Minnesota’s Special Youth Deer Hunt Includes New Ammunition Requirement

For a lot of families across Minnesota, deer season is less about the harvest and more about the tradition — a cold morning in the stand, a thermos of cocoa, and a young hunter learning the ropes alongside a parent or grandparent.

The state's special youth deer hunts are built around exactly that kind of experience, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is once again offering youth deer hunts, including special application-only hunts this fall, which are different from the statewide youth deer season.

The DNR notes that these hunts offer more individualized experiences in unique places, often on different dates than the regular youth season, giving a young hunter a rare chance at a more personal outing. This year, though, there's an important change worth knowing before you apply.

The Lead-Free Rule Now Applies With No Exceptions

According to the DNR, lead-free ammunition will now be required — without exception —  in all special youth hunts in Minnesota state parks and Scientific and Natural Areas.

In the past, most already called for lead-free ammo, but there was an exception for youth hunters in the shotgun zone. That exception has now been removed.

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The reason, the DNR says, comes down to availability. "We've made exceptions in the past because smaller-gauge, lead-free shotgun ammunition was difficult to find," said Paul Burr, the agency's big game program coordinator.

Burr added that hunters now have more choices since the shotgun zones have been eliminated and lead-free options are more widely available.

What Counts And How To Plan Ahead

To comply, all bullets, slugs, muzzleloader ammunition and other single projectiles must be made entirely of lead-free material approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service — which, for deer hunting, typically means copper. Because that ammo can still be tricky to find on local shelves, hunters are encouraged to plan early. Online tools like AmmoSeek can help locate specific loads for home delivery.

Who Can Apply And When

The special hunts are open to youth ages 12 to 15 at the time of the hunt, each accompanied by an adult, with a limited number of permits awarded by application.

That application window runs from Monday, July 20, through Friday, August 14. Keep in mind these are separate from the statewide youth deer season, which runs October 15-18 and requires no application at all. Full details are available on the Minnesota DNR special deer hunts page.

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However you feel about the shift away from lead, the goal is a familiar one: safe, healthy hunts that keep a Minnesota tradition alive for the next generation. So, get the application in before the August deadline, and there's a good chance a young hunter in your life makes a memory this fall that lasts a lifetime.