Buying a deer license

[Tom7227]

I was just at the Oakdale Fleet Farm and there were at least 15 people in line to get a license and I bet it was going to take at least 20 minutes to do it. It was only 330 in the afternoon. You can buy one on line I think.

https://jc.activeoutdoorsolutions.com/mn_customer/app/goHome.do

[CNCMike]

You can purchase online, however you can not hunt until it arrives in the mail.. Usually about 5-7 days

[klee]

Thank goodness I planned ahead. I know every year during opener week is crazy. I've learned to buy ahead. I will be heading out early instead of waiting in line this year.

[TruthWalleyes]

Ah shoot, Thanks for the reminder. I should probably go buy a bonus tag!

[Archerysniper]

I was just at the Oakdale Fleet Farm and there were at least 15 people in line to get a license and I bet it was going to take at least 20 minutes to do it.

I stopped at fleet farm today and yesterday and was very surprised at how many people where buying new guns .

I also had a guy in front of me in line that was buying slugs,he had 3 boxes of rifled and 1 box of sabots. He noticed the price jump on the sabots and questioned why and the clerk told him they were a different type,he just shrugged and said they will shoot the same as the rifled . I asked what he was shooting them out of and he said a 870 smooth bore and didn't listen to my advise when I told him they will not work and walked out of the store with them.

[cavalierowner]

Yep, at this point it is mostly a sure bet you have to wait in line a while to get a license. I LOVE being able to buy online; I bought mine almost a month ago and it took only 4 days to get in the mail.

[TooTallTom]

A good tool for anyone who has failed to plan ahead (my hand's in the air here) is the MN DNR ELS agent list: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/licenses/agentlist.html?type=special

Find some small, local agent, and go buy your license from them instead of the jam-packed big box stores.

[Double D]

A good tool for anyone who has failed to plan ahead (my hand's in the air here) is the MN DNR ELS agent list: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/licenses/agentlist.html?type=special

Find some small, local agent, and go buy your license from them instead of the jam-packed big box stores.

They could use the issuing fee more than the big store anyhow.

DD

[TooTallTom]

I thought of that, too, Double D.

Also, I've already seleced for Resident/ Deer/ Firearms to generate that list. You can select other licenses if you choose, but that's on a different page of the HSOforum. I think you click "Licenses" on the left column...

[TRZ II]

Any knucklehead that still needs a license should go to a Holiday gas station in a area with few hunters. Like the Ghetto of St.Paul...No lines.

[TooTallTom]

This knucklehead was thinking something along those lines.

[highlife4me]

Wasn't sure if I was going hunting with a rifle this year or not, waited until today to buy my license at my local Holiday and was in the store for maybe 3 or 4 minutes. Not bad at all.

[snapcrackpop]

I've been told the stores get nothing for selling licenses, so consider picking up a few miscellaneous items.

[wannafish2]

You can get a license online...BUT a deer license cannot be printed and has to be mailed. It takes a couple weeks to get it so DON'T GET IT ONLINE NOW! YOU WILL NOT GET IT IN TIME. However, the online service is great. I have used it a couple years in a row now. You can also register your deer online.

[CigarGuy]

A good tool for anyone who has failed to plan ahead (my hand's in the air here) is the MN DNR ELS agent list: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/licenses/agentlist.html?type=special

Find some small, local agent, and go buy your license from them instead of the jam-packed big box stores.

Great tip! Went to Holiday Gas Station on 42/5 in Burnsville. One person in front of my son and I. When we left, 4 were waiting. Guy came from Fleet Farm in Lakeville and said at least a 1/2 wait. Gotta love the last minute shuffle!!!

[nwhunter]

When I lived in the cities, I recall stopping off at Fleet Farm in Lino Lakes (?) the Friday before opener to grab a new cushion. The wait was at least an hour for licenses, and they were selling them past store close to get everyone done. Remember, If you buy after the season starts (Saturday as an example) you can't hunt until the next day (Sunday.)

+1 for the folks that buy them online. That's the only way I do it for all of my licenses, unless I'm hankering for a bonus tag. You just have to buy them early if it requires a tag to ensure you get it in time.

[TRice]

Actually, if you buy your license on or after the season starts, it is not valid until the 2nd day. (bought Sat. not valid until Mon. p.67 in the regs.)

[TooTallTom]

Great tip! Went to Holiday Gas Station on 42/5 in Burnsville. One person in front of my son and I. When we left, 4 were waiting. Guy came from Fleet Farm in Lakeville and said at least a 1/2 wait. Gotta love the last minute shuffle!!!

I went to K-mapart on East Lake Street at about 8:30. No wait.

Maybe I'll make it part of my "deer camp" tradition.

[MUSKY18]

Yet another reason I love small town Minnesota. Town of 4000 people and 5 or 6 places to buy license. No waiting at any of them, unless someone is buying gas in front of you!

[lakevet]

7:25 AM at L&M Fleet Supply here in town. Only myself and one other fellow waiting for the doors to open and he was there for something other than a license.

lakevet

[nwhunter]

Actually, if you buy your license on or after the season starts, it is not valid until the 2nd day. (bought Sat. not valid until Mon. p.67 in the regs.)

That's correct, my mistake. I know this too, just had the brain fart...

[echotrail]

No one in line buying licenses of any kind in front of me either. That was in late Aug. at Gander Mt.

[nofishfisherman]

I don't get to hunt until Thursday so I'll be going in on Monday once the herd at Fleet Farm thins out a little.

[Steve Foss]

Yet another reason I love small town Minnesota. Town of 4000 people and 5 or 6 places to buy license. No waiting at any of them, unless someone is buying gas in front of you!

Same here. I've had mine for two weeks.

[Fever]

Here is a tip. Alot of smaller hardware stores sell licences and they typically don't have the shopping pressure of your Fleet farm type places. If timeliness of purchace is a concern try a local Hardware Hank type place. I just drove up town during my prep period to get my licence and was back within 10 min. Should be on road in a bit over 2 hours. Long 4.5 hour drive though....