ST PAUL, Minn. — Hundreds of thousands of outdoor enthusiasts across Minnesota have their gear and food packed, the truck loaded, and plans in place for the 2024 Firearms Deer Hunting Opener.
Checklists are always a good idea, even for the most experienced and well-prepared hunters. Before hitting the sack tonight at deer camp, here are a few refreshers to make this season an awesome experience.
When you can hunt
Minnesota regulations allow you to shoot 30 minutes before sunrise, and to stop half an hour after sunset.
The weekend forecast
KARE 11's John Zeigler says it's going to be a cloudy and mild weekend across the state for the deer opener. You may need the rain gear Saturday morning depending on where you are hunting.
Rain is expected to roll in from Iowa early Saturday morning. This means spots in southern Minnesota from Mankato to Redwood Falls should expect rain by 9 a.m. If you are heading north of the Twin Cities to the Brainerd area, rain won't reach you until later in the day on Saturday.
Rain is expected to continue into Sunday morning and it looks like no matter where you are Sunday there will be showers. Lows will stay very mild - in the low 40s - on both days.
Know the regulations
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has an extremely handy online booklet of all 2024 hunting and trapping regulations, including 30 on deer specifically. Download it on your device so you won't need internet service to access it.
Here you can find everything from the dates of special seasons to party hunting and how to tag your harvest.
Among the new regulations are enhanced requirements for blaze orange for those using ground blinds on public land.
Deer need to be registered
Hunters are required to register every deer they harvest before processing or removal of antlers, and within 48 hours after harvesting the animal. Hunters can register deer online, via phone, or in person. Information from deer registration is essential for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to track and manage deer populations. Detailed registration instructions are available on the DNR website.
Prepare for processing
Wild game processing is handling or preparing field-dressed wild game, from cutting and skinning a carcass to curing, cooking, or smoking. Wild game processors conduct these activities as a commercial business. Processing wild game only for yourself or your immediate family, household, or hunting party members does not fall under the wild game processing requirements.
You likely do NOT need a permit to process your harvest if you meet all of the following conditions.
- You do not own any other meat, poultry, or food business subject to licensing under the Minnesota Consolidated Food Licensing Law.
- You handle only raw wild game products and do no preparation beyond cutting, grinding, and packaging.
- You return all products directly to the owners/hunters (no sales or donations) and label all products “NOT FOR SALE.”
- You process no more than 200 deer in a calendar year, or have $20,000 or less in receipts for wild game processing services in a calendar year, whichever is greater.
Chronic Wasting Disease
Deer hunters are required to have deer 1 year or older sampled for CWD in all CWD management and surveillance zones during the opening weekend of the firearms A season Saturday, Nov. 9, through Sunday, Nov. 10, and during late CWD hunts Friday, Dec. 20, through Sunday, Dec. 22.
Carcass movement restrictions are in place for 14 deer permit areas located in southeastern and north-central Minnesota and the south metro area. Hunters are not allowed to take whole deer carcasses outside the management zone until a “not detected” test result is received. The restrictions apply throughout all deer seasons and to all deer, including fawns. Hunters are allowed to move whole deer carcasses in between contiguous disease management zone DPAs.
For more on requirements to help stop or reduce the spread of CWD, check out a special page on the DNR website.
DNR Learn to Deer Hunt program
Although deer hunting is an activity and tradition that is passed from generation to generation in Minnesota, the Minnesota DNR is doing its best to introduce new hunters to the sport. They've prepared a step-by step video guide to deer hunting, with advice and observations from the DNR's top experts. You can find episodes from deer biology and hunting ethics to guns and needed equipment.
Additional Questions?
Check out the DNR's Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page, or the special deer hunting section of the website.