# Minnesota archery deer season starts Saturday

> Minnesota opens archery deer season with record harvests and new licensing rules
- Title: Minnesota archery deer season starts Saturday · Valleynewslive
- Summary: Minnesota opens archery deer season with record harvests and new licensing rules Archery hunters can harvest antlerless deer throughout the season with new…
- Keywords: minnesota, archery, deer, season, dnr, hunting, antlerless, harvest, license, cwm, blaze, regulations
- Source: Valleynewslive — https://valleynewslive.com/2026/09/18/minnesota-archery-deer-season-opens-saturday
- Published: 2026-09-18T19:47:30.482+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: minnesota, archery, deer, season, dnr, hunting, antlerless, harvest, license, cwm, blaze, regulations
## Archery season opens
Minnesota’s archery deer season begins Saturday, Sept. 19, running through Dec. 31

> Archery hunters benefit from having a long season to get out into the woods and fields, experience the change of seasons, and see deer and have opportunities to harvest them
## Long season benefits
Long season gives hunters more opportunities to harvest antlerless deer, which are abundant in much of the state

> We encourage hunters to take advantage of opportunities to harvest antlerless deer, which are abundant in much of the state
## Population management
Hunting helps balance local deer herds with available forage and habitat conditions

> Hunting helps balance the size of local deer herds with the available natural forage and habitat conditions
## Record harvests
55% of archery-harvested deer were antlerless in 2025, with 30,043 deer harvested last year

> In 2025, 55% of archery-harvested deer were antlerless, and archery hunters accounted for one-fifth of all antlerless deer harvested in Minnesota
## New licensing system
New electronic licensing system allows online, app, or in-person license purchases with multiple validation options

> Hunters can buy their licenses online, through a mobile app, or in person from a license agent
## Safety requirements
Blaze orange or pink clothing required during youth and antlerless seasons and firearms seasons

> Blaze orange or blaze pink clothing is required during the youth and early antlerless seasons from Oct. 15 through Oct. 18
## Key takeaway

Archery hunters can harvest antlerless deer throughout the season with new electronic licensing options