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 2023, 88% of successful hunters in the late CWD season took just one deer, and 98% of successful hunters took two or fewer deer.
- When & where
- What you need to know
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Valid license: A hunter may use any unfilled archery, firearms, muzzleloader or landowner deer hunting license. Unfilled bonus permits, disease management 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 CWD season.
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. Self-service sampling stations will be available on Monday, Dec. 23, following the hunt.
- Special public land access
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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.
Nontoxic ammunition must be used for most of these hunts. State law requires the use of nontoxic ammunition when hunting on scientific natural areas, state parks and lands managed by the DNR's parks and trails division.
Permits will be available from any DNR license vendor or online on a first-come, first-served basis starting at noon on Friday, Dec. 6, and ending Tuesday, Dec. 17, or until all permits are sold, whichever comes first. Use the listed hunt number when selecting a permit. The permit and a hunting license are required. When hunting in a state park, a state park permit is required.
Areas opened to hunting are:
Location ELS Number Permit Permits Allocated Nontoxic ammo required Notes Rushford Sand Barrens SNA N/A No N/A Yes Savage Fen SNA N/A No N/A N/A Archery only Cannon River Turtle Preserve SNA N/A No N/A Yes Only portions within DPA 605 are open Cannon River Wilderness Area 809 Yes 50 N/A Archery only. Contact the Owatonna area wildlife office. Forestville Mystery Cave State Park 801 Yes 75 Yes Contact Forestville Mystery Cave State Park Pin Oak Prairie SNA 803 Yes 4 Yes Great River Bluffs State Park 805 Yes 50 Yes Contact Great River Bluffs State Park King's and Queen's SNA 805 Yes See notes Yes Part of the Great River Bluffs State Park hunt with a total of 50 permits available for both locations. Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area No No N/A Yes Archery only within the Carver Rapids unit Nerstrand-Big Woods State Park 802 Yes 50 Yes Contact Nerstrand-Big Woods State Park Prairie Creek Woods SNA 802 Yes See notes Yes Part of the Nerstrand-Big Woods State Park hunt with a total of 50 permits available for both locations. Vermillion Highlands WMA is closed to public hunting during this hunt.
- Sampling stations
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Click on the list containing the permit area you plan to hunt
- DPA 605
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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. 20 – Sunday, Dec. 22 and have self-service facilities on Monday, Dec. 23.
- Self-service stations remain available through Monday, Dec. 23
City Location Address Status Cannon Falls Lake Byllesby Goodhue County Park 5001 Highway 19 Blvd. Self-service Faribault Rice County Fairgrounds 1814 2nd Ave. NW Self-service Hastings Lake Rebecca Park 415 Lock and Dam Road Self-service Kenyon Kenyon Sportsmens Club 44954 10th Ave Self-service Lonsdale Rice County Highway Department shop 110 5th Ave. NW Self-service New Market/Lakeville New Market Township Hall 8950 230th St. E Self-service New Prague Skluzacek's Quality Meats 400 Main Street West Self-service Northfield Northfield Archery Range 10353 Hall Ave. Self-service Rosemount DNR wildlife office 15325 Babcock Ave. E Staffed - DPAs 642, 643, 645, 646, 647, 648, 649
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Carcass movement restrictions are in place. Available dumpsters (D) and quartering stations (QS) are listed in the the Dumpster column.
Slide text left to view all columns
- Staffed sampling stations will be open from 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20 – Sunday, Dec. 22 and have self-service facilities on Monday, Dec. 23.
- Self-service stations remain available through Monday, Dec. 23
City Location Address Status Caledonia DNR forestry office 805 Minnesota Highway 44 Self-service Chatfield Magnum Sports 20 Main Street South Self-service Granger North of Granger near intersection of 120th St. and Kingbird Road (319) 43.529806, -92.158889 Self-service Houston BP Gas Station 801 E. Cedar St. Self-service Kasson Hardware Hank 11 4th Street SE Self-service La Crescent La Crescent Joint Public Works facility 450 South Chestnut St. Staffed Lake City DNR office 1801 S Oak St. Self-service Mabel Steam Engine Days Park 90 E. Alpine Ave. Self-service Pine Island Next to Dollar General and at the intersection of 1st Ave NE and County Rd 11/Center Drive 222 E Center St. Self-service Plainview Kreofsky Do It Best Building Supply 865 Enterprise Dr SW Self-service Preston DNR forestry office 912 Houston St. NW Staffed Rochester DNR shop, Gordon Yeager WMA - Southwest Unit 280 Energy Parkway NE Staffed Rushford DNR Building 305 Industrial Drive Staffed Spring Valley City lot across from Spring Valley Public Utilities 101 South Section St Self-service St. Charles Winona County Fairgrounds 518 W. 6th St. Self-service Stewartville Bear Cave Park 800 10th St. NW Self-service Wabasha Wabasha County Fairgrounds 99 Coulee Way Staffed Wilson Riverland Trucking 29622 County Road 12 Self-service Winona Fleet Farm 920 US-61 Staffed Zumbro Falls Zumbro Falls City Park(SE of Main St. off Railroad St.) 387 Water St. Self-service
- Using self-service sampling stations
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Learn what to expect and how to use a self-service sampling station.