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ST PAUL - Minnesota youth have until Friday, Aug. 20, to apply for 15 mentored deer hunts in October, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

"With a relaxed pace, these hunts provide high-quality introductory experiences where the total focus of the adult is on mentoring the youth hunter" said Mike Kurre, DNR mentoring program coordinator. "Youth deer hunts provide the ideal learn-by-doing experience."

Youth ages 12-15 may apply for one of 11 special firearms youth deer hunts at selected state parks and refuges. Youth ages 12-17 may apply for special archery youth deer hunts. Participating in a youth deer hunt does not preclude the youth from participating in the regular firearms deer season, but any deer harvested do count against the youth's season bag limit.

A limited number of either-sex permits are available for the following hunts:

ARCHERY

•Camp Ripley Archery Hunt (open to youth 12-17), Archery, Morrison County, Oct. 8-10, 150 permits

•Lake Alexander Preserve, Archery, Morrison County, Oct.8-10, 20 permits

•Arden Hills Site A, Archery, Ramsey County, Oct. 21-22, 30 permits

•Arden Hills Site B, Archery, Ramsey County, Oct. 23-24, 30 permits

FIREARMS

•Lake Bemidji State Park, Firearms, Beltrami County, Oct. 16-17, 20 permits

•St. Croix State Park, Firearms, Pine County, Oct. 30-31, 90 permits

•Rydell National Wildlife Refuge, Firearms, Polk Count, Oct. 23-24, 20 permits

•Savanna Portage State Park, Firearms, Aitkin County, Oct. 30-31, 20 permits

•Buffalo River State Park Hunt A, Firearms, Clay County, Oct. 23-24, 10 permits

•Buffalo River State Park Hunt B, Firearms, Clay County, Oct. 310-31, 10 permits

•Tettagouche State Park, Firearms, Lake County, Oct. 16-17, 10 permits

•Itasca State Park, Firearms, Clearwater County, Oct. 16-17, 75 permits

•Banning State Park, Firearms, Pine County, Oct. 30-31, 6 permits

•Father Hennepin State Park Hunt A, Firearms, Mille Lacs County, Oct. 30-31, 3 permits

•Father Hennepin State Park Hunt B, Firearms, Mille Lacs County, Dec. 4-5, 3 permits

Youth must apply for the hunt of his or her choice, which can be done at any DNR license agent; the DNR License Center, 500 Lafayette Road, in St. Paul; or online at www.mndnr.gov/buyalicense. If the number of applications exceeds the number of permits, a lottery will be conducted. Youth may only apply for one archery hunt and one firearms hunt.

An adult parent or guardian must accompany the youth at all times while hunting but only the youth may hunt. Youth and their mentor must attend a mandatory pre-hunt orientation session. Successful applicants also must meet all firearms safety requirements, purchase all appropriate licenses and follow hunting regulations.

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