2025 special deer hunts

Deadlines

Youth hunts:	Friday, Aug. 15 (unless noted otherwise)
Adult hunts:	Thursday, Sept. 4 (unless noted otherwise)

Hunts, permit required

Youth with valid licenses may participate in these hunts.

Area name	Hunt	Permits	Dates	Bag	Type	Additional info
(Austin) Jay C. Hormel Nature Center only	973	50	Oct. 1-Dec. 31	3	Earn-a-buck	Mandatory orientation, Luke Reese; 507-433-1881; [email protected], Apply by Sep. 12, Fee $25
Bemidji Regional Airport	986	20	Sep. 13-Dec. 31	5	Either-Sex	Scott Schroeder; 218-333-1861; [email protected], Apply by Aug. 1, Fee $10
Bemidji city hunts (985) from Sep. 13-Dec. 31 are only permitted on private land with landowner permission due to storm damage. Contact Scott Schroeder at 218-333-1861 or [email protected]. Apply by Aug. 1.
City of Blue Earth	897	16	Sep. 13-Dec. 31	2	Earn-a-buck	Mandatory orientation, Tharen Haugh; 507-526-5959; [email protected], Apply by Aug. 11, Fee $15
City of Canby	984	15	Sep. 13-Dec. 31	2	Antlerless only	Brock Smith; 507-828-8192; [email protected], Apply by Sep. 5, Fee $10
Carleton Game Refuge	972	40	Nov. 27-Dec. 31	5	Earn-a-buck	Apply by Oct. 1
City of Duluth	980	400	Sep. 13-Dec. 31	3	Either-Sex	Mandatory orientation, Arrowhead Bowhunters Alliance; [email protected], Apply by Jun. 30, Fee $40
City of East Grand Forks	996	12	Nov. 15-23	1	Other	9 anterless and 3 either-sex permits offered; mandatory orientation, Police Chief Michael Hedlund; 218-773-1104; [email protected], Apply by Sep. 15
City of Granite Falls	982	10	Sep. 13-Dec. 31	1	Antlerless only	Mike Thull; 320-564-2129; [email protected], Apply by Sep. 1
City of Hallock - Season A	992	5	Sep. 13-Oct. 17	2	Antlerless only	Mike Docken, Police Chief; 218-843-3434; [email protected]
City of Hallock - Season B	992	5	Oct. 18-Nov. 21	2	Antlerless only	Mike Docken, Police Chief; 218-843-3434; [email protected]
City of Hallock - Season C	992	5	Nov. 22-Dec. 31	2	Antlerless only	Mike Docken, Police Chief; 218-843-3434; [email protected]
City of Lake Benton	924	40	Sep. 13-Dec. 31	2	Earn-a-buck	Eileen Christensen; 507-368-4641 ext. 1; [email protected], Apply by Aug. 29, Fee $15
City of Mankato	981	40	Sep. 13-Dec. 31	5	Earn-a-buck	Mandatory orientation, Justin Lundborg; 507-387-8397; [email protected], Apply by Jul. 18
City of New Ulm	976	56	Oct. 11-Dec. 31	3	Double earn-a-buck	Dustin Fleck; 507-233-6750, Apply by Sep. 5, Fee $20
City of Ortonville	983	30	Sep. 13-Dec. 31	5	Earn-a-buck	Ortonville City Clerk; 320-839-3428; [email protected], Apply by Aug. 1, Fee $20
City of Owatonna	990	31	Oct. 19-Nov. 16, Nov. 17-Dec. 14	5	Earn-a-buck	Mandatory orientation, Mary Jo Knudson; 507-774-7364; [email protected], Apply by Sep. 5, Fee $20
City of Red Lake Falls	998	10	Sep. 13-Dec. 31	1	Antlerless only	Kelly Brekke; 218-253-2996; [email protected], Apply by Sep. 1
City of Redwood Falls	978	20	Sep. 13-Dec. 31	3	Double earn-a-buck	Jim Doering; 507-616-7400; [email protected], Fee $20
City of Two Harbors	896	15	Sep. 13-Dec. 31	2	Earn-a-buck	Mandatory orientation, Corey Carlson; 218-340-0630; [email protected], Apply by Aug. 16
City of Warroad	974	10	Sep. 13-Dec. 31	5	Either-Sex	Wade Steinbring; 218-386-2053; [email protected]
City of Windom	970	15	Sep. 13-Dec. 31	2	Antlerless only	Devin Koppenrud; 507-831-6134; [email protected], Apply by Aug. 31, Fee $20
Lake Tamarack Unit of the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum	895	2	Oct. 25-Nov. 9	2	Earn-a-buck	Sue Koepp; 612-301-1217; [email protected]
Pin Oak Prairie Scientific and Natural Area	926	8	Oct. 1-Nov. 30	5	Either-Sex	Don Ramsden ; 507-796-3284; [email protected], Apply by Aug. 28
River Bend Nature Center	997	30	Nov. 13-16	3	Earn-a-buck	Mandatory orientation, Brittany Smith; 507-332-7151; [email protected], Apply by Sep. 1
Vermillion Highlands Research, Recreation and Wildlife Management Area	975	60	Sep. 13-Oct. 31	3	Either-Sex	Mandatory orientation, Tim Pharis; 651-322-4643; [email protected]

