2024 special deer hunts

• 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.
• Nontoxic ammunition is required for all hunts except the Rydell National Wildlife Refuge.

• Online
• By telephone
• In person at a DNR license sales agent or the DNR License Center (located at 500 Lafayette Road in St. Paul, open 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday).

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.

• 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.