(KNSI) — Prospective bear hunters have until Friday, May 2nd to apply for a hunting license through the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
This year, there will be 4,605 licenses available across 15 quota areas. The number of licenses for each area is based on regional bear population trends. The DNR says several of those areas will see a moderate increase in available licenses due to signs of population growth. There are also some changes this year affecting Becker, Clearwater, Mahnomen, Mille Lacs, Morrison, and Pennington counties.
Permit area 451 has been dissolved and is now in a no-quota area allowing one adult bear per licensed hunter. Areas 12 and 46 have also seen boundaries redrawn, with some of the land falling in a no-quota area. The Trout Lake unit of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness has moved from area 25 to area 22, which now fully aligns with the BWCAW boundary.
Applications can be submitted online by clicking here, by phone at 888-665-4236, or in person at any license agent. Bear hunting licenses for the no-quota area—covering east-central and far northwest Minnesota—will be sold in unlimited numbers and are valid only within that area.
Lottery results will be announced June 1st. Those selected have until August 1st to buy one. Any remaining quota licenses will be available for sale over the counter at noon on August 6th.
For detailed application instructions, permit availability, and maps, click here.
The 2025 season runs from Monday, September 1st, to Sunday, October 12th.
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