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State park youth deer hunts and youth outdoor days in Minnesota
Read from DNR special hunts and NWTF: 7 upcoming dates.
Photo: Intermountain Region US Forest Service (Public domain)
Minnesota youth hunts in brief
7 posted; each drops off once it has passed. Sorted by host, DNR special hunts and NWTF carry the biggest share.
6 are DNR state park youth deer weekends with 112 permits between them, drawn in the August lottery. Busiest counties: Pine (2), Jackson (1) and Washington (1). Sorted onto the DNR region map, that gives South (3), Northeast (2) and Central (2). Banning State Park Special Youth Deer Hunt 2026 leads off on Oct 31–Nov 1, 2026.
Minnesota youth hunts near me
The six nearest are shown; the table below has everything.
Straight-line miles to the park, the town, or the county centre when that is all the host gave.
Upcoming Minnesota youth hunt dates
The header search narrows this table to one town, county, DNR region or organizer.
| Calendar day | Event | Host group | Site | Listing notes | Action | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 31–Nov 1, 2026 | Banning State Park Special Youth Deer Hunt 2026, a state park youth deer hunt | DNR special hunts | hunt 965, 6 permits, either-sex; ages 12-15, mentor does not hunt; orientation Oct. 31 | Event details | Source | |
| Oct 31–Nov 1, 2026 | Kilen Woods State Park Special Youth Deer Hunt 2026, a state park youth deer hunt | DNR special hunts | hunt 963, 6 permits, either-sex; ages 12-15, mentor does not hunt | Event details | Source | |
| Oct 31–Nov 1, 2026 | St. Croix State Park Special Youth Deer Hunt 2026, a state park youth deer hunt | DNR special hunts | hunt 956, 45 permits, either-sex; ages 12-15, mentor does not hunt; orientation required | Event details | Source | |
| Nov 7–8, 2026 | Afton State Park Special Youth Deer Hunt 2026, a state park youth deer hunt | DNR special hunts | hunt 951, 30 permits, either-sex; ages 12-15, mentor does not hunt; orientation Oct. 31 | Event details | Source | |
| Nov 21–22, 2026 | Lake Shetek State Park Special Youth Deer Hunt 2026, a state park youth deer hunt | DNR special hunts | hunt 968, 15 permits, antlerless only; ages 12-15, mentor does not hunt; orientation Oct. 20 | Event details | Source | |
| Dec 5–6, 2026 | Blue Mounds State Park Special Youth Deer Hunt 2026, a state park youth deer hunt | DNR special hunts | hunt 966, 10 permits, either-sex; ages 12-15, mentor does not hunt; orientation Dec. 4 | Event details | Source | |
| Jun 12, 2027 | Youth Outdoor Experience, a youth outdoor day | NWTF | Harris | Event details | Source |
Every row was compared with its host page on October 28, 2026.
The 2026 Minnesota youth firearms deer hunts
Permit counts and bag limits come from the DNR table; one hunt was cancelled by a DNR update notice.
| Park | Hunt | Hunters | Dates | Deer each | Rule | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Afton State Park | 951 | 30 | Nov. 7-8 | 3 | Either-sex | Ahead |
| Banning State Park | 965 | 6 | Oct. 31-Nov. 1 | 2 | Either-sex | Ahead |
| Blue Mounds State Park | 966 | 10 | Dec. 5-6 | 2 | Either-sex | Ahead |
| Buffalo River State Park | 959 | 12 | Oct. 24-25 | 2 | Earn-a-buck | Held |
| Camden State Park | 967 | 12 | Oct. 24-25 | 2 | Earn-a-buck | Held |
| Kilen Woods State Park | 963 | 6 | Oct. 31-Nov. 1 | 2 | Either-sex | Ahead |
| Lake Bemidji State Park | 954 | 10 | Oct. 16-18 | 2 | Either-sex | Held |
| Lake Bronson State Park | 969 | 10 | Oct. 24-25 | 1 | Either-sex | Held |
| Lake Shetek State Park | 968 | 15 | Nov. 21-22 | 2 | Antlerless only | Ahead |
| Minneopa State Park | 899 | 12 | Nov. 14-15 | 2 | Either-sex | Cancelled (DNR update notice) |
| Savanna Portage State Park | 958 | 25 | Oct. 24-25 | 2 | Either-sex | Held |
| Sibley State Park | 952 | 10 | Oct. 24-25 | 1 | Either-sex | Held |
| St. Croix State Park | 956 | 45 | Oct. 31-Nov. 1 | 1 | Either-sex | Ahead |
DNR special deer hunts (2026 youth firearms table and the DNR update notice), checked October 28, 2026.
