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Firearms deer hunters who want to include antlerless deer among their possible quarry in designated lottery deer permit areas this fall have until Thursday, Sept. 7, to purchase their deer hunting licenses. Hunters who buy licenses before then are automatically entered into the lottery for the deer permit area or special hunt area they declare.

The DNR said Monday that deer permits will be issued by lottery in 48 of Minnesota's 130 deer permit areas this fall. By contrast, no application is needed to take antlerless deer in permit areas designated as hunters choice, managed or intensive .

Hunters who want to participate in special firearm deer hunts also need to apply for permits that are issued through a lottery, and the application deadline is Sept. 7.

More information about deer permit areas, how their designations are set and special hunts is available on the DNR website at mndnr.gov/deer and in the 2017 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations Handbook.