Youth with valid licenses may participate in these hunts.

Area name	Hunt	Permits	Dates	Bag	Nontoxic ammo	Type	Additional info
Carver Park Reserve	971	100	Nov. 15-16	5	N/A	Either-Sex	Mandatory orientation, Steven Hogg; 763-694-7848; [email protected]
Cascade River State Park	900	23	Nov. 8-23	1	Required	Either-Sex
Forestville Mystery Cave State Park	933	75	Nov. 8-9	3	Required	Either-Sex
Frontenac State Park	940	60	Nov. 22-23	3	Required	Either-Sex
Glacial Lakes State Park	919	20	Nov. 13-16	1	Required	Antlerless only
Gooseberry Falls State Park	904	13	Nov. 8-23	1	Required	Either-Sex
Great River Bluffs State Park and King's and Queen's Bluff Scientific and Natural Area	962	50	Nov. 22-23	3	Required	Either-Sex
Hayes Lake State Park	908	50	Nov. 8-23	2	Required	Either-Sex
Judge C.R. Magney State Park	911	13	Nov. 8-23	1	Required	Either-Sex
Kilen Woods State Park	991	10	Dec. 27-Jan. 4	2	Required	Antlerless only
Lake Bemidji State Park	909	30	Nov. 8-11	2	Required	Either-Sex
Lake Bronson State Park	915	25	Nov. 8-16	2	Required	Earn-a-buck
Lake Carlos State Park	913	20	Nov. 8-11	1	Required	Antlerless only
Lake Louise State Park	903	25	Nov. 15-16	3	Required	Earn-a-buck
Maplewood State Park	916	100	Nov. 8-11	2	Required	Either-Sex
Miesville Ravine Park Reserve	917	40	Nov. 8-16	5	N/A	Either-Sex	Mandatory orientation, Scott Hagen; 952-891-7983; [email protected]
Old Mill State Park	922	10	Nov. 8-11	1	Required	Either-Sex
Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge	901	40	Nov. 15-23	1	N/A	Either-Sex	Walt Ford; 218-768-2402 ext. 100; [email protected]
Split Rock Lighthouse State Park	905	8	Nov. 8-23	1	Required	Either-Sex
St. Croix State Park	902	175	Nov. 21-23	1	Required	Either-Sex
Tettegouche State Park	906	13	Nov. 8-23	1	Required	Either-Sex
Vermillion Highlands Research, Recreation and Wildlife Management Area	925	20	Nov. 8-23	3	N/A	Either-Sex	Mandatory orientation, Tim Pharis; 651-322-4643; [email protected], Apply by Sep. 4
Whitewater State Game Refuge	934	100	Nov. 22-30	2	N/A	Antlerless only	Mandatory orientation, Christine Johnson; 507-796-3281; [email protected], Apply by Aug. 4
Whitewater State Park	927	50	Nov. 22-23	3	Required	Either-Sex
Wild River State Park	920	50	Nov. 8-9	2	Required	Either-Sex
William O'Brien State Park	914	50	Nov. 15-16	2	Required	Either-Sex
Zippel Bay State Park	910	75	Nov. 8-23	3	Required	Earn-a-buck
Zumbro Falls Woods Scientific and Natural Area	923	12	Nov. 22-30	3	Required	Either-Sex	Ryan Tebo; 507-206-2862; [email protected]
Zumbro Falls Woods Scientific and Natural Area	921	12	Nov. 8-16	3	Required	Either-Sex	Ryan Tebo; 507-206-2862; [email protected]

Youth with valid licenses may participate in these hunts.

