2012-2013 Permit Application Process

  • Permit applications for 2013 will be accepted starting August 1, 2012.
  • Applications and associated fees for fishing contests must be sent to the appropriate regional fisheries office. A map showing regional boundaries and addresses can be found in the fishing regulations book, on the online office locator, or with the tournament permit application. The appropriate fee must be submitted along with the application.
  • Applications may also be submitted online.  However, permit fees and tournament rules (if any) must still be mailed or delivered to the appropriate regional manager’s office.  No application is complete until fees have been submitted.
  • Multiple-region contest applications should be sent to 500 Lafayette Rd., St. Paul, MN, 55155-4020.
  • If permit applications received from August 1 through the last Friday in September (September 28, 2012) exceed the monthly limits for a given water body, the DNR will notify the applicants that their application will be subject to a drawing. Applicants would then be given seven days to change their application, but could not change to a location and time period for which applications are already at or above the limit.
  • The DNR will conduct a drawing for all locations and time periods for which applications exceed limits. First preference in the drawings will be given to applicants for established or traditional fishing contests. Preference points will be given to contests based on the number of times they have been unsuccessful in previous drawings. Contests lose all accumulated preference points after being successfully drawn.
  • Results of the drawing and any applications received by 4:30 p.m. on September 28 will be announced no later than November 7.
  • Permit applications for 2013 received after September 28, 2012 may be approved if the approval does not result in the limits on the number of permitted fishing contests being exceeded. These applications will be considered on a first-come, first-serve basis.
  • A person may not transfer a fishing contest permit to another person.
  • The contest fee is non-refundable except for applications denied following a drawing or withdrawn by the applicant prior to issuance of a permit. Once a permit has been issued, fees are not refundable.