Forkhorn Camps
Youth Firearm Safety & Hunting Camps
Sponsored by the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association (MDHA), Forkhorn camps guide campers in firearms safety, hunting safety, wilderness navigation and survival, and many other outdoor recreation activities! No firearms or hunting experience needed before coming to Forkhorn 1!​
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Scholarships: MDHA provides Forkhorn camp scholarships to campers. Click here to contact you most local chapter for an application! All scholarship recipients are required to verify their scholarship award upon online registration by providing contact information (name and number/email) from the individual that awarded them the scholarship. Deep Portage will be working with the sponsors to double check scholarships weekly to verify they are correct. Any incorrect scholarships will be immediately revoked, returned back to the sponsor, and your $100 camp deposit will NOT be reimbursed.
Forkhorn I (all overnights)
Dates:
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Session 1: June 7-11 2026
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Session 2: June 14-18 2026
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Session 3 ALL GIRLS: July 26-30 2026
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Session 4: August 2-6 2026
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Tuition: $525
Ages: 11-15 (must be 11 by first day of camp)
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Drop-off/Registration: 1:00 pm on Sunday
Pick-up/Graduation: 3:00 pm on Thursday
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Successful completion of this camp earns students their MN DNR Firearms Safety Certificate. Activities include:
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All MN DNR firearms safety curriculum, required field day activities, and test
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Classroom lectures, tree stand safety, .22 caliber rifle training (2 sessions), firearms in the field training course, wilderness survival and navigation, etc
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Other camp activities
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Archery, canoeing/fishing, environmental sciences, arts and crafts, swimming, etc​
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Forkhorn II (overnight)
Dates:​ July 5-July 9 2026
Tuition: $525
Ages: 12-16 (must be 12 on first day of camp)
Prerequisite: MN DNR Firearms Safety Certificate (Forkhorn I is not a prerequisite)
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Drop-off/Registration: 1:00 pm on Sunday
Pick-up/Graduation: 3:00 pm on Thursday
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Students will be certified in the Minnesota Bowhunter Education Program (MBEP) as part of the camp; this certification is required in to purchase archery hunting tags in many states, provinces, or special designated archery hunting areas in MN. This advanced hunting camp includes
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All MN DNR bow hunters education curriculum, field day activities, and test
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Classroom lectures, archery hunting safety, 3-D archery target shooting (2 sessions, including out of tree stands), wilderness survival and navigation​
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Canoe day trip up the scenic Boy River to Little Boy and Blind Lakes for lunch and to fish
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Indoor rock climbing, environmental/biological sciences, arts and crafts, etc.
Forkhorn III (overnight)
Dates: July 12-16 2026
Tuition: $575
Ages: 13-17 (must be 13 on first day of camp)
Prerequisite: MN DNR Firearms Safety Certificate
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Drop-off/Registration: 1:00 pm on Sunday
Pick-up/Graduation: 3:00 pm on Thursday
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This improved Forkhorn 3 camp will focus on advancing on the outdoor and conservation skills learned in Forkhorn 1 and Forkhorn 2:
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Advanced land navigation and wilderness survival techniques
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Tent camp out in the DP forest with dinner and breakfast over a campfire
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Muzzleloading on rifle range and shotgun shooting on or sporting clays course
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Make your own turkey slate calls
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Fishing
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Classroom portion from experts on advanced hunting for waterfowl, small game, and big game
