Youth deer season and early antlerless seasons are Oct. 15-18
Two Minnesota deer hunting seasons are coming up Thursday, Oct. 15, through Sunday, Oct. 18 — the statewide youth deer season and, in select deer permit areas, the early antlerless-only season.
Youth deer season is for hunters ages 10-17 and coincides with statewide teacher workshops, when many Minnesota schools are not in session. More information, including details on requirements, is available on the Minnesota DNR youth deer season webpage.
The early antlerless-only deer season is available in DPAs with higher deer densities, and both adult and youth hunters can participate in this season. The season is open in DPAs 213, 214, 215, 218, 219, 221, 222, 223, 225, 227, 229, 236, 240, 277, 341, 601, 605, 642, 643, 645, 646, 647, 648, 649, 661 and 685. More information is available on the Minnesota DNR website.
Buy licenses early
Adults purchasing licenses for youth hunters or themselves should buy those licenses early. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources launched a new electronic license system in June. The new system is functioning well, but as with any new technology, users may find their first transaction takes a little more time as they acclimate. In addition, some individuals who had multiple records in the old system will require customer assistance from the DNR License Center to transfer their history and establish their account in the new system. For these reasons, hunters are encouraged to leave plenty of time for their license purchase.
There are three ways to buy a license (mobile app, online, or in person from a license agent) and three ways to carry it (paper, PDF, or stored in the app). Customers can access the system on the Minnesota DNR website or by searching “Minnesota DNR Licensing” in the Apple or Google app stores.
If buying a license in person, hunters should also ensure the place they want to buy it is selling licenses this year. The Minnesota DNR has an online map of 2026 license agents.
A helpful guide on how to link a youth account to an adult account, and on how to add a child’s firearms safety certification to their account, is available on the Minnesota DNR FAQ page for the new electronic license system.
CWD sampling available for youth, early antlerless seasons
Testing for chronic wasting disease is available statewide but is optional for the youth deer season and early antlerless season. Hunters statewide have three options for voluntary CWD testing of deer they harvest:
- Make an appointment with an area wildlife office.
- Request a mail-in kit.
- Visit a licensed taxidermist or deer processor that participates in the Partner Sampling Program.
Further details and other important information on CWD testing is available on the Minnesota DNR CWD testing options webpage.
Additionally, hunters now have the option to move carcasses out of a CWD management zone immediately after harvest. However, carcass disposal rules apply for deer harvested and moved out of CWD management zones during all seasons for all deer, including fawns.
Hunters in deer permit area 236, north of Stillwater, have the additional option of using one of several self-service stations available in the area for CWD sampling, starting in early October through all open deer seasons. The Minnesota DNR is collecting additional samples in DPA 236 following a recent discovery of a CWD-positive wild deer near Stillwater. Self-service sampling locations are available on the Minnesota DNR CWD webpage.
Firearms safety information is available on the Minnesota DNR firearms safety webpage. General deer hunting information is available on the Minnesota DNR deer hunting webpage.