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!

   

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.

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.

    Start a new search
State ParkAccess DatesTypeMap
AftonCLOSED11/05/22 - 11/06/22Firearms
AftonCLOSED12/06/22 - 12/08/22Muzzleloader
BanningLIMITED10/29/22 - 10/30/22Firearmshunt map
Beaver Creek ValleyLIMITED11/05/22 - 11/06/22Firearmshunt map
Beaver Creek ValleyLIMITED12/16/22 - 12/18/22Firearmshunt map
Blue MoundsCLOSED11/19/22 - 11/20/22Firearms
Buffalo RiverLIMITED10/29/22 - 10/30/22Firearmshunt map
CamdenCLOSED10/29/22 - 10/30/22Firearms
Cascade RiverLIMITED11/05/22 - 11/20/22Firearmshunt map
Crow WingLIMITED12/03/22 - 12/07/22Muzzleloaderhunt map
Forestville/Mystery CaveLIMITED11/05/22 - 11/06/22Firearmshunt map
Forestville/Mystery CaveLIMITED12/16/22 - 12/18/22FirearmsCWD hunt map
Franz JevneLIMITED11/05/22 - 11/20/22Firearmshunt map
FrontenacCLOSED11/19/22 - 11/20/22Firearms
Glacial LakesLIMITED11/10/22 - 11/13/22Firearmshunt map
Gooseberry FallsLIMITED11/05/22 - 11/20/22Firearmshunt map
Great River BluffsLIMITED11/19/22 - 11/20/22Firearmshunt map
Great River BluffsLIMITED12/16/22 - 12/18/22Firearmshunt map
Greenleaf LakeLIMITED09/17/22 - 12/31/22Archerypark maps
Hayes LakeLIMITED11/05/22 - 11/20/22Firearmshunt map
ItascaLIMITED10/08/22 - 10/09/22Firearmshunt map
ItascaLIMITED11/05/22 - 11/13/22Firearmshunt map
ItascaLIMITED11/26/22 - 12/11/22Muzzleloaderhunt map
Jay CookeLIMITED12/03/22 - 12/07/22Muzzleloaderhunt map
Judge C.R. MagneyLIMITED11/05/22 - 11/20/22Firearmshunt map
Kilen WoodsCLOSED10/29/22 - 10/30/22Firearms
Kilen WoodsLIMITED12/24/22 - 01/01/23Firearmspark maps
Lake BemidjiLIMITED10/21/22 - 10/23/22Firearmshunt map
Lake BemidjiLIMITED11/05/22 - 11/08/22Firearmshunt map
Lake BemidjiLIMITED12/02/22 - 12/04/22Muzzleloader 
Lake BronsonLIMITED10/15/22 - 10/16/22Firearmshunt map
Lake BronsonLIMITED11/05/22 - 11/13/22Firearmshunt map
Lake CarlosLIMITED11/05/22 - 11/08/22Firearmshunt map
Lake LouiseLIMITED11/12/22 - 11/13/22Firearmshunt map
Lake MariaCLOSED12/02/22 - 12/04/22Muzzleloader
Lake ShetekCLOSED11/19/22 - 11/20/22Firearms
Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground MineLIMITED11/26/22 - 12/11/22Muzzleloaderhunt map
Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground MineLIMITED11/26/22 - 12/31/22Archery 
MaplewoodLIMITED11/05/22 - 11/08/22Firearmspark maps
McCarthy BeachCLOSED10/28/22 - 10/29/22Firearms 
McCarthy BeachLIMITED11/26/22 - 12/11/22Muzzleloaderhunt map
MinneopaLIMITED11/19/22 - 11/20/22Firearmshunt map
Minnesota Valley
(Carver Rapids & Thompson Ferry units)		LIMITED09/17/22 - 12/31/22Archeryhunt map
Minnesota Valley
(Carver Rapids & Thompson Ferry units)		CLOSED11/13/22 - 11/14/22Firearms
Minnesota Valley 
(Lawrence Unit)		LIMITED11/12/22 - 11/13/22Firearmshunt map
Myre-Big IslandLIMITED12/03/22 - 12/04/22Muzzleloaderhunt map
Nerstrand Big WoodsLIMITED12/03/22 - 12/04/22Muzzleloaderhunt map
Nerstrand Big WoodsCLOSED12/16/22 - 12/18/22Firearms 
Old MillLIMITED11/05/22 - 11/08/22Firearmshunt map
Rice LakeCLOSED12/03/22 - 12/04/22Muzzleloader 
St. CroixCLOSED10/29/22 - 10/30/22Firearms
St. CroixCLOSED11/17/22 - 11/20/22Firearms
St. CroixCLOSED11/30/22 - 12/04/22Muzzleloader 
Savanna PortageLIMITED10/29/22 - 10/30/22Firearmshunt map
Savanna PortageLIMITED12/03/22 - 12/11/22Muzzleloader 
ScenicLIMITED11/05/22 - 11/20/22Firearmshunt map
SchoolcraftLIMITED11/05/22 - 11/20/22Firearmshunt map
SchoolcraftLIMITED11/26/22 - 12/11/22Muzzleloader 
SibleyLIMITED10/29/22 - 10/30/22Firearmshunt map
SibleyCLOSED11/26/22 - 11/27/22Muzzleloader
Split Rock LighthouseLIMITED11/05/22 - 11/20/22Firearmshunt map
TettegoucheLIMITED11/05/22 - 11/20/22Firearmshunt map
WhitewaterCLOSED11/19/22 - 11/20/22Firearms
William O'BrienCLOSED11/12/22 - 11/13/22Firearms
Zippel BayLIMITED10/20/22 - 10/23/22Firearmshunt map
Zippel BayLIMITED11/05/22 - 11/20/22Firearms