“First deer on last day of youth season!” courtesy of Marsha M in 2024
Minnesota offers a perfect opportunity for experienced deer hunters to share their knowledge and traditions with youth ages 10-17 during the statewide youth deer season Thursday, Oct. 15, through Sunday, Oct. 18.
Youth hunters or their adults should buy licenses early. Youth hunters use a standard license for youth deer season — the same deer license they use for other deer seasons such as regular firearms, archery or muzzleloader.
Importantly, the new electronic license system is different and setting up a youth account might take a little more time. For children 12 and under, their account must be linked to an adult’s account. If the child is 13 or older, they can create their own account, or their account may be created by an adult who links their account to the adult’s account.
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
Testing for chronic wasting disease is optional for youth deer season and available statewide. Hunters statewide have three options to get their deer tested voluntarily for CWD. These three options are making an appointment with an area wildlife office, requesting a mail-in kit and visiting a partner within the partner sampling program. To learn more about these options visit our testing options webpage. Hunters in deer permit area 236, north of Stillwater, will have an additional option of using self-service stations. 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 DNR CWD webpage.
Carcass movement restrictions have been eliminated but carcass disposal rules apply for deer harvested in CWD management zones during all seasons for all deer including fawns. Hunters are now required to properly dispose of deer carcasses harvested within the management zones. Proper disposal includes through your local trash hauler, utilizing a meat processor or taxidermist, or disposing on private property where the deer was harvested. For more information on the carcass disposal rule visit our carcass import and disposal webpage.
Early antlerless season coincides
The early antlerless-only deer season coincides with youth deer season from Oct. 15-18. Both adult and youth hunters can participate in early antlerless season 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.
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