding all deer hunters to plan ahead for a safe and enjoyable hunt.

The DNR?s online make a plan tool?provides a comprehensive step-by-step list of information hunters need to consider before heading to deer camp. Using the tool, hunters can review hunting regulations, plan for deer processing, learn where to get deer sampled for chronic wasting disease if required to do so, how to get a deer sampled for CWD where sampling is optional, and ways to be safe and make the most out of their hunt.

Photo courtesy of Barb Lammi

Field reports: What deer hunters can expect this season

More than 400,000 deer hunters are preparing for the firearms deer season that opens Saturday, Nov. 5. The season offers opportunities to spend time outdoors with friends and family, find adventure and put venison in the freezer.

DNR wildlife managers report good opportunities to harvest deer in most areas. Read the reports?from four regions of Minnesota.

Photo courtesy of?Tom Dougherty

DNR webinars: tundra swans and preserving your harvest

Webinars are coming up all about the tundra swan migration, and preserving your harvest. Intrigued? Register for these free webinars.

The first webinar is at noon Wednesday, Oct. 26. Mary Stefanski, Winona district manager for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, will share information on the fascinating migration of tundra swans, their life story and how people can view them up close before they head south for the year. The tundra swan migration is a highlight of the fall on the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge. At its peak, which usually occurs the second week of November, there can be as many as 50,000 swans on the refuge, primarily between Wabasha and Brownsville.

The second webinar is at noon Wednesday, Nov. 2. Kraig Kiger, DNR shooting sports specialist, will discuss what to do with a harvest after a successful hunting or fishing trip. The webinar will cover ways to keep a harvest and how to prepare, can or freeze meat from a harvest.