Youth deer hunts

Registration for these hunts closes on Friday, Aug. 18. Permits will be issued through a lottery when necessary.

Firearms

is required for all hunts except Rydell National Wildlife Refuge.

Area name Hunt Permits Dates Bag Hunt type Orientation
Afton State Park 951 30 Nov. 4-5 2 Either sex Oct. 28
Banning State Park 965 6 Oct. 28-29 2 Either sex Oct. 27
Blue Mounds State Park 966 10 Nov. 18-19 2 Earn a buck Nov. 17
Buffalo River State Park 959 12 Oct. 28-29 2 Earn a buck Oct. 27
Camden State Park 967 12 Oct. 28-29 2 Earn a buck Oct. 27
City of Baxter 961 6 Oct. 19-22 2 Either sex Chief James Exsted; 218-454-5090; [email protected]
Kilen Woods State Park 963 6 Oct. 28-29 2 Earn a buck Oct. 27
Lake Bemidji State Park 954 20 Oct. 20-22 2 Either sex Oct. 19
Lake Bronson State Park 969 10 Oct. 14-15 1 Either sex Oct. 13
Lake Shetek State Park 968 15 Nov. 18-19 2 Antlerless only Nov. 17
Minneopa State Park 899 12 Nov. 18-19 2 Either sex Nov. 17
Rydell National Wildlife Refuge 957 15 Oct. 28-29 3 Either sex Oct. 22
Savanna Portage State Park 958 25 Oct. 28-29 2 Either sex No in person
Sibley State Park 952 10 Oct. 28-29 1 Either sex No in person
St. Croix State Park 956 90 Oct. 28-29 1 Either sex Oct. 27
Zippel Bay State Park 953 20 Oct. 20-22 2 Either sex No in person

Archery

Area name Hunt Permits Dates Bag Hunt type Orientation
Camp Ripley 950 175 Oct.7-8 2 Either sex Mandatory orientation; Jan Ekert; 320-339-9927; [email protected]
Sand Prairie WMA (Sherburne County): 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.
  • Non-toxic ammunition is required for all hunts except the Rydell National Wildlife Refuge.
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.

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