Area name	Hunt	Permits	Dates	Bag	Nontoxic ammo	Type	Additional info
Afton State Park	964	30	Dec. 9-11	2	Required	Antlerless only	Mandatory orientation
Beaver Creek Valley State Park	918	25	Dec. 6-7	3	Required	Either-Sex
Crow Wing State Park	936	15	Dec. 6-10	2	Required	Either-Sex
Hayes Lake State Park	938	50	Nov. 29-Dec. 14	2	Required	Either-Sex
Jay Cooke State Park	935	40	Dec. 6-10	2	Required	Either-Sex
Lake Bemidji State Park	947	30	Dec. 5-7	2	Required	Either-Sex
Lake Maria State Park	960	25	Dec. 5-7	3	Required	Earn-a-buck
Lake Vermilion - Soudan Underground Mine State Park	937	10	Nov. 29-Dec. 14	2	Required	Either-Sex
McCarthy Beach State Park	929	15	Nov. 29-Dec. 14	2	Required	Either-Sex
Miesville Ravine Park Reserve	943	40	Dec. 6-14	5	N/A	Either-Sex	Mandatory orientation, Scott Hagen; 952-891-7983; [email protected]
Myre Big Island State Park	939	50	Dec. 6-7	5	Required	Antlerless only
Nerstrand Big Woods State Park and Prairie Creek Woods Scientific and Natural Area	930	60	Dec. 6-7	5	Required	Earn-a-buck
Rice Lake State Park	932	20	Dec. 6-7	3	Required	Earn-a-buck
Sakatah Lake State Park	894	15	Dec. 6-7	3	Required	Earn-a-buck	Todd Dailey; 507-698-7851; [email protected]
Savanna Portage State Park	948	30	Nov. 29-Dec. 7	2	Required	Either-Sex
Scenic State Park	907	15	Nov. 29-Dec. 14	2	Required	Either-Sex
Sibley State Park	942	60	Dec. 6-7	2	Required	Antlerless only
St. Croix State Park	949	75	Dec. 2-7	1	Required	Either-Sex
Vermillion Highlands Research, Recreation and Wildlife Management Area	944	20	Nov. 29-Dec. 14	3	N/A	Either-Sex	Mandatory orientation, Tim Pharis; 651-322-4643; [email protected]

Area name	Hunt	Permits	Dates	Bag	Nontoxic ammo	Type	Orientation
Afton State Park	951	30	Nov. 8-9	2	Required	Either-Sex	11/01/2025, Orientation required to participate in the special youth hunt. Hunt orientation may be in person at the park Visitor Center or through mailed orientation packets.
Banning State Park	965	6	Nov. 1-2	2	Required	Either-Sex	10/31/2025, Oct. 31 - In conjunction with St. Croix Orientation.
Baxter, City of	961	≤5	Oct. 16-19	5	N/A	Either sex	Review hunt information
Blue Mounds State Park	966	10	Nov. 22-23	1	Required	Either-Sex	More information will be mailed out concerning orientation, etc. Generally it is held at 6pm the Friday prior to the hunt at the park office.
Buffalo River State Park	959	12	Oct. 25-26	2	Required	Earn-a-buck	10/24/2025, Mandatory orientation will be held at MSUM Regional Science Center on October 24th at 6pm
Camden State Park	967	12	Oct. 25-26	2	Required	Earn-a-buck	More information will be mailed out concerning orientation, etc. Generally it is held at 6pm the Friday prior to the hunt at the park shop.
Kilen Woods State Park	963	6	Nov. 1-2	2	Required	Earn-a-buck	More information will be mailed out concerning orientation, etc. Generally it is held the Friday prior to the hunt at the Windom DNR office.
Lake Bemidji State Park	954	20	Oct. 17-19	2	Required	Either-Sex	10/16/2025, Mandatory orientation will be held at Lake Bemidji State Park Visitors Center Oct 16th, 6pm
Lake Bronson State Park	969	10	Oct. 25-26	1	Required	Either-Sex	10/24/2025, Mandatory orientation will be held at Lake Bronson State Park Visitors Center Oct 24th, 6pm
Lake Shetek State Park	968	15	Nov. 1-2	2	Required	Antlerless	More information will be mailed out concerning orientation, etc. Generally it is held the Friday before the hunt, at 6pm at the Zuya Group center dining hall.
Minneopa State Park	899	12	Nov. 15-16	2	Required	Either-Sex	11/14/2025
Savanna Portage State Park	958	25	Oct. 25-26	2	Required	Either-Sex
Sibley State Park	952	10	Oct. 25-26	1	Required	Either-Sex	More information will be mailed out concerning orientation, etc., to successful applicants.
St. Croix State Park	956	45	Nov. 1-2	1	Required	Either-Sex	10/31/2025, Must attend and orientation unless you have attended a past orientation at St. Croix.
Zippel Bay State Park	953	20	Oct. 17-19	2	Required	Either-Sex	No in person orientation. Orientation packet will be mailed to successful applicants. Confirmation of reviewed packet required by successful applicants.

