11/07/2025
Fi****ms deer season is fast approaching! 🦌
Hunters should be aware of some changes this year. Here's a quick breakdown for the season:
☝️ There is now only one fi****ms license - the B season license was eliminated. The statewide fi****ms license can be used during both the statewide fi****ms (formally known as A season) and the late southeast seasons (formerly known as B season).
💥 A regular fi****ms license is valid for either a legal buck or an antlerless deer, unless the deer permit area you hunt is bucks only. In lottery areas, the license is also only valid for legal bucks unless you were successful in the antlerless lottery drawing. Check your deer permit area (DPA) for its bag limit designation: mndnr.gov/hunting/deer/map.html
❓ There have been several changes to DPAs, so be sure to check if yours has changed at all. For example, DPA 183 was split into two new DPAs.
💥 The shotgun zone is still in place for the 2025 deer season. That will change in 2026, check out our earlier post to learn more: https://ow.ly/obfz50XmShg
🧪 Hunters that harvest a deer in chronic wasting disease (CWD) zones during fi****ms opening weekend (Nov. 8 - 9) will be required to submit a sample for testing. Learn more about your options and requirements here: mndnr.gov/deerhunt
👏 Baiting 👏 is 👏 illegal. All bait must be completely removed for 10 days prior to hunting and some counties do not allow feeding deer at all (see feeding & attractant bans: mndnr.gov/cwd/feedban.html).
🏷 If you have not already purchased your license, we strongly recommend purchasing it in-person at a qualifying vendor rather than online or over the phone. You will need your site tag to hunt the fi****ms season legally, and it may not arrive in the mail in time if you wait.
👪 If a youth hunter did not harvest a deer with a youth fi****ms license during the youth season, they are able to use their youth license for the regular fi****ms season.
✅ If you intend to harvest multiple deer, make sure you're prepared with the right combination of licenses and permits. You cannot take multiple deer with only one license or permit.
Check out our deer season FAQs for common questions: mndnr.gov/hunting/deer/deer-season-faq.html
Fi****ms season regulations are on pg. 92 of the Minnesota hunting regulations: mndnr.gov/regulations/hunting/index.html
Good luck hunters!
