The early antlerless firearms season was first conducted in 2005. It is designed to help reduce deer populations in areas that are significantly above goal and where current intensive management strategies have not been effective in lowering deer populations.

Deer areas open to early season antlerless hunting are: 101 (bovine tuberculosis), 105, 110, 111, 157, 159, 178, 180, 181, 182, 208, 209, 210, 214, 221, 222, 225, 227, 236, 241, 256, 257, 260, 261, 265, 267, 268, 346, 349 and 601 (metro).

To participate in the early anterless firearms deer hunt, individuals must possess either a muzzleloader or firearm license and at least one early antlerless deer permit. All harvested deer must be tagged with an early season antlerless permit, which are available for $7.50 from Electronic License System (ELS) agents.

Except in the bovine tuberculosis (TB) zone, firearms hunters cannot tag deer with any other license, and bonus permits are not valid during the early anterless season. Those who hunt in the bovine TB area 101 in northwestern Minnesota can use disease management permits instead of early antlerless permits, and they may take an unlimited number of deer.

Otherwise the total bag limit for the early anterless season is two deer, which are in addition to the statewide bag limit of five deer.

The archery season is open concurrently with the early antlerless deer hunt and bow hunters can use a regular or bonus license to tag deer.

Archery hunters also can buy and use early antlerless permits but those permits are only valid for the two days of the early antlerless hunt.

Bonus licenses are valid all season.

The early antlerless hunt coincides with the opening weekend of pheasant season, so small game hunters must comply with the blaze orange regulations that are in place during any firearm deer season.