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

State parks and recreation areas holding special management hunts

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.

Filter items

State ParkAccessDatesType

Map

AftonCLOSED11/08/25 - 11/09/25Firearms
(Youth)
 
AftonCLOSED12/09/25 - 12/11/25Muzzleloader 
BanningLIMITED11/01/25 - 11/02/25Firearms
(Youth)
hunt map
Beaver Creek ValleyOPEN12/06/25 - 12/07/25Muzzleloaderhunt map
Blue MoundsCLOSED11/22/25 - 11/23/25Firearms
(Youth)
 
Buffalo RiverOPEN10/25/25 - 10/26/25Firearms
(Youth)
hunt map
CamdenCLOSED10/25/25 - 10/26/25Firearms
(Youth)
 
CamdenCLOSED10/31/25 - 11/01/25Firearms 
Cascade RiverLIMITED11/08/25 - 11/23/25Firearmshunt map
Crow WingLIMITED12/06/25 - 12/10/25Muzzleloaderhunt map
Forestville/Mystery CaveOPEN11/08/25 - 11/09/25Firearmshunt map
Franz JevneOPEN11/08/25 - 11/23/25Firearmshunt map
FrontenacCLOSED11/22/25 - 11/23/25Firearms 
Glacial LakesOPEN11/13/25 - 11/16/25Firearmshunt map
Gooseberry FallsLIMITED11/08/25 - 11/23/25Firearmshunt map
Great River BluffsOPEN11/22/25 - 11/23/25Firearmshunt map
Hayes LakeOPEN11/08/25 - 11/23/25Firearmshunt map
Hayes LakeOPEN11/29/25 - 12/14/25Muzzleloaderhunt map
ItascaOPEN11/29/25 - 12/14/25Muzzleloader

hunt map

ItascaOPEN11/08/25 - 11/16/25Firearms

hunt map

Jay CookeLIMITED12/06/25 - 12/10/25Muzzleloaderhunt map
Judge C.R. MagneyOPEN11/08/25 - 11/23/25Firearmshunt map
Kilen WoodsCLOSED11/01/25 - 11/02/25Firearms
(Youth)
 
Kilen WoodsOPEN12/27/25 - 01/04/26Firearmshunt map

Lake Bemidji

OPEN10/17/25 - 10/19/25Firearms
(Adult learn)
hunt map

Lake Bemidji

OPEN10/17/25 - 10/19/25Firearms
(Youth)
hunt map

Lake Bemidji

OPEN11/08/25 - 11/11/25Firearmshunt map

Lake Bemidji

OPEN12/05/25 - 12/07/25Muzzleloaderhunt map
Lake BronsonOPEN10/25/25 - 10/26/25Firearms
(Youth)
hunt map
Lake BronsonOPEN11/08/25 - 11/16/25Firearmshunt map
Lake CarlosOPEN11/08/25 - 11/11/25Firearmshunt map
Lake LouiseOPEN11/15/25 - 11/16/25Firearmshunt map
Lake MariaCLOSED12/05/25 - 12/07/25Muzzleloader 
Lake ShetekCLOSED11/01/25 - 11/02/25Firearms
(Youth)
 
Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground MineOPEN11/29/25 - 12/14/25Muzzleloaderhunt map
MaplewoodOPEN11/08/25 - 11/11/25Firearmshunt map
McCarthy BeachCLOSED10/24/25 - 10/25/25Firearms & archery 
McCarthy BeachOPEN11/29/25 - 12/14/25Muzzleloaderhunt map
MinneopaLIMITED11/15/25 - 11/16/25Firearms
(Youth)
 
Minnesota Valley
(Only in the Carver Rapids & Thompson Ferry units)
OPEN09/13/25 - 12/31/25Archerypark unit map
Myre-Big IslandOPEN12/06/25 - 12/07/25Muzzleloader 
Nerstrand Big WoodsLIMITED12/06/25 - 12/07/25Muzzleloader 
Nerstrand Big Woods

OPEN

12/19/25 - 12/21/25Firearms
(CWD)
 
Old MillOPEN11/08/25 - 11/11/25Firearmshunt map
Rice Lake

LIMITED

12/06/25 - 12/07/25Muzzleloader 
St. CroixCLOSED11/01/25 - 11/02/25Firearms
(Adult learn)
 
St. CroixCLOSED11/01/25 - 11/02/25Firearms
(Youth)
 
St. CroixCLOSED11/21/25 - 11/23/25Firearms 
St. CroixCLOSED12/02/25 - 12/07/25Muzzleloader 
Savanna PortageLIMITED10/25/25 - 10/26/25Firearms
(Youth)
hunt map
Savanna PortageLIMITED11/29/25 - 12/07/25Muzzleloaderhunt map
ScenicLIMITED11/29/25 - 12/14/25Muzzleloaderhunt map
SchoolcraftLIMITED11/08/25 - 11/23/25Firearmshunt map
SchoolcraftLIMITED11/29/25 - 12/14/25Muzzleloaderhunt map
SibleyLIMITED10/25/25 - 10/26/25Firearms
(Youth)
hunt map
SibleyCLOSED12/06/25 - 12/07/25Muzzleloader 
Split Rock LighthouseLIMITED11/08/25 - 11/23/25Firearmshunt map
TettegoucheLIMITED11/08/25 - 11/23/25Firearmshunt map
WhitewaterCLOSED11/22/25 - 11/23/25Firearms 
Wild RiverCLOSED11/08/25 - 11/09/25Firearms 
William O'BrienCLOSED11/15/25 - 11/16/25Firearms 
Zippel BayOPEN10/17/25 - 10/19/25Firearms
(Youth)
hunt map
Zippel BayOPEN11/08/25 - 11/23/25Firearmshunt map

State parks and recreation areas open to public hunting

At some state parks and state recreation areas (SRA), all or a portion of the park are open to public hunting and/or trapping according to Minnesota regulations unless otherwise noted. Maps showing the areas where hunting and trapping is allowed within each of these units are available by contacting the park. 

  • Big Bog State Recreation Area: Most of the northern portion of Big Bog SRA is open to public hunting and trapping. Hunting and trapping is not allowed on Ludlow Island and vicinity or the boardwalk.
  • Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area: Much of Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area is open to public hunting, but closed to trapping.
  • Forestville Mystery Cave State Park: Approximately 430 acres of the park is open to public hunting but closed to trapping.
  • Garden Island State Recreation Area: Much of Garden Island State Recreation Area is open to public hunting but closed to trapping.
  • George H. Crosby Manitou State Park: The portion of the park which is east of the Manitou River and north of Minnesota Highway 61 (approximately 3,000 acres) is open to public hunting but closed to trapping.
  • Greenleaf State Recreation Area: Open to archery deer hunting following general archery season regulations. No special permit required. 
  • La Salle Lake State Recreation Area: Most of La Salle SRA is open to public hunting and trapping of protected species during open seasons. Hunting and trapping is not allowed in the vicinity of the campground and cabins.
  • Split Rock Lighthouse State Park: Approximately 50 acres in the far northern part of the park is open to public hunting but closed to trapping.
  • Temperance River State Park: Approximately 600 acres of Temperance River State Park is open to public hunting but closed to trapping. The area is located north of Minnesota Highway 61 and adjacent to the Cross River on both sides.
  • Tettegouche State Park: Much of the southern half of the park (approximately 3,700 acres) known as the Palisade Valley unit is open to public hunting and trapping.

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