Barbara Keller, DNR big game program leader
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 (12×12 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 (mndnr.gov/hunting/deer/youth.html).
