Hunts in Minnesota state parks

Know before you go, and see which parks have special hunts this season.

Note: Some parks may have additional hunts, or hold hunts for animals other than deer. To be absolutely certain, please call the park office before you head out!

Minnesota State Parks and Trails Facebook site  Minnesota State Parks Twitter feed  Minnesota State Parks and Trails Instagram site

Many Minnesota state parks hold managed hunts as a way to help control the deer population in the parks. Our goal is to ensure healthy natural communities. When too many deer are in one area, the native plants and animals are negatively affected. 

Access to the parks varies around the state during these hunts. Some state parks remain open to all visitors, some have limited public access, and some are open only to hunters with special permits.

This site provides information to non-hunters during the hunt season. If you are a hunter, you'll find more information here. Hunters, take note! Beginning this fall, all state park and state recreation area special hunts require use of only non-toxic (non-lead) ammunition. For complete details go to the  DNR deer hunting page  and look under "New for 2022."

Safety tips for those who will be visiting a state park during a hunt:

  1. Wear blaze orange or other brightly colored clothing, even if you will not be hunting.
  2. Check with the park office when you arrive, to see if there is any additional hunt-related information.
  3. Watch carefully for any hunt-related signage in the park, and follow it!

Don't get lost - use a geoPDF map!
Most of the state parks special hunt maps are now readable by the Avenza Maps location app (available on Google Play and the App Store) and are available for use offline. No cell service is needed!

 

CLOSED

The park is closed to the public and open only to hunters with a valid permit during a particular hunt.

LIMITED

The park is open both to visitors and to hunters OR a portion of the park is open to the public and closed to hunting while another part is open to hunters only.

State ParkAccessDatesTypeMap
AftonCLOSED11/5 to 11/6Firearmshunt map
AftonCLOSED12/6 to 12/8Muzzleloaderhunt map
BanningLIMITED10/29 to 10/30Firearmshunt map
Beaver Creek ValleyLIMITED11/5 to 11/6Firearmshunt map
Beaver Creek ValleyLIMITED12/16 to 12/18Firearmshunt map
Blue MoundsCLOSED11/19 to 11/20Firearmshunt map
Buffalo RiverLIMITED10/29 to 10/30Firearmshunt map
CamdenCLOSED10/29 to 10/30Firearmshunt map
Cascade RiverLIMITED11/5 to 11/20Firearmshunt map
Crow WingLIMITED12/3 to 12/7Muzzleloaderhunt map
Forestville/Mystery CaveLIMITED11/5 to 11/6Firearmshunt map
Forestville/Mystery CaveLIMITED12/16 to 12/18Firearmscwd hunt map
Franz JevneLIMITED11/5 to 11/20Firearmshunt map
FrontenacCLOSED11/19 to 11/20Firearmshunt map
Glacial LakesLIMITED11/10 to 11/13Firearmshunt map
Gooseberry FallsLIMITED11/5 to 11/20Firearmshunt map
Great River BluffsLIMITED11/19 to 11/20Firearmshunt map
Great River BluffsLIMITED12/16 to 12/18Firearmshunt map
Greenleaf LakeLIMITED9/17 to 12/31Archerypark maps
Hayes LakeLIMITED11/5 to 11/20Firearmshunt map
ItascaLIMITED10/8 to 10/9Firearmshunt map
ItascaLIMITED11/5 to 11/13Firearmshunt map
ItascaLIMITED11/26 to 12/11Muzzleloaderhunt map
Jay CookeLIMITED12/3 to 12/7Muzzleloaderhunt map
Judge C.R. MagneyLIMITED11/5 to 11/20Firearmshunt map
Kilen WoodsCLOSED10/29 to 10/30Firearmspark maps
Kilen WoodsLIMITED12/24 to 1/1Firearmspark maps
Lake BemidjiLIMITED10/21 to 10/23Firearms

hunt map

Lake BemidjiLIMITED11/5 to 11/8Firearmshunt map
Lake BemidjiLIMITED12/2 to 12/4Muzzleloader 
Lake BronsonLIMITED10/15 to 10/16Firearmshunt map
Lake BronsonLIMITED11/5 to 11/13Firearmshunt map
Lake CarlosLIMITED11/5 to 11/8Firearmshunt map
Lake LouiseLIMITED11/12 to 11/13Firearmshunt map
Lake MariaCLOSED12/2 to 12/4Muzzleloaderhunt map
Lake ShetekCLOSED11/19 to 11/20Firearmspark maps
Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground MineLIMITED11/26 to 12/11Muzzleloaderhunt map
Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground MineLIMITED11/26 to 12/31Archery 
MaplewoodLIMITED11/5 to 11/8Firearmspark maps
McCarthy BeachCLOSED10/28 to 10/29Firearmshunt map
McCarthy BeachLIMITED11/26 to 12/11Muzzleloader 
MinneopaLIMITED11/19 to 11/20Firearmshunt map
Minnesota Valley
(Carver Rapids & Thompson Ferry units)		LIMITED9/17 to 12/31Archeryhunt map
Minnesota Valley
(Carver Rapids & Thompson Ferry units)		CLOSED11/13 to 11/14Firearmshunt map
Minnesota Valley 
(Lawrence Unit)		CLOSED11/12 to 11/13Firearmshunt map
Myre-Big IslandLIMITED12/3 to 12/4Muzzleloaderhunt map
Nerstrand Big WoodsLIMITED12/3 to 12/4Muzzleloaderhunt map
Nerstrand Big WoodsLIMITED12/16 to 12/18Firearms 
Old MillLIMITED11/5 to 11/8Firearmshunt map
Rice LakeLIMITED12/3 to 12/4Muzzleloaderhunt map
St. CroixCLOSED10/29 to 10/30Firearmshunt map
St. CroixCLOSED11/17 to 11/20Firearmshunt map
St. CroixCLOSED11/30 to 12/4Muzzleloader 
Savanna PortageLIMITED10/29 to 10/30Firearmshunt map
Savanna PortageLIMITED12/3 to 12/11Muzzleloader 
ScenicLIMITED11/5 to 11/20Firearmshunt map
SchoolcraftLIMITED11/5 to 11/20Firearmshunt map
SchoolcraftLIMITED11/26 to 12/11Muzzleloader 
SibleyLIMITED10/29 to 10/30Firearmshunt map
SibleyCLOSED11/26 to 11/27Muzzleloaderhunt map
Split Rock LighthouseLIMITED11/5 to 11/20Firearmshunt map
TettegoucheLIMITED11/5 to 11/20Firearmshunt map
WhitewaterCLOSED11/19 to 11/20Firearmshunt map
William O'BrienCLOSED11/12 to 11/13Firearmshunt map
Zippel BayLIMITED10/20 to 10/23Firearmshunt map
Zippel BayLIMITED11/5 to 11/20Firearms