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Hunters selected in this year's bear lottery must purchase their licenses by Thursday, Aug. 1, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) said.

Licenses not purchased by the deadline will become available first-come, first-served at noon Wednesday, Aug. 7.

Youths age 10-12 can receive a free no-quota bear license until Aug. 1. No-quota licenses will be available for purchase after Aug.1 but youth younger than 13 will have to pay the full price of $44 because of an inadvertent change in state law that eliminated the 10-12 year old exemption from this fee.

Youths who purchase leftover licenses in regular bear permit areas also will have to pay the adult price.

The free 10-12 youth bear licenses were not addressed when youth license simplification changes were approved during the last Legislative session. The DNR will propose changes to reinstate youth fee exemptions in 2014.[[In-content Ad]]

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