REGIONAL— If you were unsuccessful in this year’s bear hunting permit lottery, you may still be able to obtain a permit within the state of Minnesota’s quota zone.
Those who were selected for a permit had until Thursday, Aug. 1 to actually purchase their license. Bear hunters who entered the lottery should have been notified by postcard that they were successful.
Unsold lottery-awarded licenses will be available to any eligible person who’d like to try their hand at bear hunting, beginning at noon on Tuesday, Aug. 6.
Bear baiting may begin Friday, Aug. 16 and the DNR reminds hunters that locations of baiting stations must be registered with the state. You can find a baiting form online at mndnr.gov/hunting/bear.
The 2024 bear hunting season gets underway on Sunday, Sept. 1, and runs through Sunday, Oct. 13. Hunters should note that the hunting season begins on a Sunday this year since that coincides with the statutory date for the opening of the bear season.