Deer Hunting Question... Dave from MN and Others

in-too-deep · Nov 7, 2008

Tomorrow is opening day for deer. I got licenses for Miss MN and I yesterday. We both got regular resident firearm licenses, which includes a permit for tagging a deer. I also bought a bonus permit because I'd like to shoot two this year. My question is, what gender deer can I legally kill with these tags? Is it antlerless only for both tags? I know anterless is a doe or buck with 3" or less antlers. I don't have buck fever, and I'm perfectly happy shooting a couple good does, but what if a big wall-hanger buck happens to walk in? Will either of my tags allow me to kill it legally? I've read every page of the rule booklet and I can't figure out how a person goes about tagging a grown buck. I want to know if my tags are anterless-only or if I can drop a buck. If not, do I need to buy a buck permit, even though I don't see anything about buck permit. Oh yeah, this is in MN, in area 100. I'd appreciate you guys clearing this up for me. Happy hunting and be safe!

randallinMo · Nov 7, 2008

Do any of the tags say "Anydeer"?

in-too-deep · Nov 7, 2008

No, but the regular permit has a check box for adult buck, and bonus tag has a check box only for fawn buck. Didn't notice that.

randallinMo · Nov 7, 2008

I'm not in MN but I would guess then that the tag checked "Adult buck" can be used for either a doe or buck and the bonus tag can be used for either a fawn buck or a doe.
So if you shoot the doe first, you'll have to let the 30 pointer go by afterwards. Call your conservation dept. for a clarification. All states are a little different.

in-too-deep · Nov 7, 2008

Sounds about right to me. Thanks Randall!

Anonymous-0 · Nov 7, 2008

I'm not familiar with your zone, but in our zone it's bucks only this year. Youth can take antlerless.

Balaton17 · Nov 7, 2008

Same here, you need a doe tag or a youth tag to take a doe.
Hey in-to-deep, you'll have to let us know what ya get.
Happy Hunting

Anthony.
The worst shot in Lyon county MN, LOL.

mnjoe · Nov 7, 2008

Southern MN you need to apply for a doe tag. Only about 150 was given out for our area. The DNR seds out a postcrd with the info. under !8 years old get auto doe tags. This year they combined both weekends with a new season that lasts 9 days. If you didn't get a doe tag it's buck only that you can shoot. I sais the heck with the slug season...our group is going to muzzleload.....That allows us to tag one deer either doe or buck.....This first starts after thanksgiving. With this snow and lots of corn still standing (I was going to start my corn...I leave some stand till mid DEC or spring for foodplots) it should be interesting what will happen. Any buck walking will be shot....The guys that hunt our land have a rule that you must shoot a buck larger than the last one you shot....They leave 6 and 8 PT walk...the neighbor thens will blast about 10 times at them. We have a $%$hole that drops deer and uses other people tags...we have party hunting in MN.

molinebob · Nov 7, 2008

Depends on what zone yo are in, but generally the initial tag you buy is for either buck or doe, and the bonus tag is for doe only. That is the way it is up here for me any way. Where are you at and what is your zone. Be able to tell you for sure if I knew what zone you are in. BOB

Balaton17 · Nov 7, 2008

Thats the way we hunt in the sw part, I have a uncle and cousin that are both parapalegics (I think I spelt that right), they pick a good spot to sit, and the rest of us push the deer twords them.

in-too-deep · Nov 7, 2008

I'm in Zone 100. Way up north just west of Bemidji. I think you've got it right with the initial tag being any deer and the bonus tag being antlerless. Thanks!

Dave from MN · Nov 7, 2008

Chris, I am assuming you bought the regular firearms license, which covers most of the state. You bonus tag should be for ANTLERLESS ONLY. If you shoot anything other than a buck with the legal tines, use this tag first. If you put your main license on an antler-less, you cannot shoot a buck later. Your main tag is good for antler-less or antlered. Depending on which area of zone 1 you are in, you can buy from 1-5 bonus tags. There are a few areas where you can shoot unlimited antler-less. Did you get a set of regulations with your license. I wish I could have accepted your invite to come up there, but just too much going on. Have a safe weekend hunt, that's for everyone. Also, you CAN NOT use the bonus tag on a buck. So if you have 1 regular and one bonus, you can shoot one buck and one antler less, or two antler less. Make sense?

MN 2008 zone map

in-too-deep · Nov 7, 2008

Alright, so I can use my bonus tag first on a doe. Then, if I find a buck, I can tag it with my main license. Makes sense to me! No worries on not comin' up. We'll figure something out for a later date.

in-too-deep · Nov 7, 2008

Yup, I'll see about posting some pictures, but I'll check in atleast.

in-too-deep · Nov 7, 2008

Oh, they're busy enough. Won't need to bother them with a question I should know the answer to.

molinebob · Nov 7, 2008

Way up north, huh, I thought I was way up north, I am about 20 miles from the canadain border, I think that is waaay up north. By the way I am in zone 100 also.

Anonymous-0 · Nov 7, 2008

> Southern MN you need to apply for a doe tag.

You scared me for a second there mnjoe. I had to look up the regs quick.

I'm in Houston County which is the Southeast corner. We used to have a lottery, but we no longer need to apply for doe tags. In fact, we have 3 separate firearm seasons: Oct 11-12, Nov 8-14, and Nov 22-30 with a total of 7 tags allowed per hunter. Guess we have way to many deer.

Anyway, I just get the free landowner license for the last season which is for antlerless-only. I have enough trouble trying to choke down 1 deer worth of venison per year.

I swear, our deer hunting regulations are getting more complicated that income tax. My dad gets the free license for being a disabled veteran. They let him take it in whichever season he wants, BUT if he takes it they will not let him BUY a license for another season OR any bonus tags. However, they would let me with the landowner permit if I wanted to. Seems pretty messed up if you ask me.
2008 MN Hunting Regulations

Anonymous-0 · Nov 7, 2008

Wish we had deer like that in Georgia. We did back in the late 60's and mid 70's.

Crem · Nov 7, 2008

I have owned and paid taxes on land in south east MN for over 35 years but I have to buy an out of state license because I am not a resident. It kind of sucks to pay $141 to hunt on my own land, when in order to have a garden or small trees survive I have to build high fences around them to keep the deer out. I live just across the border in WI.

buickanddeere · Nov 8, 2008

I just spent five days hunting. By last night I would have been happy with a fawn.

Deer Hunting Question... Dave from MN and Others

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