Area name	Hunt	Permits	Dates	Bag	Type	Orientation
Camp Ripley	950	100	Oct.10-12	2	Either sex	Oct. 10
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

Online
By telephone
In person at a DNR license sales agent or the DNR License Center (located at 500 Lafayette Road in St. Paul, open 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday).

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.

Hunts, no permit needed

Area name	Hunt	Permits	Dates	Bag	Type	Additional info
City of Baxter	989	Unlimited	Sep. 13-Dec. 31	5	Either sex	Assistant Chief Lance Herbst; 218-454-5099; [email protected]
City of East Gull Lake	880	Unlimited	Sep. 13-Dec. 31	5	Antlerless only	Laura Christensen; 218-828-9279; [email protected]
City of Jackson	928	Unlimited	Sep. 13-Dec. 31	2	Antlerless only	Shawn Haken; 507-847-4420; [email protected]
Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area- Carver Rapids Unit & Thompson Ferry Unit Archery	979	Unlimited	Sep. 13-Dec. 31	5	Either-Sex
City of Red Wing	977	Unlimited	Sep. 13-Dec. 31	5	Earn-a-buck	Patrick Ramaker: 651-385-3674; [email protected], Fee $20.
City of Grand Rapids	995	Unlimited	Sep. 13-Dec. 31	3	Either sex	Police Chief Andy Morgan; 218-326-3464; [email protected]; CWD sampling is mandatory
Greenleaf Lake State Recreation Area	987	Unlimited	Sep. 13-Dec. 31	1	Either sex	Kristy Rice; 320-753-0326; [email protected]

Area name	Hunt	Permits	Dates	Bag	Nontoxic ammo	Type	Additional info
City of Baxter	955	Unlimited	Oct. 16-19	5	N/A	Anterless only	Assistant Chief Lance Herbst; 218-454-5099; [email protected]
City of Baxter	993	Unlimited	Nov. 8-23	5	N/A	Either-Sex	Assistant Chief Lance Herbst; 218-454-5099; [email protected]
City of Grand Rapids	931	Unlimited	Nov. 8-23	3	N/A	Either-Sex	CWD samling is mandatory
Franz Jevne State Park	988	Unlimited	Nov. 8-23	3	Required	Either-Sex
Itasca State Park	287	Unlimited	Nov. 8-16	1	Required	Either-Sex
Schoolcraft State Park	912	Unlimited	Nov. 8-23	1	Required	Either-Sex

Area name	Hunt	Permits	Dates	Bag	Nontoxic ammo	Type	Additional info
City of Baxters	941	Unlimited	Nov. 29-Dec. 14	5	N/A	Either-Sex	Assistant Chief Lance Herbst; 218-454-5099; [email protected]
City of Grand Rapids	946	Unlimited	Nov. 29-Dec. 14	3	N/A	Either-Sex	CWD samling is mandatory
Itasca State Park	287	Unlimited	Nov. 29-Dec. 14	1	Required	Either-Sex
Schoolcraft State Park	912	Unlimited	Nov. 29-Dec. 14	1	Required	Either-Sex

Information

If permit applications exceed the number of permits available, computerized drawings will be used to issue permits.

Drawings for antlerless deer or special area permits are based on a preference system. Hunters accumulate preference by applying without getting drawn. Applicants receiving an antlerless deer or special hunt area permit lose their accrued preference.
Preference is not affected by applying for a different area than the year before or by not applying for one or more years.
Preference for group applications is based on the member with the fewest points.
Only successful applicants will be notified.
Information about the drawings and individual applications is available by the end of September on the lottery page.