Minnesota opens deer season Nov. 7 with new CWD testing rules
The DNR expects over 400,000 hunters to participate, urging early license purchases due to a new electronic system.
By Charlotte Dubois ·
Minnesota’s statewide firearms deer season begins on Saturday, Nov. 7. The Department of Natural Resources projects more than 400,000 hunters will participate in the hunt this year.
The agency urges hunters to purchase their licenses well before the opening date. Last year, nearly 140,000 licenses were sold in the two days preceding the season. The DNR launched a new electronic licensing system in June, and first-time transactions may face delays. Hunters transferring records from the old system might need assistance from the DNR’s License Center.
Licenses are available through the DNR system, a mobile app, or licensed agents. They can be carried on paper, as a digital file, or within the app. Those buying in person should verify that the agent is authorized to sell licenses for the current year.
Every deer taken must be registered within 48 hours of the harvest. This registration must occur before the animal is processed or its antlers are removed. App users can validate and register simultaneously. Paper license holders can validate the animal first and register later via the website or an agent. A new online quick registration option allows users to bypass the login and app requirements. The app stores harvest data during periods without cell service and uploads the information once connectivity is restored.
Jamie Gangaware, the DNR’s electronic license system project executive, advised hunters to buy licenses early. He stated that hunters should know their validation method before leaving for the hunt. He also recommended signing into the app or printing a paper license before departure.
A new requirement applies to hunters in southwest Minnesota. Any deer at least one year old harvested during the opening weekend of Nov. 7 and 8 must be tested for chronic wasting disease. DNR staff will operate sampling stations from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Nov. 7 and 8, and from 9 a.m. to noon on Nov. 9. Self-service stations, mail-in kits, and partner taxidermists or meat processors offer alternative testing methods. Testing remains voluntary in other parts of the state.
Archery season continues through Dec. 31, while muzzleloader season runs from Nov. 28 to Dec. 13. Closing dates for the firearms season depend on the specific deer permit area. Preliminary harvest statistics for 2026 are available on the DNR’s deer statistics page, which updates on Mondays and Thursdays.
