Statewide youth deer season returns Oct. 19-22
Minnesota’s youth deer season will take place statewide Thursday, Oct. 19, through Sunday, Oct. 22. The season coincides with statewide teacher workshops, so many Minnesota students will be out of school during the youth season.
To participate, youth must be 10-17 years old and have a regular deer license. Youth ages 10 to 13 must be accompanied by an adult parent, guardian or mentor 18 or older; accompanying adults do not need to be licensed. Youth may not tag antlerless deer or legal bucks taken by another individual. Crossbows are allowed for use by youth during this season.
All hunters and mentors, regardless of whether they are participating in youth deer season, must follow blaze orange/pink clothing requirements. Fabric or synthetic ground blinds on public land must have a blaze orange safety covering on top of the blind that is visible from all directions, or a patch made of blaze orange that is at least 144 square inches (12x12 inches) on each side of the blind.
Adults may not hunt, unless they are in an area open during the early antlerless season and have the corresponding license. Complete youth season details are available on the Minnesota Department of Natural Resource youth deer season webpage.
Early antlerless-only deer season is Oct. 19-22
Hunters can participate in an early antlerless-only deer season from Thursday, Oct. 19, through Sunday, Oct. 22. The season increases opportunities for hunters in deer permit areas where deer populations are above population goals or where there is an increased risk of chronic wasting disease. Permit areas open during the hunt are 214, 215, 218, 219, 221, 222, 223, 225, 227, 229, 236, 277, 341, 342, 605, 643, 645, 646, 647, 648, 649, 661 and 701.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources offers this opportunity to hunters to enjoy the outdoors and manage local deer herds. The bag limit is three antlerless deer and deer taken during the early antlerless-only season do not count against the statewide bag limit. Youth may not tag antlerless deer or legal bucks taken by another individual. Fabric or synthetic ground blinds on public land must have a blaze orange safety covering on top of the blind that is visible from all directions, or a patch made of blaze orange that is at least 144 square inches (12x12 inches) on each side of the blind.
Before participating, hunters should review the specific license and permit requirements available on page 88 of the Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations.
Minnesota DNR webinars focus on fall fishing tips and ciscos in Minnesota lakes
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources invites people interested in wildlife and outdoor skills to check out the fall program schedule for the Minnesota Outdoor Skills and Stewardship Series.
In a webinar on Wednesday, Oct. 11, Minnesota DNR area fisheries supervisors and avid anglers Scott Mackenthun and Eric Altena will share several fishing secrets on where and how to catch a variety of fish in autumn including walleye, muskellunge, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and lake sturgeon.
In a webinar on Wednesday, Oct. 18, DNR fisheries experts Cory Goldsworthy and EJ Isaac will talk about cisco, also called tullibee or herring. Cisco are members of the whitefish family and are commonly found in cold and deep Minnesota lakes. Goldsworthy and Isaac will cover why cisco are so important to Minnesota lake ecosystems, how cisco are being affected by climate change and how anglers can catch them.
The Minnesota Outdoor Skills and Stewardship Series webinars are free and offered year-round, though registration is required. Visit the Outdoor Skills and Stewardship webpage of the Minnesota DNR website for the registration portal, more information about upcoming webinars and recordings of past webinars.