When Is Minnesota Deer Season 2024?

From the low-lying grasslands to tall parklands, deep coniferous forests, and deciduous Minnesota environment, hunters can take their pick chasing stunning whitetails through the wilderness.

To ensure you don't miss out on the action and can prepare for a successful Minnesota deer season, this blog looks at everything you need to know for the Minnesota deer season 2024, including some preparation tips to keep you on top of your game. 

Dates for the Minnesota Deer Season 2024

The Minnesota Deer season is allocated and administered by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, which sets appropriate dates and regulations to maintain the deer population and ecosystem.

Deer Season and Hunts By Types

Hunts and seasons are allocated based on firearm type and factors such as age allocations and deer type.

Here's an overview of the various seasons below: 
 

• Archery: September 14 - December 31
• Firearm A (100 Series): November 9 - November 24 
• Firearm A (200 Series): November 9 - November 17 
• Firearm A (300 Series): November 9 - November 17 
• Firearm B (300 Series): November 23 - December 1 
• Muzzleloader: November 30 - December 15  
• Youth (statewide): October 17 - October 20 
• Early Antlerless: October 17 - October 20 
• Special Hunts: Varies

As always, while we work hard to provide accurate information for hunting season dates, we recommend double-checking with Minnesota state resources to confirm dates before your hunt. Dates can always change, and hunting legally during the open season is crucial.

Licensing and Regulations 

What else do you need to know before heading out for a hunt? Make sure you understand the licensing requirements and regulations for deer season in Minnesota.

All hunters ten years and older must acquire a big game hunting license to hunt legally in Minnesota. This ensures legality and contributes to the state's funds supporting the conservation of the deer population and broader ecosystem. 

As part of the safety allocations, all hunters born after December 31, 1979, must possess a firearm license and hunter education certificate. 

Bag Limits and Reporting

Bag limits in Minnesota are determined based on zoning, deer population numbers, and special hunts. In some zones, there are opportunities to take both antlered and antlerless deer.

For differentiation, legal bucks have one antler at least three inches long, and antlerless deer are deer without an antler at least three inches long.

Additionally, hunters must follow mandatory deer harvesting procedures upon successfully taking a deer. 

The three methods for reporting are: 
 

• Telephone: Dial 1-888-706-6367 to enter the system and follow the prompts, including entering your harvest registration number. 
• Online: Go to mndnr.gov/gameregistration to register your deer.
• In-person: If online and mobile options are limited, you should report in person at a registered registration station. 

With these options, Minnesota makes it convenient to report your deer harvest.

Zones and Hunting Areas 

Hunters must also understand zones and hunting areas that apply to open season dates.

Deer Permit Areas

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources allocates Deer Permit Areas (DPAs) to improve conservation and management. The MDNR can target areas with common geographical and natural characteristics by grouping these zones. 

DPAs are often divided based on natural land demarcation lines such as bodies of water or natural features. You may have noticed the term "series" in the deer seasons. This is because these DPAs are marked as "series" on the official map. 

Hunting in management zones will require additional permits, as will some special hunting allocations, such as surplus antlerless deer hunts. Firearm and muzzleloader antlerless permits are allocated based on a lottery system. 

Public vs. Private Land

It can be easy to forget that there are opportunities for hunting private land and that sometimes reaching out and courteously asking for permission can unlock a whole new world of hunting opportunities for the savvy hunter.

The worst they can say is no. However, an upfront, honest inquiry can go a long way (not to mention the promise to the landowner of some prime venison upon success). 

Preparation Tips

We know you're excited to get out for the opening day of deer season. While you wait, consider the following tips to prepare for a successful hunt.

Start by E-Scouting 

With millions of acres of public land available, knowing where to kickstart your Minnesota deer expedition can be a challenge. The most popular deer hunting general areas are state wildlife management areas (WMAs), state forests, and national forests, which should be targeted. 

From there, leverage your HuntWise app to explore public and private land boundaries (including accessing details of private landowners) and search for natural deer areas, including bedding, passageways, and access to waterways. 

Complete a Gear Check 

The Minnesotan environment can be challenging (and wet), so focus on durable, protective clothing and materials that will ensure good body heat regulation.

The weather can shift rapidly, so pack multiple layers that can be removed and focus on fabrics that wick moisture while also insulating.  Sun protection, including a quality hat and sunscreen, is also essential to your gear bag.

Finally, dial in your bow or firearm on the range, pack appropriate ammunition, and always carry a quality knife and first aid kit.

Get In Shape

Conditioning, stamina, flexibility, and endurance are all necessary physical components of a prepared hunter. Being able to push that extra distance into a more isolated zone can reward the persistent hunter with some stunning deer.

Functional training involving hiking, bicycling, and walking are all great ways to build up stamina, and exercises such as deadlifts and weighted carry can help build core and back strength. 

Understand Minnesota Weather and Wildlife Patterns 

In addition to the preparation tips we mentioned above, understanding deer behavior and the Minnesota weather can help you time your hunt perfectly.

Weather Forecasting

Deer season in Minnesota is in the fall and early winter, and as all northern deer hunters know, this time of year can get cold. Extreme shifts in the weather patterning can occur, and you can expect rain, hail, and snow, often accompanied by a sharp, cutting wind. 

Deer have an almost instinctive internal barometer that can regulate their behavior and interactions depending on the weather. The HuntWise app allows you to leverage the HuntCast feature, which provides insights on optimal hunting conditions, including weather patterns. 

Deer Behavior

Cooler temperatures during the deer season may impact deer behavior, meaning deer will be less active regarding feeding. The severity of the cool temperatures and conditions will similarly impact the availability of habitat and quality food sources. 

This may mean shifting your focus away from food sources and onto a stalking-style hunting method, which also assists in regulating your body heat. 

Find Deer Hunting Success in Minnesota With HuntWise

The Minnesota deer season can be challenging, but hunters will be rewarded if they show dedication and willingness to put in the pre-season effort.

While the weather can be difficult, staying on top of it has always been easier with the HuntWise app, which provides insights on everything from season dates to satellite imagery, wind and weather forecasting, and more. 

As you think ahead to the open season dates for Minnesota deer season 2024, get prepared with the HuntWise app. If you have never downloaded it before, now is the time to get and try it – free – for your first week.

If you already have the app, consider the Pro or Elite subscription levels to unlock more valuable features – including 15-day forecasting and bigger gear discounts – that can help improve your chances of tagging out in Minnesota this season!

Content updated September 30, 2024.