New licensing system questions and answers

Existing customers - how to login and find your account:

MN DNR Number

This is your unique 9-digit number featured on your hunting and/or fishing license.

If you do not have an old license handy, you can call or email the DNR License Center.

(651) 297-1230 or (877) 348-0498

[email protected]

OK

How do I create an account for youth 12 and under?

If the child has had an account with Minnesota DNR before, please locate the child's MN DNR number. This can be found on a recent hunting or fishing license.

For children 12 and under, their account must be linked to an adult's account.

• If the adult has purchased a license through Minnesota DNR before, please refer to the instructions "Existing customers – how to login and find your account."

• If the adult has never purchased a license with Minnesota DNR before, they will need to create a brand-new account.

1. On an adult account, log in and click their name in the upper right corner
2. Select Linked Users from the drop-down menu
3. Click Link A User
4. If the child has had an account with Minnesota DNR before, click Search Customer. Use the child's MN DNR number to locate the account. If the child has never had an account with Minnesota DNR before, click +Create Customer
5. Follow the prompts and enter the required information
6. Click Submit

How do I add a child's certification to their account? (Firearms safety/hunter education, ATV safety)

If the child is 13 or older, they can create their own account. If they've purchased a license through Minnesota DNR before, follow these steps to locate their existing account.

• Once the account is set up, you can purchase licenses and certifications from the account.

• If the child's certification was already present in the old system, it will appear under the Safety Certificates (in app) or Certifications (online) under their name in the upper right corner.

• Pro tip: If you would prefer to manage the child's account from your own account, you can use the Linked Users feature under your account profile to do so.

If the child is 12 or younger, an adult account is required and the child's account must be linked to that adult account. Follow these steps to complete that process.

• Once the child (12 or younger) is linked to the adult's account, you will be able to manage their profile and purchase licenses and certifications for them. The system will show "Viewing as: Their Name" during the purchasing process.

• If the child's certification was already present in the old system, select your name (online upper right corner) and select the child's name to view their profile. Once you are "Viewing as: Their Name", their certifications will appear under Safety Certificates (in app) or Certifications (online).

Linked Accounts - How do I link someone's account to mine?

1. Log in and click your name in the upper right corner
2. Select Linked Users from the drop-down menu
3. Click Link A User
4. Click Search Customer or +Create Customer. If you select Search Customer, we recommend using their MN DNR number to find them.
5. Follow the prompts and enter the required information
6. Click Submit

Combination Licenses – How do I link my spouse to my account and license(s)?

1. Login to your account. Don't have a Login MN account? Start here.
2. (Optional) Link your account to your spouse's. Your spouse will need to have their account already set up. Follow the instructions here.
3. Add a combination license to your cart.
4. Once added, you will be prompted to add a person to use the multi-person license. You have three options:
   • If your spouse is already linked to your account, you can Select a Linked User.
   • If your spouse has purchased a hunting or fishing license through Minnesota DNR before, select Search for Existing Customer. We recommend using their MN DNR number to find the account.
   • If your spouse has not yet set up their Login MN account OR they've never purchased a license through Minnesota DNR before, you can select Create a Spouse Voucher. Enter the information required as it will appear on their MN DNR account to continue.
5. Proceed to Checkout and complete transaction.
6. If you chose to Create a Spouse Voucher, your spouse will need to redeem the voucher from their own account. Have them follow these steps to get their own account set up if they have purchased a license through Minnesota DNR before.
7. Once your spouse has logged into their account, they can select Redeem a Voucher and enter the confirmation number you both received to complete the process.

How do I validate and register my harvest in the new system?

The DNR no longer requires a physical tag to be attached to the animal at the time of harvest. Those physical tags are now replaced with the act of site validation.

At the site of the harvest, licensed hunters will need to validate prior to moving the animal. This can be done through:

1. The mobile app, MN DNR Licensing
2. By hand on a printed site validation, provided by a license retailer (if you purchase your license in person) or printed at home (if you purchase your license online)

Please note: If you choose to register your harvest in-person or online at the time of your license purchase, you must use plain paper validation. If you want to be able to validate and register your harvest through the app, select e-validate at the time of your license purchase.

Durable harvest tags will no longer be issued; instead, a license and validation is printed on a plain 8” x 11” sheet of paper to allow reprinting at no additional cost.

In the app, hunters can validate harvests even while offline or out of service and can complete registration once reconnected to cell service or the internet.

Registration must be completed within the required timeline. See the Minnesota hunting regulations for details.

Will my past licenses, certifications, and/or lottery points show up in the new system?

Historical information will be migrated to the new system, including historical licenses, lifetime licenses, safety certifications and lottery points. Online and mobile users must create a login to access their account, including a current email address.

I don't have internet or a smartphone. How can I purchase my license?

Customers can still buy licenses in person at license agents, who can search accounts using an MN DNR number. or identification such as a driver's license or other accepted documents.

New customers can create accounts by providing a state-issued ID or alternative documentation, following current procedures. MN DNR numbers remain the same for life, and license agent tools and processes are unchanged.

Can I register my recreational vehicle through the new system?

Recreational vehicles will continue to be processed at deputy registrar offices across the state or at the DNR central office in St. Paul.

Why did the new system fail to perform during the bear surplus license sale on August 5, 2026?

Several factors contributed to the errors encountered by hunters during the sale, including server time-outs, system loading, and software issues, all of which led to problems during the checkout process for most hunters.

The system recorded time-stamped errors for most hunters had made it through the checkout process, but the transaction ultimately failed.

Is Minnesota DNR going to re-run the bear surplus license sale?

No. There is enough information available from the Minnesota DNR licensing system to allocate the remaining surplus licenses using the time-stamped data logs to hunters based on when they attempted to purchase their bear surplus license.

Why doesn’t the DNR have a second lottery for those who applied to the original bear lottery instead of a first-come, first-served surplus draw?

Minnesota DNR does not have the authority to change the method in which surplus bear lottery licenses are sold. MN Statute 97B.405 prescribes that surplus licenses should be offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

I was charged for a bear surplus license but then my money was refunded. What now?

Using the time-stamped data provided by the system, if Minnesota DNR is able to offer you a license, you will receive an email with the next steps to secure your bear surplus license.

My preference points are no longer appearing in my account. What do I do?

No action is needed on your part. Due to a system error, preference points were set back to zero following successful purchase of a bear surplus license, which was a system error. We are aware of this error and will reset preference point levels to what purchasers had on file prior to the bear surplus license purchase.

I have a bear tooth template in my account from a purchase attempt. Does this mean I received my bear surplus license?

No, a bear tooth template does not guarantee a bear surplus license. The bear tooth template is an add-on that is included with all bear license products. Due to system errors, some hunters had a bear tooth template added to their account without an accompanying license. Based on the time-stamped data from the sale, you may receive an email providing you with an opportunity to purchase a bear surplus license. If you did not receive an email or do not see a bear surplus license available for purchase in the Minnesota DNR licensing catalog when you are logged into your account, then you were not successful and do not have a surplus license this year.