Disease hunts are an important tool in disease management, helping limit the disease spread and showing where disease is more prevalent through CWD testing of harvested deer.
Although the bag limit for this hunt is unlimited and designed to encourage participation in the management hunt, experience indicates few successful hunters will take more than two deer. In 2021, 98% of successful hunters during the late CWD hunts took two deer or fewer.
- When & where
- What you need to know
Valid license: A hunter may use any unfilled archery, firearms, muzzleloader or landowner deer hunting license. Unfilled bonus permits and early antlerless permits also may be used. The hunting method used must match the hunter’s deer license.
Shotgun zone remains: The shotgun zone remains in place during the late hunt.
Disease management permits: Hunters also may use any unfilled disease management permits or they may purchase a disease management permit for $2.50. During this hunt, individuals using disease management permits may hunt by archery, firearms or muzzleloader, and do not need any additional license or permit.
Places to hunt: Hunters must obtain permission to hunt on private land but may hunt wildlife management areas and other public lands that are normally open to deer hunting within the designated deer permit areas. View the special public land access information below to hunt some areas normally closed to deer hunting.
Respect trails: Hunters using ATVs are reminded to not drive on designated snowmobile and cross-country ski trails.
Bag limit: There are no restrictions on the number of deer that a hunter may take. Unlike other hunts, disease management permits may be used to tag both antlered and antlerless deer. Bonus permits and early antlerless tags can only be used to tag antlerless deer.
CWD sampling: CWD sampling is mandatory. Harvested deer one year and older must be taken to a staffed or self-service station. Staffed sampling stations will be open 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the hunt. Stations also will be open from 9 a.m. - noon on the Monday following the hunt.
- Special public land access
All permits have been sold
Some public lands in southern Minnesota where deer hunting is not normally allowed will be opened to limited hunting. Special, no-cost permits to access these areas are required to limit the number of hunters. These permits will be available from any DNR license vendor or online on a first-come, first-served basis starting at noon on Friday, Dec. 2, and ending Sunday, Dec. 13. Use the listed hunt number when selecting a permit.
Areas opened to hunting are:
Location Hunt Type Permits Hunt number Beaver Creek Valley State Park Firearms 25807 Cannon River Wilderness Area Archery 50809 Forestville Mystery Cave State Park Firearms 75801 Great River Bluffs State Park and King's and Queen's Bluff SNA Firearms 50805 Nerstrand Woods State Park and Prairie Creek Woods SNA Firearms 50802 Pin Oak Prairie SNA Firearms 4803 Vermillion Highlands WMA is closed to public hunting during this hunt. No additional public lands where deer hunting is not normally allowed will be open in DPA 184.
- Sampling stations
Click on the list containing the permit area you plan to hunt
- DPA 184
Carcass movement restrictions are not in place but hunters are encouraged not to move harvested deer out of the area without properly boning and quartering the meat.
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- Staffed sampling stations will be open from 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16 – Sunday, Dec. 18 and have self-service facilities on Monday, Dec. 19.
- Self-service stations remain available through Monday, Dec. 19
City Location Address Status Bagley DNR forestry office 36452 State Highway 92 Self-service Becida Becida Bar and Grill 13718 County Road 9 Staffed Bemidji - South Cenex Station 120 Convenience Lane SE (Highway 2 and 71) Staffed Bemidji - North Beltrami County Fairgrounds 7223 Fairgrounds Road NW Staffed Blackduck Timberline Sport 'n' Convenience 209 Summit Ave. W Self-service Cass Lake MnDOT rest area 105 U.S. Highway 2 Self-service Itasca State Park, North Entrance Rock Creek General Store 16879 N. Entrance Drive Self-service Lake George Lake George Community Park 37110 U.S. Highway 71 Staffed Puposky The 89 Bar and Grill 8083 Old Long Lake Road NW Self-service Tenstrike Pour Willies 122 Main St. Self-service Walker U.S. Forest Service 201 Minnesota Ave. E Self-service - DPA 605
Carcass movement restrictions are in place. Available dumpsters (D) and quartering stations (QS) are listed in the the Dumpster column.
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- Staffed sampling stations will be open from 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16 – Sunday, Dec. 18 and have self-service facilities on Monday, Dec. 19.
- Self-service stations remain available through Monday, Dec. 19
City Location Address Dumpster Status Cannon Falls Lake Byllesby Goodhue County Park 5001 Highway 19 Blvd. None Self-service Faribault Rice County Fairgrounds 1814 2nd Ave. NW D • QS Self-service Hastings Lake Rebecca Park 415 Lock and Dam Road None Self-service Lonsdale Rice County Highway Department shop 110 5th Ave. NW D • QS Self-service New Market/Lakeville New Market Township Hall 8950 230th St. E None Self-service New Prague Skluzacek's Quality Meats 400 Main Street West None Self-service Northfield Northfield Archery Range 10353 Hall Ave. None Self-service Rosemount DNR wildlife office 15325 Babcock Ave. E D • QS Staffed - DPAs 643, 645, 646, 647, 648, 649, 655
Carcass movement restrictions are in place. Available dumpsters (D) and quartering stations (QS) are listed in the the Dumpster column.
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- Staffed sampling stations will be open from 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16 – Sunday, Dec. 18 and have self-service facilities on Monday, Dec. 19.
- Self-service stations remain available through Monday, Dec. 19
City Location Address Dumpster Status Caledonia DNR forestry office 805 N Highway 44 D • QS No sampling Caledonia Houston County Fairgrounds 1316 E. Washington St. None Self-service Chatfield Magnum Sports 20 Main Street South None Self-service Houston BP Gas Station 801 E. Cedar St. None Self-service Kasson Hardware Hank 11 4th Street SE None Self-service La Crescent La Crescent Joint Public Works facility 450 South Chestnut St None Staffed Mabel Steam Engine Days Park 90 E. Alpine Ave. None Self-service Preston DNR forestry office 912 Houston St. NW D • QS Staffed Rochester DNR shop, Gordon Yeager WMA 280 Energy Parkway NE D • QS Self-service Rushford DNR Shop 305 Industrial Drive D • QS Staffed Rushford Pam's Corner Convenience 107 MN-16, Rushford None Self-service Spring Valley City lot across from Spring Valley Public Utilities 101 South Section St D • QS Self-service St. Charles Winona County Fairgrounds 518 W. 6th St. D • QS Self-service Stewartville Bear Cave Park 800 10th St. NW D • QS Self-service Wilson Wilson Truck and Trailer Repair 29622 County Road 12 D • QS Self-service Winona Fleet Farm 920 US-61 D Staffed
- Using self-service sampling stations
Learn what to expect and how to use a self-service sampling station.