Firearm and muzzleloader hunters who want to harvest antlerless deer in a deer permit area with an antlerless permit lottery designation must purchase their license by Thursday, Sept. 4.

Hunters who purchase their license by Sept. 4 are automatically entered into the lottery for the DPA or special hunt area they declare. Successful applicants will receive a postcard in the mail authorizing them to take an antlerless deer using their regular license in that antlerless permit lottery area.

No application is needed to take antlerless deer in permit areas with either-sex, two-deer limit, three-deer limit, or five-deer limit designations. Hunters should note that DPA 183 has been split into two smaller DPAs (153 and 154), and these DPAs have last year’s designation of lottery with a one-deer limit.

Hunters who want to participate in special firearm or muzzleloader deer hunts also need to apply for permits issued through a lottery. That application deadline is also Sept. 4. More information about how to apply for special hunts is available on the DNR website (mndnr.gov/hunting/deer/special-deer-hunts.html).

Further information about designations and regulations for deer permit areas, as well as details about special hunt opportunities, are available on the DNR website (mndnr.gov/hunting/deer) and in the 2025 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations Handbook, which is available online and in print wherever Minnesota DNR licenses are sold.