Information courtesy of Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Minnesota’s fall turkey hunting season opens this Saturday through Sunday, Oct. 29.

The fall turkey hunting season offers hunters a challenge and another way to experience the outdoors.

Hunters are allowed to take one turkey of either sex during the fall season and may use a crossbow, firearm or archery equipment afield. Fall turkey licenses are available for purchase online, by telephone by calling 888-665-4236 or in person anywhere Minnesota DNR licenses are sold.

Those wanting to learn more about fall turkey hunting can register for a webinar on Wednesday, Oct. 4. Ryan Tebo, a Minnesota DNR wildlife manager, will discuss fall turkey hunting. Registration for the webinar is available on the Minnesota DNR website (mndnr.gov/discover).

STATEWIDE YOUTH DEER SEASON RETURNS

Minnesota’s youth deer season will take place statewide Thursday, Oct. 19, through Sunday, Oct. 22. The season coincides with statewide teacher workshops, so many Minnesota students don’t have school during the youth season. Youth must be 10-17 years old and have a deer license in order to participate.

Participant numbers are not limited and there is no special permit, so parents should purchase or obtain a regular deer hunting license for each youth who will be hunting. Youth may not tag antlerless deer or legal bucks taken by another individual. Crossbows are allowed for licensed youth hunters. An adult parent, guardian, or mentor must accompany youth ages 10-13.

All hunters and mentors, regardless of whether they are participating in youth deer season, must follow blaze orange/pink clothing requirements. Fabric or synthetic ground blinds on public land must have a blaze orange safety covering on top of the blind that is visible from all directions, or a patch made of blaze orange that is at least 144 square inches (12×12 inches) on each side of the blind.

Adults may not hunt, unless they are in an area open during the early antlerless season and have the corresponding license.

EARLY ANTERLESS-ONLY DEER SEASON MID-OCTOBER

Hunters are allowed to partake in an early antlerless-only deer season from Thursday, Oct. 19, through Sunday, Oct. 22.

The season increases opportunities for hunters in deer permit areas where deer populations are above population goals or where there is an increased risk of chronic wasting disease.

The Minnesota DNR offers this opportunity to hunters to manage local deer herds. The bag limit is three antlerless deer and deer taken during the early antlerless-only season do not count against the statewide bag limit. Youth may not tag antlerless deer or legal bucks taken by another individual.

Fabric or synthetic ground blinds on public land must have a blaze orange safety covering on top of the blind that is visible from all directions, or a patch made of blaze orange that is at least 144 square inches (12×12 inches) on each side of the blind.

Before participating, hunters should review the specific license and permit requirements available on page 88 of the Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations (mndnr.gov/regulations/hunting).