As has been the case in the past, many special hunts are planned in state parks, where qualifying for those hunts is different from other parts of the state. For example, hunters who take part in special hunts might have to qualify for taking a buck through the "earn a buck" regulations, or they might find the hunt they take part in carries antler-point restrictions. Perhaps, some special hunts may target deer with no antlers at all. In fact, the harvest of antlerless deer in these areas makes for great opportunities for filling the freezer with tasty venison.

Check the Regs
This season, regulation changes to watch for include the details on the state map that displays permit areas and their designations. For example, a few of the permit area boundaries in the northwestern part of Zone 2 have been redrawn. If that's your hunting area, check the map for the details.

To recap the Minnesota hunting regulations, deer-hunting permit areas are placed in one of three categories. The number of antlerless deer a hunter may take is what defines each of the three categories:

• Areas listed as lottery permit areas impose a bag limit of one deer, except when hunters tag deer with both their archery and firearms license.

• Areas listed as managed permit areas impose a bag limit of two deer, one of which can be a buck. Hunters may not tag antlerless deer using a bonus permit in more than one managed permit area per year. Bonus permits are $13 for residents/$67.50 for non-residents and must be purchased before being filled.

• Areas listed as intensive harvest areas allow hunters to use any combination of licenses and permits to tag up to five deer.

Among other rules:
• A bonus permit must be purchased for every additional deer beyond the first one taken, except in lottery permit areas when hunters tag deer with both their archery and firearms license.

• New last year, and continuing again this year, is the metro deer management zone where there is no limit on the number of deer that may be taken.

• A special bowhunting opportunity is in place in the northwestern portion of the state where bovine tuberculosis was found in a portion of the deer herd. Hunters will have no limit on deer in that area, and the bonus permits will cost only $2.50.

• All-season license holders who plan on muzzleloader hunting in a lottery-designated permit area must apply to take antlerless deer. An all-season license enables a hunter to hunt the archery, firearms and muzzleloader seasons.

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Studies show the number of deer hunters in Minnesota is decreasing, so take others hunting this year who hasn't hunted before. They don't have to hunt, but having them along with you might be just what it takes to interest them. At the bare minimum, they'll learn first-hand what it means to go deer hunting in Minnesota.

Good hunting!

Find more about Minnesota fishing and hunting at: MinnesotaSportsmanMag.com