Minnesota Antlerless deer lottery deadline is Sept. 10

MN DNR deer

Firearm and muzzleloader hunters who want to harvest antlerless deer in a deer permit area that is designated as antlerless permit lottery must purchase their license by Thursday, Sept. 10. Hunters who purchase their license (mndnr.gov/buyalicense) by Sept. 10 are automatically entered into the lottery for the DPA they declare.

Successful applicants will receive a postcard in the mail from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources authorizing them to take an antlerless deer using their regular license in that antlerless permit lottery area. The authorization will be valid for both the firearm and muzzleloader season; however, hunters must still have a valid license for the season they plan to hunt.

No application is needed to take antlerless deer in permit areas with either-sex, two-deer limit, three-deer limit, or five-deer limit designations.

The application deadline for adult special firearms hunts is also Sept. 10. New this year, hunters can apply to both the antlerless permit lottery and special hunts. In the past, hunters were only allowed to apply to one or the other. More information about special hunts is available on the Minnesota DNR website (mndnr.gov/hunting/deer/special-deer-hunts.html) and on page 101 in the Minnesota hunting regulations book.

Hunters who wish to buy licenses online or via the new mobile app (mndnr.gov/buyalicense) will need to create their online account before buying a license. Anyone who has purchased a license online, by phone or in person (mndnr.gov/licenses/agents-map.html) in the past should use their nine-digit MNDNR number (visible on their latest license) to input when creating their account in the new system where possible, to ensure the smoothest experience. A how-to video about signing in to the electronic licensing system is available on YouTube (youtu.be/s5ETbFV8fXo).