(This post originally appeared on the Explore Minnesota Tourism website.)
Every fall, hundreds of thousands of
hunters clad in blaze orange spread out from the agricultural fields of
southern Minnesota to the deep forests of northern Minnesota—and everywhere in
between—in search of white-tailed deer. For many people, hunting deer during
the firearms season is just as much about renewing friendships and a connection
with nature as it is about pulling the trigger. But whatever the reason people
choose to hunt deer, opportunities to target whitetails abound in Minnesota.
Many hunters opt to search for deer
on the millions of acres of county, federal and state lands that are spread
throughout Minnesota and available for anyone to use. Whether they’re in places
such as Montevideo or Worthington in the south, Brainerd or Alexandria in the
central part of the state, or Bemidji or Grand Rapids in the north—or even in
points farther north than that—hunters are never far from having a place they
can start hunting. The Minnesota DNR alone offers nearly 1.3 million acres of wildlife
management areas throughout the state, many of which offer high-quality
deer hunting.
Statewide opportunities
Every year, hunters harvest about
150,000 to 200,000 deer, and hunters take them from all parts of the state. One
of the best parts about hunting deer in Minnesota is the opportunity to hunt on
widely varying terrain. The bluff country of southeast Minnesota offers some of
the most stunning scenery around, with deep valleys and meandering streams
being key natural features. Hunters can stay in big cities such as Rochester or
small towns such as Lanesboro and have easy access to thousands of acres of huntable
land.
Hunters who prefer the more open
terrain of grasslands and prairies can headquarter from cities such as Marshall
or Fairmont in the southwest, while those who prefer a mix of prairie and
forest may choose Fergus Falls in central Minnesota or Hinckley in the
northeast as home base. Hunters who enjoy heading into the thick woods have
options in northeastern towns such as Hibbing and Grand Marais. And those who
really want to get away from it all can go into the Boundary
Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. There may be fewer deer there than in other
parts of the state, but there are far fewer hunters, too.
Hunting on public land
The beauty of public land is
everyone enjoys the same access to it. But that also can be its downfall,
because hunters may find someone else set up in their spot, or just a few too
many other hunters for their liking. Fortunately, there are ways to increase
the odds of success. One of them is to simply walk as far away from the road as
possible, since most hunters stay within several hundred yards of their
vehicles. Another method is to find the heaviest cover available on a piece of
land and sit near it. Deer may live in such areas, or they may be pushed into
those areas as they attempt to escape hunting pressure.
Be sure to use a temporary deer
stand and remove it at the end of the day went hunting on public land.
Hunt and fish
During years when the fall is
relatively warm, it’s possible for sportsmen to hunt deer in the morning and
evening and go fishing during the middle of the day. Muskie and walleye fishing
is especially good late in the fall, and some of the best lakes for fall
fishing—Lake Mille Lacs, Leech Lake near Walker, Lake Vermilion near Tower,
Lake Miltona near Alexandria, and Big Detroit Lake in Detroit Lakes—also are
near good hunting land.
2016 Deer Seasons
- Archery: Sept. 17 – Dec. 31
- Firearms: Nov. 5-20 (100 series of permit areas); Nov. 5-13 (200 series of permit areas and 300 series A-season); Nov. 19- 27 (300 series of permit areas B-season).
- Muzzleloader: Nov. 26 – Dec. 11
- Special hunts: See Minnesota DNR deer hunting web page
While hunters in some areas of the
state—and for some special hunts—must
apply in advance to hunt or target antlerless deer, the state welcomes
residents and nonresidents to take part in what is Minnesota’s most popular
hunting season.