Hunters can begin planning for deer season with the release of the 2020 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping regulations handbook. Hunting licenses go on sale Aug. 1.
The handbooks is now available on the DNR deer hunting page, and licenses can be obtained by calling (888)665-4236 or online.
“This season, hunters in general will see more chances to harvest deer,” said Barbara Keller, big game program leader. “These opportunities are due to increases in deer populations in much of the state and as part of our response to chronic wasting disease in southern Minnesota.”
The popular youth deer hunting season is Oct. 15-18. During the 2019 inaugural statewide youth season, nearly 5,700 young hunters harvested a deer, a 77% increase from the previous season when it was limited to fewer areas.
The early antlerless deer season, Oct. 15-18, has been expanded to include more deer permit areas in central and southeastern Minnesota. This increases opportunities in 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 213, 214, 215, 341, 342, 343, 344, 604, 605, 643, 645, 646, 647, 648, 649 and 655.
Several deer permit area boundaries in north-central and northwestern Minnesota have changed due to input from the public and DNR staff during the deer population goal-setting process, or in response to CWD spread. Hunters should double check the boundaries of any permit areas where they plan to hunt.
There are significant changes related to CWD as the DNR continues its aggressive management. Additional CWD testing areas have been created after detection of CWD in both wild and captive deer in new areas last year.
While sampling is voluntary, a move the DNR made to mitigate the risk of spreading coronavirus during the COVID-19 pandemic, hunters in these sampling areas are encouraged to participate in testing their harvested wild deer.
Since fall 2017, the DNR has required hunters to have their deer tested for CWD in certain areas of the state to monitor the disease and discover new areas where it may have spread. Rather than having staffed sampling stations as in the past, the DNR will set up a network of self-service stations where hunters can drop off samples.
Full details will be available online.