• Follow Minnesota deer hunting regulations to avoid fines and dangerdeer image by david hughes from Fotolia.com
  
  Deer hunting is a traditional activity and sport enjoyed throughout much of North America. Because of its multitude of heavily wooded areas and meadows, Minnesota offers excellent white-tailed deer hunting. Minnesota hunting regulations are in place to monitor wildlife populations and protect both humans and animals. It’s important to follow Minnesota’s deer hunting regulations to avoid injuring yourself or paying heavy fines for breaking the law.
  
  

License

• Minnesota requires a license for all deer hunters. A license may be purchased from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources at any time during the year, either before or during the hunting season. Residents between the ages of 12 and 17 can purchase an archery, firearm, and/or muzzleloader license at a reduced price. You must purchase a license for the specific weapon you plan to hunt with (bow and arrow, firearm, or muzzleloader). There are other licenses and permits available as well, such as the early antlerless permit and bonus permits, that give special permission to hunters who wish to hunt outside the normal guidelines and limits supported by regular licenses.
  
  

Attire

• All hunters must wear blaze orange at all times while hunting. This rule refers to hats and clothes above the waist, so it is acceptable to wear darker paints as long as the upper body is covered in blaze orange. Camouflage clothing is allowed, but the pattern must contain at least 50 percent blaze orange in each square foot.
  
  

Weapon

• The specific weapon types allowed usually depend on the hunting season dates for that particular area of the state. In some areas firearms are allowed, but others are restricted to bow and arrow and muzzleloader. The state distinguishes between shotgun-only areas, most of which are in the southern half of the state, and shotgun or rifle areas in the north. Weapons used to hunt deer that are not mentioned here are considered unlawful and can result in heavy fines.
  
  

Bag Limit

• Minnesota imposes strict bag limit laws for deer hunting that depend on whether you are hunting in a lottery area, managed area, or intensive area as defined by the state. Some bag limits are statewide; for example a hunter may only shoot one buck per year, even if the hunter acquires multiple licenses for different seasons and weapon types. In managed areas, a hunter may shoot two deer per year and a total of five deer in intensive areas. No hunter may shoot more than five deer in one year.
  
  

Registration

• All deer hunted and killed on Minnesota territory must be registered before the carcass can be moved. You must register all deer within 24 hours of the close of the hunting season or it cannot be processed. If you are the person who tagged the deer, you must present it in person to an official registration station. Registration stations can be found throughout the state of Minnesota with big orange signs that read “Big Game Registration.”