2024 special deer hunts

Deadlines

Youth hunts:Friday, Aug. 16 (unless noted otherwise)

Hunts, permit required

Area nameHuntPermitsDatesBagNontoxic ammoTypeOrientation
Afton State Park95130Nov. 9-102Remains removalEither sexNov. 2
Banning State Park9656Nov. 2-32RequiredEither sexMandatory
Blue Mounds State Park96610Nov. 23-242Remains removalEarn-a-buckNov. 22
Buffalo River State Park95912Oct. 26-272RequiredEarn-a-buckOct. 26
Camden State Park96712Oct. 26-272Remains removalEarn-a-buckOct. 25
City of Baxter961N/AOct. 17-20Up to 5N/AEither sexReview hunt information
Kilen Woods State Park9636Oct. 26-272Remains removalEarn-a-buckOct. 25
Lake Bemidji State Park95420Oct. 18-202RequiredEither sexOct. 17
Lake Bronson State Park96910Oct. 12-131RequiredEither sexOct. 11
Lake Shetek State Park96815Nov. 2-32Remains removalAntlerlessNov. 1
Minneopa State Park89912Oct. 19-202Remains removalEither sexOct. 18
Savanna Portage State Park95825Oct. 26-272RequiredEither sexNo in person
Sibley State Park95210Oct. 26-271Remains removalEither sexNo in person
St. Croix State Park95690NOv. 2-31RequiredEither sexMandatory
Zippel Bay State Park95320Oct. 18-202RequiredEither sexNo in person

Area nameHuntPermitsDatesBagTypeOrientation
Camp Ripley950100Oct.12-132Either sexMandatory orientation; Jan Ekert; 320-339-9927; [email protected]
Sand Prairie WMA (Sherburne County): Open during the regular archery deer season for youth ages 10 through 17. Regular archery deer rules apply.

Youth hunt information

Age and license requirements
  • Applicants for youth firearms or archery special deer hunts must be 12-15 years old at the time of the hunt.
  • Archery and firearms participants must have a firearms safety certificate and must obtain a license for taking deer by firearms (or archery for youth archery hunts), valid for any zone or season option, by the beginning date of the respective hunt.
  • An apprentice hunter license will be valid in lieu of a firearms safety certificate for these hunts.
  • Blaze orange/pink requirements are in effect in areas open during firearms youth deer hunts.
  • The rifle-shotgun boundary is in effect.
  • Nontoxic ammunition is required for all hunts except the Rydell National Wildlife Refuge.
How to apply

Applicants may only apply for one youth archery hunt and one youth firearms hunt. Group applications and party hunting are not allowed. A drawing will be held if applications exceed available permits for each hunt. Unsuccessful applicants will receive preference for future youth hunt lotteries of the same type.

Each hunter must purchase their hunting license in addition to applying for the special youth hunt. Hunting licenses go on sale Aug. 1 each year.

Participation in a youth hunt does not affect one’s eligibility to participate in the regular deer seasons, but harvested deer count toward a youth’s annual statewide bag limit.

Youth and adult attendance required
  • All participating youth must attend orientation as required by the hunt administrator prior to the hunt (details will be included in notices to successful applicants).
  • An adult mentor, who may not hunt, must accompany participants during the orientation and the hunt.

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