| Booklet text | |
|---|---|
| October youth deer | Youth deer season Oct. 15-18 statewide; youth may take either-sex deer in lottery DPAs without a lottery permit; must kill their own deer (no party hunting); youth special hunts (ages 12-15 firearms, 12-17 archery) by Aug. 14 application; Sand Prairie WMA archery for ages 10-17. |
| Turkey under 18 | Youth 17 and under hunt the entire spring season; free licenses under 13. |
| Early youth waterfowl | Youth waterfowl days Sept. 12-13, 2026 (17 and under with a non-hunting adult). |
| Take-a-Kid weekend | Take-a-Kid hunting weekend Sept. 26-27, 2026. |
| No certificate yet | Apprentice hunter/trapper validation ($3.50) for two license years in a lifetime; must stay within sight and hearing of a licensed adult. |
youth seasons, apprentice rule; checked October 28, 2026.
Minnesota youth hunts by venue and organizer
Venues in a state park or state forest link to that land page; county names open the county guide with its deer permit areas and season dates.
How Minnesota youth hunts spread over the year
October, May and June carry the most Minnesota youth hunts.
Built on all 19 dated youth hunts in the data.
Know a date that belongs on the Minnesota youth hunts list?
Gun bingo, deer camp banquets, Greenwing days, youth hunts, grouse dog trials and licensed nite hunts all belong here. Share the link where the date is posted and we do the rest.
More from Minnesota youth hunts
The Minnesota event year follows the game: DU bingo while the duck zones are open, NWTF dinners until the April turkey periods, and grouse dog trials around Mora in spring and October.
What people ask about Minnesota youth hunts
Did DNR cancel a Minnesota youth hunt this year?
Yes. A DNR update notice cancels the Minneopa State Park youth firearms special hunt, so it is left off the upcoming list here. DNR special deer hunts
What are the rules for Minnesota youth park deer hunts?
DNR draws the permits by lottery for hunters 12 to 15, who go with a parent or guardian mentor who may not hunt; most parks hold an orientation the day before. The 2026 applications closed Aug. 14, 2026; the booklet sets the 2027 youth hunt deadline at Aug 20, 2027. DNR special deer hunts
Where and when is the next Minnesota youth hunt?
Banning State Park Special Youth Deer Hunt 2026, Oct 31–Nov 1, 2026, Banning State Park, Pine County.
How long is this list of Minnesota youth hunts?
7 so far, all upcoming.
Which Minnesota counties have the most youth hunts?
Pine County (2), Jackson County (1), Washington County (1), Murray County (1) and Rock County (1). The DNR regions share them as South (3), Northeast (2) and Central (2).
Which clubs or offices hold Minnesota youth hunts?
DNR special hunts (6) and NWTF (1); the figure is rows per host.
Where is the price for a Minnesota youth hunt?
The DNR park hunts carry the youth deer license; Greenwing and outdoor days list no price in the rows here, so check the sign-up page.
Which month leads the Minnesota youth hunt count?
October holds 9 of the 19 dated listings.
Is a hunting license needed for Minnesota youth hunts?
The state park hunts need the youth deer license and a permit drawn in the August lottery; Greenwing and outdoor days need nothing.
Where is registration for Minnesota youth hunts handled?
The organizer’s page, linked on each row, is where seats are claimed. Park hunts: lottery only.
When were these Minnesota youth hunts verified?
Read on October 28, 2026, then rebuilt against today.
Other photos on this page: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region (Public domain); Department of the Interior. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. National Conservation Training Center. 10/1997-8888 (Public domain); USFWS/Southeast (Public domain).