Minimum age to deer hunt in MN

[WALLEYENUTZ]

I beleive that you must use the adults big game lic. to tag a deer shot by someone under the age of 12. In other words they are not able to buy a lic./deer tag.

[BobT]

Quote:

Was this rule in affect back in the 80's? It just seemed like everyone I knew hunted alone at 12, usually dad wasn't far away but we were lone gunmen back in those days.

I know it was when I started out in the 70's. Like I said, my recollection was that I was also not legally able to hunt totally alone until I was 16. From 14-16 I could be alone but had to be in a hunting party with a responsible adult. That part may have been dropped over the years.

I wonder if a copy of old handbooks could be found. It would be interesting to see for sure.

[deerhunter]

So can my son who is 9 and pulling back 35lbs shoot a deer with the bow and use my tag? If so I would be very excited because I know he is ready to deer hunt

[mcgarth]

10 year olds get a free license over the counter

[bigbucks]

10 & 11 year-olds can get a free deer gun license over the counter.

I think any age kid under 18 can buy a $12 bow license with their SS#. That's the same thing with turkey licenses.

So I would say your 9 year-old can have his own bow license. Obviously legal or not, I don't think he should hunt by himself. I think it has a whole lot to do with there not being a lot of accidental deaths due to bow shots...

[heat checker]

Same rules apply for firearms,archery,muzzy. Free license to 10,11 yr olds, have to hunt next to parent/gaurdian. Anyone under 10 isn't legal to shoot deer, regardless of the weapon.

[bigbucks]

Where did you read that?

[heat checker]

Page 30 of Regs. "Youth Requirements".