Youth deer hunts

Registration for these hunts closes on Friday, Aug. 19.

Firearms

Area nameHunt No.No. of participantsDatesBag limitHunt typeOrientation
Afton State Park95130Nov. 5 - 62Either-sexOct. 29
Banning State Park9656Oct. 29 - 302Either-sexOct. 28
Blue Mounds State Park96610Nov. 19 - 202Earn-a-buckNov. 18
Buffalo River State Park95912Oct. 29 - 302Earn-a-buckOct. 28
Camden State Park96712Oct. 29 - 302Earn-a-buckOct. 28
Itasca State Park96175Oct. 8 - 92Either-sexOct. 7
Kilen Woods State Park9636Oct. 29 - 302Earn-a-buckOct. 28
Lake Bemidji State Park95420Oct. 21 - 232Either-sexOct. 20
Lake Bronson State Park96910Oct. 15 - 161Either-sexOct. 14
Lake Shetek State Park96815Nov. 19 - 202Antlerless onlyNov. 18
Minneopa State Park89912Nov. 19 - 202Either-sexNov. 18
Rydell National Wildlife Refuge95715Oct. 29 - 303Either-sexOct. 23
Savanna Portage State Park95825Oct. 29 - 302Either-sexOct. 28
Sibley State Park95210Oct. 29 - 301Either-sexOct. 28
St. Croix State Park95690Oct. 29 - 302Either-sexOct. 28
Zippel Bay State Park95320Oct. 20 - 232Either-sexNo in person

Archery

Area nameHunt No.No. of participantsDatesBag limitHunt typeOrientation
Camp Ripley Military Reservation950175Oct. 8 - 92Either-sexOct. 7
Lake Alexander Woods95520Oct. 8 - 92Either-sexOct. 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

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.