Registration for these hunts closes on Friday, Aug. 19.
Firearms
Non-toxic ammunition is required for all hunts except Rydell National Wildlife Refuge.
Hunters may only possess and use non-toxic ammunition when participating in a special hunt or disease management hunt in a Minnesota state park and when hunting in most scientific and natural areas. Bullets, slugs, muzzleloader ammunition and other single projectiles must be made entirely of non-toxic material approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Non-toxic ammunition also includes copper-plated, nickel-plated, zinc plated steel shot and other projectiles made from a non-toxic material approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Any projectile containing lead is prohibited, including lead ammunition plated with non-toxic material.
While participating in a special hunt or disease management hunt on these lands, a person authorized under the Minnesota Personal Protection Act may carry a pistol with lead ammunition but that ammunition may not be used to take an animal during the hunt.
| Area name | Hunt No. | No. of participants | Dates | Bag limit | Hunt type | Orientation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Afton State Park | 951 | 30 | Nov. 5 - 6 | 2 | Either-sex | Oct. 29 |
| Banning State Park | 965 | 6 | Oct. 29 - 30 | 2 | Either-sex | Oct. 28 |
| Blue Mounds State Park | 966 | 10 | Nov. 19 - 20 | 2 | Earn-a-buck | Nov. 18 |
| Buffalo River State Park | 959 | 12 | Oct. 29 - 30 | 2 | Earn-a-buck | Oct. 28 |
| Camden State Park | 967 | 12 | Oct. 29 - 30 | 2 | Earn-a-buck | Oct. 28 |
| Itasca State Park | 961 | 75 | Oct. 8 - 9 | 2 | Either-sex | Oct. 7 |
| Kilen Woods State Park | 963 | 6 | Oct. 29 - 30 | 2 | Earn-a-buck | Oct. 28 |
| Lake Bemidji State Park | 954 | 20 | Oct. 21 - 23 | 2 | Either-sex | Oct. 20 |
| Lake Bronson State Park | 969 | 10 | Oct. 15 - 16 | 1 | Either-sex | Oct. 14 |
| Lake Shetek State Park | 968 | 15 | Nov. 19 - 20 | 2 | Antlerless only | Nov. 18 |
| Minneopa State Park | 899 | 12 | Nov. 19 - 20 | 2 | Either-sex | Nov. 18 |
| Rydell National Wildlife Refuge | 957 | 15 | Oct. 29 - 30 | 3 | Either-sex | Oct. 23 |
| Savanna Portage State Park | 958 | 25 | Oct. 29 - 30 | 2 | Either-sex | Oct. 28 |
| Sibley State Park | 952 | 10 | Oct. 29 - 30 | 1 | Either-sex | Oct. 28 |
| St. Croix State Park | 956 | 90 | Oct. 29 - 30 | 2 | Either-sex | Oct. 28 |
| Zippel Bay State Park | 953 | 20 | Oct. 20 - 23 | 2 | Either-sex | No in person |
Archery
| Area name | Hunt No. | No. of participants | Dates | Bag limit | Hunt type | Orientation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camp Ripley Military Reservation | 950 | 175 | Oct. 8 - 9 | 2 | Either-sex | Oct. 7 |
| Lake Alexander Woods | 955 | 20 | Oct. 8 - 9 | 2 | Either-sex | Oct. 7 |
Youth archery opportunity
Sand Prairie WMA (Sherburne County) is open during the regular archery deer season for youth ages 10 through 17. Regular archery deer rules apply.
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.
- 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.