Minnesota
750,000
Est. Whitetail Population
358,000
No. Licenses Sold Annually
$34
Archery and firearms tags are $34.
Resident hunting license and deer permit
$185
Archery and firearms tags are $185.
Non-resident hunting license and deer permit
202"
Taken by John A. Breen in Beltrami County in 1918 and ranks No. 12 overall.
Record B&C Typical Stat
829
Total B&C Typical Entries
277 3/8"
Picked up by Jesse J. Schroeder in Goodhue County in 2023. It ranks No. 25 overall.
Record B&C Non-Typical Stat
536
Record B&C Non-Typical Entries
Check out the latest deer-hunting info for Minnesota. Image by Jeremy Raines
Season Dates (2025):
Archery season runs Sept. 13 to Dec. 31. Rifle season is Nov. 8-16 in some units, and Nov. 8-23 in others. A late southeast firearms season expands opportunities and runs Nov. 22-30. Muzzleloader season is Nov. 29 to Dec. 14. There are also youth seasons, special antlerless hunts, and metro seasons in some areas. Check the MINNESOTA DNR WEBSITE to confirm season dates.
The Grade: B
From the plains of southwestern Minnesota to the big woods in northern counties, the state offers substantial geographical diversity. Although Minnesota has historically been a producer of top-end whitetails, the better days are arguably behind it. Harsh winters and predation have affected deer numbers in some areas, and aggressive measures have been taken in others to combat CWD outbreaks.
“We are a unique state with multiple different biomes that present very different hunting styles and challenges, different predator bases from north to south, and very different deer numbers or densities,” said Todd Froberg, big-game program coordinator with the Minnesota Division of Fish and Wildlife. “There are opportunities to hunt metro areas; rural farm areas; the long, stretching transition zone (coniferous to deciduous to prairie habitat); the driftless region in southeastern Minnesota, which presents some of the best whitetail habitat in the nation; prairie and farmland regions in the southwestern part; big-woods hunts in the northern part of the state, with ample public lands; or complete wilderness-style hunts in the Boundary Water Canoe Area Wilderness.”
Antler Nation Knowledge:
Generally, the best deer hunting is in the eastern and central counties. Anoka, Dakota, Dodge, Fillmore, Hennepin, Houston, Morrison, Olmsted, Otter Tail, St. Louis, Washington, and Winona are great destinations for quality bucks and solid deer densities.
Minnesota is mostly private land, but open HUNTING ACCESS IS PLENTIFUL in the North Star State. Wildlife management areas, state forests, scientific and natural areas, forest legacy conservation areas, and walk-in access provide excellent opportunities. Federal ground also has solid access, such as certain national forests and national wildlife refuges. Although that isn’t unique to Minnesota, the state is known for an abundance of county land that’s tax-forfeited, as well as industrial forest land. These parcels are often open to hunting and are most common in northern counties. Hunters also benefit from the METRO BOWHUNTERS RESOURCE BASE. The organization connects bowhunters with special urban hunts in cities and townships.
The 2025 regulation book has numerous new changes affecting deer hunters, including DPA (Deer Permit Area) changes, elimination of the B season license, county additions to the deer feeding and attractant ban, and CWD management zones, among others.
